"Stuff" It !!

When I went home to New Orleans a few weeks ago I made a meal of stuffed shells for my entire family to enjoy. My sister had just had her new baby and was on maternity leave. I spent the day with her and her children cooking in her gorgeous kitchen for our huge family. Everyone came over as they finished their work day and dined together. It was great! I loved having the whole group in one house enjoying the fruits of my labor. We eat together often, but it is always something my mom has whipped up on her own. It was fun to be in charge of cooking the dinner for once. The stuffed shells were such a great meal to feed a large group that I figured I better add a few more stuffed pastas to my repertoire before I move back home. This one was even better than the stuffed shells, I am so glad I now have it in my arsenal.

Beef, Sausage and Cheese Manicotti
Adapted from Giada DeLaurentiis

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound 50% less fat Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage
  
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 14 (8-ounce package) manicotti
• 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

Directions

Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil and onion. Cook until the onion begins to soften. Add the garlic, ground beef and sausage. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat, and cool.

Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.

Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the salt and pepper to taste, and mix.

Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture using a zip lock bag with a generous sized snip in the corner.

Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish

and spoon the remaining sauce over.

Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces.

Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 35-40 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

Click Here for My Adapted Printable Recipe