Manicotti Deliciousness

I have always loved manicotti.  I think because my mom used to let me help stuff the noodles as a kid which was super cool :)  This recipe is one of my mother-in-laws and has become a staple in our house.

Manicotti

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hamburger meat
• box of manicotti noodles
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 3 moist slices of bread
• 16 oz cottage cheese
• Prego meat sauce (or whatever marinara sauce you prefer)
• Parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Brown your meat and season with salt and pepper.  Drain off the fat.
2. Prepare noodles as directed on package. Drain when finished cooking.
3. Mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, milk, egg in a large bowl.
4. Wet your slices of bread and wring them out a bit.  Tear up the bread slices into tiny pieces and add to bowl.
5. Add the meat and extra seasonings to taste.
6. Begin to stuff your shells carefully as to not tear the noodles.
7. Lay in a greased 9x13 Pyrex dish.  I always put a little sauce down before laying the stuffed manicotti in the dish. 
8. Continue until all noodles are stuffed and pan is full.  If you have extra stuffing, add it in between the noodles.
9. Cover the manicotti noodles with the marinara sauce.  Top with a little mozzarella or parmesan if you have any.
10. Bake covered for 30 minutes on 350 degrees.  Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes to brown the cheese on top.

Torn up wet bread slices.. not appetizing I know

Added the meat and seasonings

Start stuffing

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees

We brought the manicotti to a friend's house Friday night for dinner. 
She had Olive Garden salad and breadsticks which complimented it so well!

Pretty easy and oh so delicious!  This recipe is always a winner with guests and easy to prepare for a frozen meal to give to expecting mommas ;)  Just make sure to put it in a throw away dish so they don't have to worry about giving you the dish back on top of dealing with a newborn baby.