Mobster's Manicotti

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb italian sausage (without casting)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 pinch fennel
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 (8 ounce) box manicotti, uncooked shells
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 5 ounces frozen spinach, thawed
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 in a large sauce pan using about a tbsp of evoo, combine the diced garlic, pinch of salt/ pepper, ground beef and italian sausage until cooked through and browned.
• 2 add spaghetti sauce, oregano and basil, pinch of fennel. simmer.
• 3 in a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook shells just under suggested cooking time. you want them to be slightly undercooked. drain and set aside.
• 4 in a mixing large bowl, combine ricotta, mozarella, and spinach. salt to taste. set aside.
• 5 spread a light layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a large deep baking dish.
• 6 using a narrow spoon, fill each tubular shell with cheese mixture and place side by side into the prepared baking dish. cover with remaining sauce and sprinkle parmesan on top.
• 7 bake in oven covered with foil at 400 f for 40 minutes. remove the foil and bake for another 5-7 mins to brown the cheese on top. let cool before serving.