Aunt Liz's hearty manicotti

Water 

1 lb Italian sweet sausage

1 lb ground beef

1 med onion , chopped 

2 16oz cans tomato purée

1 6 oz can tomato paste 

1 tsp sugar 

1/2 tsp pepper 

Basil

Salt 

18 oz pkg of manicotti shells

4 c ricotta 

18 oz pkg mozzarella cheese , diced 

2 tbs chopped parsley 

Grated Parmesan 

In covered 5- qt Dutch oven over medium heat , add 1/4 c water and cook sausage links 5 minutes . Uncover ; brown well , drain . 

Spoon fat from Dutch oven ; over medium heat brown beef and onion . Stir in tomato purée , paste , sugar & pepper . Add basil , salt , and 1 c water . Simmer 30 minutes .

Cut sausage into bite size pieces and add to beef mixture . Stir occansionally. Meanwhile cook manicotti as directed on pkg . Drain water . Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl , combine ricotta, mozzarella , parsley , 3/4 tsp basil . Spoon into shells .

Then spoon half of meat sauce into 13x9 basking dish . Place half of shells over sauce in one layer . Spoon remaining sauce ( except 3/4 c ) over shells ; top with remaining shells in one layer . Spoon rest of meat sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese . 

Bake until bubbly . 30 minutes .