Don't-cook-the-pasta Manicotti

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups tomato juice, divided
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 cups ricotta cheese or 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup romano cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) package manicotti

Recipe

• 1 in large skillet, brown meat with and garlic.
• 2 drain well.
• 3 stir in 2 c tomato juice, tomato paste, sugar and seasonings.
• 4 simmer while preparing filling.
• 5 in large bowl, combine 2 c mozzarell cheese, ricotta cheese, spinach, eggs and grated cheese.
• 6 mix well.
• 7 stuff dry pasta shells with cheese mixture.
• 8 arrange in a greased 9x13" baking dish.
• 9 spoon meat sauce evenly over shells.
• 10 pour remaining tomato juice on top.
• 11 cover with foil.
• 12 place pan on a baking sheet.
• 13 bake at 350 for 1 hour.
• 14 remove from oven.
• 15 remove foil and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• 16 let stand 15 minutes before serving.