Created by KittenCal on August 6, 2011
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (set oven rack to lowest position).
Step 2: Grease two 13 x 9-inch pans.
Step 3: Pour one jar of pasta sauce into bottom of each pan (3 cups of sauce into each pan).
Step 4: In a large bowl combined cottage cheese with next five ingredients. Season generously with seasoned salt and pepper starting at 1 teaspoon each (you can add more after chilling time).
Step 5: NOTE: Make sure after you cook the sausage meat to mince it up as small as possible using your clean fingers.
Step 6: Add the cooked sausage meat or drained spinach with 2 or more cups of mozzarella cheese or Italiano blend cheese; mix very well. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or even better 24 hours to blend all the flavors.
Step 7: Remove from the fridge, if the mixture seems dry mix a little in sour cream.
Step 8: Using clean hands stuff the cheese/sausage filling mixture in the DRY manicotti shells.
Step 9: Arrange stuffed shells in a single layer over sauce (yes you will be able to fit 14 stuffed shells in each pan!).
Step 10: Top each pan with one jar of sauce (3 cups or a little more of pasta sauce over each pan).
Step 11: Sprinkle remaining 2 cups Italiano blend cheese or mozzarella cheese over the top, then cover very tightly with foil. Bake 1 hour.
Step 12: Remove from oven and remove the foil (at this point if you like more cheese add some on) Place back in the oven. Bake uncovered for another 20-35 minutes or until shells are fork-tender.
Step 13: Let stand 15 minutes or more before serving.