Healthy Spinach and Sausage Stuffed Manicotti

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup onion (chopped)
• 1/2 cup green pepper (chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)

• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

• 2 (15 ounce) cans chopped tomatoes (drained)
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 tablespoon basil
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 3 hot Italian turkey sausage (removed from casing and crumbled)
• 2 cups fresh spinach (packed)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese

• 1 (8 ounce) package manicotti (cooked)

Directions

1. 1

   Combine onion, green pepper, garlic, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, thyme, basil, oregano, red pepper in a medium sauce pan over medium high heat. When heated through reduce heat to low and cover. (simmer about 1 hour).

2. 2

   Preheat oven to 350.

3. 3

   Heat teaspoons of olive oil in a skillet and saute spinach until wilted. Set aside to cool. When cool chop the spinach.

4. 4

   Add sausage to skillet spinach was in and cook until browned. Drain.

5. 5

   In a bowl, combine spinach, cheeses, sausage.

6. 6

   Place a layer of sauce in the bottom of a 13 by 9 pan.

7. 7

   Stuff noodles with cheese, spinach, and sausage and place in pan.

8. 8

   Top with the rest of the sauce.

9. 9

   Bake 350 for 30 to 45 minutes.