Sausage Cheese Manicotti

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 1 package manicotti, cooked
• 1 lb italian sausage
• 1 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 egg whites
• 3 cups fat-free cottage cheese
• 6 -8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 28 ounces meatless sauce
• 3/4 cup water

Recipe

• 1 crumble sausage into a nonstick skillet; add the red pepper and onion.
• 2 cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain.
• 3 in a bowl, combine the sausage mixture, egg whites, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, 1/4 c.
• 4 parmesan cheese, and all seasonings.
• 5 stuff into (cooked&) drained manicotti shells.
• 6 combine spaghetti sauce& water; spread 1/2 c.
• 7 in each ungreased 9x13 pan.
• 8 arrange shells over sauce; top with remaining sauce.
• 9 cover and bake at 350 for 40 minutes.
• 10 uncover; sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese.
• 11 bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
• 12 let stand for 10 minutes before serving.