Pastitsio

By McLean

Ingredients

• Meat mixture:
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 1 stick butter
• 2 lbs. lean ground beef
• Dash nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• Macaroni mixture:
• 1 lb. #5 long macaroni, cooked and drained well
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Cream Sauce:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 quart milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Details

Servings 9

Preparation

Step 1

Meat mixture:
Saute onion in butter. Add meat and stir well until browned. Add seasonings, water and tomato paste. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until water is absorbed. Set aside.
Macaroni Mixture:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and set aside.
Cream Sauce:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, until well blended and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk and salt. Stir until sauce is thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. Cool 5 minutes. Gradually pour beaten eggs into cooled sauce and stir until well-blended.
To assemble:
Spoon half of the macaroni mixture into a buttered 9 x 13-inch pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Spread meat mixture on top and pour remaining macaroni mixture over meat. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Slowly pour cream sauce over macaroni.
Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting into squares.