Tasty Bits: Greek Pastitsio

While we were traveling, we made mental notes of all the interesting international foods we wanted to learn to make and integrate into our repertoires. Close to the top of the list was pastitsio. It's a Greek sort of version of lasagna, one of the casseroles that Greek grannies make in the morning and leave around all day for their hard laboring kids and grandkids. It is hearty, warm and tasty, and with this recipe, not that bad for you!  It's from Food.com, we used ziti as bucatini is hard to find, but I do think it makes a difference, so we'll keep looking. We also used veggie beef, which is not at all noticeable in this one, and makes it even healthier. It feeds four people, about a meal and a half (call it 8 mid-sized servings), and makes a nice meal with a Greek salad. Opa!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bucatini pasta or 8 ounces ziti pasta
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 eggs, beaten
• 1 lb ground beef (or veggie ground beef substitute)
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried mint flakes (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups milk
• 1 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cook macaroni; drain, and return to pan.
2. Stir in the melted butter, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup milk, and the egg; set aside

3. In a a skillet or large saucepan, cook ground beef and onion until meat loses its pinkness and onion is soft; drain excess fat.
4. Stir in tomato sauce, the 1 teaspoon salt, mint flakes (if used), cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper; set aside.
5. In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter, then mix in flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
6. Slowly stir in the 2 cups milk, stirring well after each addition so that no lumps form.
7. Cook and stir on medium high until cream sauce starts to thicken; stir for one minute more, then remove from heat.
8. Beat egg in a small bowl, then pour into cream sauce, stirring briskly.
9. Blend in the 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
10. Layer half the pasta mixture in a 11" x 7" (or 2 quart) baking dish.
11. Spoon the meat mixture evenly on top, then the remaining pasta.
12. Pour cream sauce over top, to cover completely.
13. Bake, uncovered, at 350F for about 40 minutes, or until hot and lightly browned.
14. Let stand for 10 minutes.