Lazy Girls Cheesy Stuffed Shells

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups hot water

1 can (12 ounces) tomato paste

2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules (I used better than bouillon)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

⅛ teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon pepper

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 cups (16 oz) small curd cottage cheese

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

24 jumbo shell noodles, cooked, drained and lightly oiled with olive oil so they don’t stick together

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9”x13” or 3-qt. baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, onion and garlic. Break up and crumble the beef until the meat is cooked and no longer pink; drain.

Stir in hot water, tomato paste, bouillon, oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, salt and pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes.

In a medium sized bowl, combine the egg, cottage cheese, 1-cup mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Stuff the shells with the cheese mixture.

Arrange shells in the baking dish. Pour meat sauce over shells. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes longer.