Pastitsio Kima: Baked Macaroni

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 3/4 cup tomato puree
• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup water
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground, plus more, for seasoning
• 1 1/2 pound uncut macaroni
• 2 tablespoons butter, plus 1/2 pound
• 3 eggs, separated
• 2 1/2 cups kefalotyri or kasseri, grated
• 2 quarts milk
• 1/2 pound flour
• Nutmeg

1. Brown beef in a pan.
2. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft.
3. Deglaze with the red wine and reduce to 2 tablespoons.
4. In a small bowl, mix together tomato puree and crushed tomatoes to make a sauce.
5. Add to the onions and garlic, and then add the water.
6. Season with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
7. Simmer for 10 minutes.
8. Cook macaroni in salted water: drain.
9. Return to pan.
10. Add butter, egg whites and 1/2 cup of cheese, mix well.
11. Heat up milk on medium high until it comes to a simmer.
12. In a separate pan, melt the butter.
13. Whisk in the flour until well blended.
14. Whisk in warm milk.
15. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook until fairly thick.
16. Season with salt and nutmeg, to taste.
17. Temper in the egg yolks.
18. Add 1 cup of cheese.
19. In a buttered 13 by 9-inch baking dish, layer macaroni mixture and meat sauce, cover with white sauce and sprinkle with remaining grated cheese on top.
20. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
21. Remove from the oven to rack and let stand for 15 minutes.
22. Cut into squares.

ground beef, onion, clove garlic, red wine, tomato puree, tomatoes, water, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, macaroni, butter, eggs, kefalotyri, milk, flour, nutmeg

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cat-cora/pastitsio-kima-baked-macaroni-recipe.html (may not work)