Manicotti

*** Please note the ingredient amounts for this recipe are to make 4 dishes with 4 servings each.  It will make 28 shells. ****

Who doesn't like some good Italian food?!?!  The mixture that goes in the shells is very versatile.  You could stuff jumbo shells or use it in lasagna.  Something else to try with this recipe is a homemade red sauce.  Since this recipes makes so many shells, some can be frozen for another time.  I added ground beef to this recipe to make it a like hearty.

48 oz of cottage cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 c. shredded mozzarella cheese ( about 12 oz)
1 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
2 - 8 oz boxes of manicotti (about 14 shells), uncooked
Red sauce or spaghetti sauce (amount depends on how saucy you want it)

1. Mix cottage cheese, eggs, mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.  With your fingers or a spoon, stuff filing into manicotti shells

2. Spread 1/2 c. of red sauce in the bottom of each baking dish.  Place eight or nine manicotti in each dish.  Divide remaining red sauce evenly over the four dishes of manicotti.  If you want to freeze this recipe, do it at this point, then thaw and bake.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the noodles are tender.