Have ready a sheet pan. Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Add the manicotti pasta and boil until it is al dente. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the pasta from the water and let it drain on the sheet pan. Set aside.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Manicotti Ready for Stuffing[/cap]

Put a small saute pan on the heat and add the pine nuts. Swirl them around until they have browned slightly. Set aside.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Toasted Pine Nuts[/cap]

Slice and chop the mushrooms to about 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch size. Set aside.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Chopped Mushrooms[/cap]

In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil, and add the shallots in oil and garlic. Saute until the garlic is translucent, but not browned.

Add the chopped mushrooms, and saute them until they brown a little. Add the sherry. Let them cook down until all the sherry is absorbed and the mushrooms have given off some of their juices.

Add the bell peppers, and saute until they are soft. Remove from the heat and set aside.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Sauteed Vegetables[/cap]

Add the nutmeg to the frozen spinach and microwave for 5 minutes. The spinach will be cooked, and most of the water will be gone.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Spinach with Nutmeg[/cap]

Empty the cottage cheese into a large bowl, preferably a standing mixer bowl.

Add the egg, Parmesan, the pine nuts, vegetable mixture, and spinach.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Cottage Cheese, Vegetables, Spinach, Pine nuts[/cap]

Mix the ingredients thoroughly.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Cheese Mixture[/cap]

Have ready a piping bag. If you do not have one, use a plastic bag, and cut off the tip. Have ready a tall glass. Put the piping bag into the glass, and fill the bag 2/3 full.

Have ready a large casserole dish. Butter the bottom and sides.

Pick up a manicotti tube, and pipe some of the stuffing into the tube. Put the stuffed pasta in the casserole. Continue stuffing the tubes until all the stuffing is used up. You might have pasta left over, you can use it for something else, or toss it.

Pour your preferred sauce over the pasta. At this point, you can cover the dish and refrigerate it until you are ready to eat.

Preheat the oven to 325. Put the casserole in and bake until the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes Put the remaining cheese on top, and bake until the cheese has started to brown, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the oven, and let sit about 5 minutes to rest before serving.

[cap align="aligncenter" width="620"]Manicotti Out of the Oven[/cap]