HEARTY MANICOTTI

Going Italian today ;)

HEARTY MANICOTTI
(8 main dish servings)

1 lb. Italian sweet sausage links
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 16 oz. cans tomato puree
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. parsley, chopped
basil
salt
1 8 oz. package manicotti shells
4 cups ricotta cheese
1 8 oz. package mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese

In covered 5 quart Dutch oven. Over medium heat, in 1/4 cup
water, cook sausage links 5 minutes. Uncover, brown well, drain
on paper towel.

Spoon fat from Dutch oven. over medium heat brown ground beef
and onions, stir in tomato puree, paste, sugar, pepper, 1 tsp.
basil, 1 tsp. salt, 1 cup water; simmer, covered 45 minutes.

Cut sausage into bite-size pieces; add to mixture and cook 15
minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cook manicotti as
label directs; drain. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine ricotta and mozzarella (diced) cheeses,
parsley, 3/4 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp salt; stuff into shells.

Spoon half of meat sauce into 13" x 9" baking dish. Place half
of shells over sauce in one layer. Spoon remaining sauce, except
3/4 cup, over shells, top with remaining shells in one layer.
Spoon reserved meat sauce over top. Sprinkle with parmesan. Bake
30 minutes.