Pastitsio

• Ingredients:
• 
  
• Pasta Layer
• 1 pound dry ziti pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 dash ground nutmeg
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
•  
• Meat Layer
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• a little paprika 
• a little cinnamon
• a little water
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper to taste
•  
• Cheese Layer
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 block of Kasseri or Fontina Cheese (shredded)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and return to pan.
3. Melt butter until golden brown and pour over ziti, add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, pepper and toss well; allow to cool. Add eggs and toss again; set aside.
4. To make meat sauce: Gently fry onion and garlic in butter in a skillet until onion is soft. Increase heat and add ground beef; stir well. Cook meat begins to brown. Drain Fat.  Return to heat and add tomato paste, wine, water, parsley, salt, pepper, paprika, & cinnamon. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
5. To make cream sauce: Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour and cook gently for 2 minutes. Pour in milk all at once and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently for 1 minute. Slowly add cheese,nutmeg, salt, pepper and cool slightly before stirring in beaten egg.
6. To assemble pastitsio: Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spoon half of the prepared ziti evenly in the bottom and top with meat sauce. Top that with remaining ziti. Pour on cream sauce and spread to completely cover ziti. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
7. Bake in a preheated oven for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.