Inside-Out Manicotti

Serves 6-8
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 20-23 minutes

Ingredients:

½ pound dry ziti pasta
1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/3 cup chopped onion
1 lb ground beef (optional)
8 oz mushrooms, sliced (optional)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried basil
2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
1 egg
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt

Instructions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. In a large saucepan, heat oil over moderately high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until onion is translucent. (If you include ground beef and mushrooms, cook both and drain, before you cook the onion) Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to moderately low. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. (Add the ground beef/mushroom mix to the tomato mixture.) In a medium bowl, blend together ricotta, mozzarella, egg, black pepper, and nutmeg. Cover the bottom of a 2 ½ quart baking dish with about 1 cup of the tomato sauce. Layer with half the ziti, half of the cheese mixture, 2 more cups of the tomato sauce, and remaining ziti. Top with remaining cheese mixture and sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 23 minutes, until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melt.

Jamie
Kentucky