Farmhouse Manicotti With Optional Meat Sauce

Description: Seems kinda pointless to me, to go to all the trouble of making & stuffing the 'cotti's and then NOT have meat in the sauce. So I adjusted this found recipe from *Grandma's Kitchen* recipe cards, to include ground beef in the sauce. No complaints from the Peanut Gallery--and they're SO discerning an audience!

Ingredients:

• 12 large manicotti, cooked, rinsed, drained
• 1 lb ground beef (or venison combination)
• 1 quart spaghetti sauce, divided
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 cups ricotta cheese (see note below)
• 2 tablespoons dried basil (see other note below)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

1. Cook, rinse & drain manicotti as per package directions.
2. While that is cooking, brown the meat in a medium frying pan; rinse & drain for low-fat applications!
3. Preheat oven to 350; grease 13x9 pan; set aside.
4. Mix meat and spaghetti sauce; spoon 3 cups of sauce into bottom of greased pan; set aside.
5. In a medium bowl, combine THREE cups mozzarella with ricotta and basil.
6. Spoon mixture into a ziplock bag, cut off one corner, squeeze into pasta shells; lay finished shells into sauce in pan.
7. After all shells have been filled and nestled cutely together, pour remaining sauce over shells.
8. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
9. Bake for 15 minutes; sprinkle with parmesan; bake for 10 more minutes.
10. Serve immediately. Yum!