The Best Meat Sauce ...and Manicotti...I've EVER had...:)

BAKED MANICOTTI with MEAT SAUCE
Serves 6-8

Meat Sauce
1 onion chopped
6oz sliced deli pepperoni - You will want to use Turkey pepperoni
1lb 85% lean ground beef
1tbl tomato paste
5 garlic cloves
1/4tsp red pepper flakes
2 (28oz) cans crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper
1/4 cup of sugar -or to taste
1 bay leaf

Manicotti
3c ricotta cheese
2 1/2c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2c shredded provolone cheese
1lg egg beaten
1/2tsp salt
1/2tsp pepper
1/4c finely chopped fresh basil
16 no-boil lasagna noodles

1. .....GRIND MEAT
Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 375*. Pulse onion and pepperoni in food processor until coarsely ground. Add beef and pulse until thoroughly combined.

2.....MAKE SAUCE
Transfer beef mixture to large saucepan and cook over medium heat, breaking up mixture with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5min. Using slotted spoon, transfer 1 cup beef mixture to paper towel-line plate and reserve. Add tomato paste, garlic, and pepper flakes to pot with remaining meat mixture and cook until fragrant, about 1 min. Stir in tomatoes,sugar and bay leaf . Simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 35 min. Season with salt and pepper. (At this point, sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.)

3....PREPARE FILLING
Combine ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella, 1 cup provolone, egg, salt, pepper, basil, and reserved meat mixture in large bowl. Pour 2qt boiling water into 13" X 9" baking dish. Soak noodles until pliable, about 5 min. Drain noodles on kitchen towel. Pour off water and dry baking dish.

4.... ASSEMBLE DISH
Spread half of meat sauce over bottom of baking dish.
With short side facing you, spread 1/4 c of cheese filling across the bottom of each noodle and roll into a tube. Arrange in baking dish, seam-side down, over sauce.
Spread remaining sauce over manicotti. Cover with foil and bake until bubbling around edges., about 40min. Remove foil and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and provolone. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 min. Let cool 15 min before serving.

ENJOY! ;)