Cheese Stuffed Manicotti

I make my own spaghetti sauce, but you can you your favorite.  

CHEESE STUFFED MANICOTTI

(serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

*12 manicotti shells, uncooked

*12 mozzarella string cheese sticks

*1 pound ground beef

*1 small yellow onion, chopped

*4 garlic cloves, minced

*1 teaspoon salt

*1 teaspoon ground black pepper

*1 1/2 tablespoons parsley flakes

*1 teaspoon dried oregano

*1 teaspoon dried basil

*1 (24 ounce) jar of spaghetti sauce (or make your own)

*1 1/2 cups chicken stock

*1 (8 ounce) container cottage cheese or ricotta cheese

*2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

*1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

~In a large skillet, add 1 pound ground beef and cook until almost done,  breaking up as it cooks.

~Add 1 small chopped onion, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 1/2 tablespoon parsley flakes, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano, cooking until ground beef is done and onions are translucent.

~Add spaghetti sauce and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes.

~Add a thin layer of spaghetti sauce over the bottom of baking dish.

~Add a stick of mozzarella cheese into each manicotti noodle.

~Layer stuffed noodles to baking dish.

~Spread a layer of cottage cheese or ricotta cheese over the noodles (I just put little dollops all over it).

~Spread remaining spaghetti sauce over top

~Pour chicken stock over all of it.

~Top with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese.

~Wrap aluminum foil over top of baking dish.

~Bake for 40-45 minutes.

~Remove foil and bake for another 10.

~Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.