Meat stuffed manicotti

 
1# lean ground beef
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach
4 eggs
3/4 cup grated parmesan
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
2 Tbsp butter
1 box manicotti shells (14)
Sauce

Cook the shells until center of pasta is a little firm, not hard. Drain. I rinse in cool water and then lay out on a linen towel to dry.

Cook spinach as directed, save liquid. Brown ground beef, drain, add 2 Tbsp. butter (I omit), 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. When spinach is cool, squeeze out liquid and add to meat, continue cooking for 3 minutes.

Turn off heat.  Beat 4 eggs in a bowl and add the parmesan. Blend into meat and then fold in mozzarella.  Stuff the manicotti.  Spread you favorite tomato sauce into the glass casserole.

Lay in dish, spoon 1 tsp. spinach liquid over each one (or not).  Pour your favorite spaghetti sauce over shells, but not more than halfway up sides.  Save some sauce to pass around at meal.

Lay a sheet of foil loosely over dish. Remove for last 15 minutes, but check during baking for too much liquid or too thick sauce.  To cover or not depends on the consistency of your sauce.

Bake at 325 - 350 about 40 - 45 minutes.

You can make this filling for shells instead of manicotti and also use as a layer in lasagna.  Filling can be made ahead of time or assembled (without the sauce) and covered a day before baking.  Take out of fridge an hour before.