->Manicotti 05 <-

1 pound Italian sweet sausage links

1 pound ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

2 16-oz cans tomato puree

6 oz can tomato paste

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon pepper

basil

salt

8 oz manicotti Shells (16)

4 cups Ricotta cheese

8 oz mozarella cheese, diced

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

grated Parmesan cheese

5 quart Dutch oven over medium heat in

1/4 cup water,

cook sausage links 5 minutes. Uncover, brown well, drain on paper

towels

Spoon fat from Dutch oven, over medium heat, brown ground beef and onion well. Stir in tomato puree, tomato paste, sugar, pepper, 1

1 teaspoon salt and 1 cup water. Simmer covered,

45 minutes.

Cut sausage into bite sized pieces. Add to mixture cook 15 minutes,

stirring occasionally. Meanwhile cook manicotti as label directs,

drain in colander. Preheat oven to 375 deg F.

In large bowl, combine ricotta and mozzarella cheese, parsley, 3/4

teaspoon basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, stuff into shells.

Spoon half of meal sauce into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Place half

the shells over sauce in one layer. Spoon remaining sauce except

1/4 cup over shells. Top with remaining shells one layer. Spoon

reserved sauce over top. Sprinkle with parmesan. Bake 30 minutes.