Beef Pastitsio

(pronounced pas-teech-sho)

Source: Mimi's Cyber-Kitchen

Pastitsio 
Thin Cream Sauce:
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 Cups Hot Milk
1/3 Cup All Purpose Flour
2 Egg Yolks

Thick Cream Sauce:
4 Cups Milk
1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
4 Eggs

Filling:
1 1/2 Cups Chopped Onions
Dash of ground cinnamon ,be generous
2 Pounds Ground Beef
salt and pepper to taste
4 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 Cups Italian Plum Tomatoes, Chopped
1 1/4 Pounds Tubular Pasta, such as ziti # 2
1 Cup Tomato Sauce
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Teaspoon dried or tablespoon fresh chopped oregano
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Prepare Thin Sauce:
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour and cook until mixture turns golden.

Gradually stir in hot milk and cook, stirring until sauce is smooth and hot.

In a small bowl, beat egg yolks, then briskly stir 1 cup of hot milk mixture.

Pour egg milk mixture into remaining sauce. Stir and remove from heat without cooking the eggs.

Prepare Thick Sauce:
Heat milk to a simmer, and set aside. In a bowl, beat eggs with flour. Gradually stir hot milk into the egg mixture.

Return to saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is quite thick. Do not boil after the eggs have been added.

Main Recipe:
Brown chopped onions and meat in butter. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, spices and seasonings.

Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until liquid has been absorbed.

Preheat Oven t0 350 Degrees

Cook pasta according to package directions, and drain.
Sprinkle bread crumbs into a buttered 11x14x2 inch baking
pan. Place a layer of pasta in the baking pan; then add half
the thin cream sauce. Add meat.

Sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated cheese. Cover with remaining thin cream sauce. Spread thick cream sauce over the top and sprinkle it with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake for 1 hour, or until golden. Let stand for 15 minutes to cool, and cut into squares (Note that you cannot cut the Pastitsio easily unless you cool it for 15 minutes.) When ready to serve, reheat in hot oven.

Note: This dish can be prepared a day in advance, adding the
thick cream sauce just before baking the dish.

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