Manicotti Stuffed With Spinach

	This is a wonderful Manicotti recipe, especially if you are watching your caloric intake. Prep:60min Cook:105min Servings:4	Lor

Ingredients:

10 manicotti shells
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 can / jar tomato sauce
a dash of hot sauce
1-1/2 cups water or half water and half reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1 onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 10-oz. packages frozen chopped spinach
1 16-oz. carton low-fat cottage cheese(no salt is necessary because it's in the cottage cheese)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
a pinch to 1/4 tsp. ground cumin (optional)
Pepper to taste
Nonstick cooking spray such as PAM
1-1/2 Tbsps. fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Cook manicotti shells according to package directions, omitting salt.
Drain and set aside.
Combine next 9 ingredients.
Cover and cook sauce over low heat for approximately 1 hour.
Cook spinach according to package directions, omitting salt.
Remove spinach with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel, squeezing until almost all the moisture is squeezed out.
Combine spinach, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese and cumin in a bowl.
Stuff manicotti shells with spinach and cheese mixture and arrange in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Pour tomato sauce over manicotti.
Bake at 350° F for 45 minutes.
Garnish with parsley.