Pastitsio

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 can tomato sauce (8-ounce)
• ½ cup white wine
• Butter
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound macaroni
• 3 eggs, beaten
• Grated cheese
• 4 cups bechamel sauce

Directions

1. In 4 tablespoons butter, sauté the ground beef with the onions, garlic, parsley (crumbling the meat with a fork) until golden brown.
2. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, pepper, wine, and tomato sauce; simmer for 30 minutes, and remove from heat.
3. Meanwhile, boil the macaroni in salted water according to the directions on the package; when cooked, rinse and drain the macaroni; place it in a bowl, and add ¼ pound melted butter, beaten eggs, and a generous sprinkling of grated cheese; mix well.
4. Spread half of the macaroni mixture on the bottom of a greased 9x13x2-inch baking pan; cover evenly with the meat sauce; sprinkle with grated cheese; spread remaining macaroni over meat; sprinkle with grated cheese, cover with bechamel sauce, sprinkle lavishly with grated cheese, dot with butter, and sprinkle very delicately with a few pinches of cinnamon.
5. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. Cool and cut into 3-inch squares.