Super-Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Italian Sausage

For the sauce, heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, salt, basil, oregano and black pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft, 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices, tomato sauce and paste, water and sugar, and stir well. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until thickened and fragrant, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning to taste.
 
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

 
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pasta shells, and cook until al dente, 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally with a long-handled spoon to prevent the shells from sticking together. Drain and rinse under cold running water.
 
In a medium skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, and cook, stirring, until very soft, 6-7 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, stirring, until browned. Add the squeezed spinach and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
 
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Add the spinach-sausage mixture, the extra-virgin olive oil, Essence, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, the basil, oregano, and pepper, and stir to combine thoroughly. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the spinach-ricotta filling into each cooked pasta shell. Place the filled shells in the prepared dish.
 
Pour tomato sauce over the filled shells and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.


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