tinklee's manicotti

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb hamburger(may use 1/2 sausage and 1/2 hamburger)
• 1 tomato sauce -lg 29oz can
• 1 diced tomatoes- with garlic
• basil
• & oregeno 14.5oz can
• 3 tbsp italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 3 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 1 3/4 cup ricotta cheese- 15oz container
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 14 -16 manicotti( i make 2 boxs to cover ones that split open)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. brown hamburger in large skillet, drain fat
2. add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic powder,onion powder,Italian seasoning, pepper,and sugar bring to low boil and turn down to med low and cook for at least 15 mins
3. bring pot of water to boil and cook manicotti for time that the box says to cook( u can leave them uncooked, I don't like doing this because the shell is a more tough noodle to bite into), let cool( I put back into the trays that the shells come in to cool)
4. mix together ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, pepper, and Italian seasoning
5. preheated oven to 400*, spray a 9x13 pan
6. put 1cup of sauce in bottom of pan and spread around, take cheese filling and put into a ziplock baggy and cut one of the bottom corners off(do not over fill baggy so it is easy to handle) fill manicotti shell(noodle) from both ends, fill enough but do not over fill you will split the shell, place filled shells in pan, I put 2 across and 7-8 down
7. pour remaining filling over top of filled shells, use the remaining 1 cup cheese and sprinkle in 2lines down the center over the shells, cover with foil
8. bake at 400* for 40mins then remove foil and bake for 15 mins longer, take out of oven and let rest for 10mins before serving, enjoy