Baked Macaroni with Bechamel Sauce

Instructions
Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:
· 16 oz Large Elbow Macaroni
· 1/4 cup oil
· 4 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 small onion, chopped
· 1 green bell pepper, diced
· 1 lb ground beef
· 2 cups tomato sauce
· salt and pepper to taste
· 1/2 cup butter
· 2 tbsps all purpose flour
· 1 can (12 Fl. oz.)Evaporated Milk
· 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth
· 1 can (10.75 Oz) Cream of Mushroom Soup
· grated cheese
· 1 large baking tray or pyrex

Step1 Boil elbow macaroni as directed in the package. Drain then set aside.

Step2 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step3 Prepare Meat Filling. Heat oil in a skillet. Saute garlic and onions. Add green bell pepper and cook until tender. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook until brown. Add tomato sauce and seasoning. Bring to a boil then simmer for a few minutes. Note: Add a little water if the sauce gets too thick.

Step4 Add meat filling to cooked macaroni. Mix well then transfer to a large pyrex or baking/lasagna tray. Set aside.

Step5 Prepare Bechamel Sauce. Melt butter then add flour. Stir. Add milk and chicken broth while stirring continuously. Add cream of mushroom soup and cook until smooth and thick. Pour evenly over the macaroni. Top with grated cheese. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

French version of White Sauce:
3 tablespoon of Butter
3 tablespoon of Flour
3 cups of Milk

Baked Macaroni With Ground Beef -- Pasticcio

Ingredients

The Filling:

1 tablespoon Butter
2 lbs. Ground Beef
1 small, finely chopped Onion
1 clove Garlic
2 teaspoons Salt
1/2 teaspoon Pepperchopped Parsley
1/2 cup White Wine
2-3 peeled and diced or Tomatoes
1 lb. can Tomatoes1 egg whites Eggs

The Sauce:

1/2 cup Butter
3/4 cup Flour
4 hot cups Milk
Salt Pepper Nutmeg
1 cup grated (or Parmesan) Kefalotiri Cheese
2 eggs and 2 egg yolks

Frence version of this White Sauce:

3 tablespoon Butter
3 tablespoon Flour
3 cups milk
Salt Pepper

***
1 lb. Macaroni
1 tablespoon Salt
2 tablespoons Butter
1 cup grated (or Parmesan) Kefalotiri Cheese

Method

For the filling: Heat the butter in a large frying pan and saute the ground beef and onion until slightly browned. Add remaining ingredients, except egg white, cover and cook over a medium heat; allow to cool and add egg whites.

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan, add the flour and cook stirring constanly for 1 minute. Add the milk all at once, and stir until the sauce is smooth. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese, eggs and egg yolks.

Cook the macaroni in salted boiling water until soft but firm. Drain and return to the pan. Add the butter.

Butter a baking pan and put in half the macaroni. Sprinkle with cheese and cover with the meat filling. Top with remaining macaroni. Sprinkle with cheese and cover with the sauce. Sprinkle top with the rest of the cheese and cook in a moderate oven for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Leave for 20 minutes then cut into square pieces and serve.