Easy Cheesy Manicotti

This is a tried and true in-law family recipe. There's not much to it, but it's great!

Makes: 6-10 servings

Time: 25 min. prep.; 1 hour bake.

Need: 9x13 casserole dish

8 Ingredients:

1 box of manicotti pasta (14 noodles)

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

4 cups mozzarella cheese (16 oz./1 lb.)

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Italian seasoning

Salt & pepper

Step 1: Boil pasta until al dente.

(Note: That means to look on the box and follow the amount of time it should boil. Don't let it get squishy. For manicotti, it's usually about 10 min.)

Step 2: Put cheeses in bowl. Add salt, pepper, and seasoning. Gently mix.

(Note: You don't need much seasoning because the spaghetti sauce will have seasoning--just put in a little bit.)

Step 3: Drain water from done manicotti and rinse gently with cold water.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Step 5: Get your casserole dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with a thin layer of spaghetti sauce. This is so you don't have to spray it.

Step 6: Pick up a manicotti and stuff with cheese mixture. Place in dish. Repeat.

Step 7: Cover manicotti in dish with the rest of the jar of spaghetti sauce.

Step 8: Sprinkle the rest of the cheese mixture on top of the sauce.

Step 9: Cover the pan with foil and put in oven for 45 min.

Step 10: Take off the foil for the last 15 min. in the oven to let the cheese on top melt.

Step 11: Blow off the steam and eat!

Here are some tips I've learned through the years:

1. The cheddar cheese is just to add a little flavor and color. You don't want too much cheddar because it will make everything greasy.

2. You can double, triple, etc. this recipe easily!

3. Whoa there, Cheese Maniac! If you put too much cheese in the pasta, it won't melt; even if it's in the oven for an hour.

4. For leftovers, you can freeze manicotti in a container and pop it in the microwave later.

5. If you want something more than just cheese, pasta and sauce, find a sauce with a lot of chunky vegetables, or use a meat sauce. Or, just add finely chopped cooked Italian sausage, onion and green peppers to the cheese mix for something a little different.

6. Add a green salad and it's a meal!