Three-cheese Manicotti

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 50 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can tomatoes, cut up
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• 1 small bay leaf
• 8 dried manicotti
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese (or cream-style cottage cheese)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup snipped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• 1 dash ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 for sauce: in a 2-quart saucepan, cook onion and garlic in hot oil until tender. add undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, the 1 teaspoon oregano, the thyme, and the bay leaf. bring to boiling; reduce heat. simmer, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes or until thickened. remove from heat; discard bay leaf.
• 2 meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain. rinse shells in cold water.
• 3 for filling: in a medium mixing bowl, stir together eggs, half of the mozzarella, the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley, the 1/2 teaspoon oregano, and the dash of pepper. spoon filling into manicotti.
• 4 pour half of the tomato mixture into a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. arrange stuffed manicotti in the baking dish. pour remaining sauce over shells. sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese atop.
• 5 bake the stuffed manicotti, covered, in a 350 degree f oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through.
• 6 make-ahead tip: prepare as above, except do not bake. cover and chill in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. bake as above.