Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce

Stuffed Shells with Meat Sauce 
by The On-Call Cook 

 Sauce:
1/2 lb hamburger
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
15 oz tomato puree
6 oz tomato paste
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp basil
1 tsp salt

Shells:
1 cup broccoli (optional)
1 carrot (optional)
1/4 cup chopped onion (optional)
1/2 lb ricotta
1 1/2 cup mozzarella
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tsp basil
Jumbo pasta shells, cooked and drained

Brown the hamburger and onion in a large saucepan. Once it is browned, remove the grease. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and let it simmer for 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350.

 Start the water for the shells. Once the water is boiling, add the shells and cook for the minimum time listed on the package. Meanwhile, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 c mozzarella cheesethe egg, and the Parmesan cheese. Mix it all together. Place the broccoli, carrot, and onion in a food chopper and pulse until it's really small. Add the vegetable mixture and basil to the cheese mixture. Spread some of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Scoop some of the cheese mixture into the cooked shells. Place the stuffed shells into the baking dish. Top with more marinara. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 c of mozzarella. Bake, covered, for 35 minutes.