Categories: Pasta, Cheese, Davidson 
      Yield: 7 servings 
  
-----------------------------------SAUCE----------------------------------- 
      1 lg Onion; chopped 
      1    Garlic clove; pressed 
      2 T  Olive oil 
     12 oz Tomato paste 
     24 fl ;Water 
      2 T  Oregano, fresh; chopped 
      1 sm Bay leaf 
      1 ts Salt 
    1/2 ts Pepper, black 
 
-----------------------------------PASTA----------------------------------- 
      1 ts Olive oil 
     14    Manicotti noodles 
 
----------------------------------FILLING---------------------------------- 
  1 1/2 c  Ricotta 
      6 lg Egg 
    1/4 lb Fontina; grated 
    1/4 lb Mozzarella; grated 
    1/3 lb Parmesan; grated 
      6 T  Butter, sweet; softened 
      1 ts Salt 
    3/4 ts Pepper, black 
      2 T  Basil, fresh; finely chopped 
           Parmesan; for sprinkling 
  
  Preheat the oven to 350 F.  To make the sauce, gently saute the onion 
  and garlic in the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until the 
  onion is translucent, about five minutes.  Add the tomato paste and 
  stir.  Slowly add the water and stir.  Add the seasonings and allow 
  the sauce to simmer while preparing the manicotti and filling. 
   
  Manicotti:  Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the olive 
  oil, and drop in the manicotti.  Cook al dente, about 12 minutes. 
  Drain and refresh under cold running water.  Set aside. 
   
  Filling:  beat the ricotta with the eggs until combined in the large 
  bowl of an electric mixer.  Add the grated cheeses and softened 
  butter, beat until combined.  Add the salt, pepper and basil.  Beat 
  on low just until everything is combined.  Gently fill the cooked 
  manicotti with the cheese mixture and arrange in two greased 9"x13" 
  pans.  Cover the pasta in each pan with half the sauce; sprinkle on 
  additional parmesan.  Bake for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is 
  thoroughly melted and the sauce is bubbling. 
   
                                  ---*The Cereal Murders* 
                                      Diane Mott Davidson