Menu Monday Returns...

Now that the Huston household is getting back to normal after the holidays (whatever "normal" is), Menu Monday shall return! Tonight I made a new recipe, and it was delicious! Two thumbs up from the hubby, which is always a good sign. It's a keeper...

Manicotti al Forno

Ingredients:

--12 uncooked manicotti pasta shells

--1 lb. bulk Italian pork sausage

--2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

--1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

--1 jar (26 oz.) tomato pasta sauce

--1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with Italian-style herbs, drained

--1 egg

--15 oz container part-skim ricotta cheese

--12 oz mozzarella cheese

--1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into strips (or, like I did, chopped basil)

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350. Cook pasta shells as directed on package. Drain; rinse with cold water to cool.

2. Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, cook sausage, garlic, and oregano over medium heat 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir in pasta sauce and tomatoes. Spread one cup of the meat sauce in ungreased 13x9-inch glass baking dish.

3. In medium bowl, beat egg. Stir in ricotta and 2 cups of mozz. cheese. Spoon mixture into baggie; seal bag. Cut a one inch hole in one bottom corner of bag. Squeeze bag to pipe about 1/4 cup cheese mixture into each shell. Arrange stuffed shells over meat mixture in dish. Pour remaining meat sauce evenly over shells.

4. Cook dish with foil for 35-40 minutes. Top with remaining mozz. cheese, and bake 5-10 minutes longer. Sprinkle basil over top. (And if you are a Huston, you serve all pasta with Garlic Bread on the side. YUM!)

Prep time: 35 minutes

Start to finish: 1 hour 25 minutes (says the cookbook)

Yields: 6