Cottage Beef and Pasta

The source is The New Zealand Beef & Lamb Marketing Bureau web site. I've modified the recipe slightly. Since it was first reviewed I noticed that salt, pepper and pepper flakes were missing in the ingredient list, so they have been added. This recipe is better the next day - if you can, make it ahead through step 5, refrigerate and bake before you're ready to serve.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  onion, peeled and chopped
• 1  tablespoon  oil
• 1  teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1  lb ground beef
• 3  stalks celery, finely chopped
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  teaspoon dried basil
• 1  teaspoon dried oregano
• 14  ounces canned tomatoes
• 1⁄4 cup  beef stock
• 3  tablespoons parsley, chopped
•  salt and pepper
•  red pepper flakes
• 8  ounces corkscrew macaroni (or penne)
• 2  eggs
• 8  ounces cottage cheese (or plain yogurt, or creme fraiche)
• 3⁄4 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1. Cook the onion in oil, in a frying pan, on low heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Set aside.
2. Add the ground beef to the pan, and cook, breaking it up often until the meat is no longer pink. Add the cooked onions back to the pan with the celery, bay leaf and dried herbs, tomatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes, and beef stock. Cover and simmer gently for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
3. Meanwhile, Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling water until al dente. Drain and add salt to taste.
4. When the meat is cooked, remove the bay leaf and stir in the parsley. Mix the pasta with the meat then turn into a baking dish.
5. Beat the eggs with the cottage cheese (or yogurt or crème fraiche) and grated cheese. Pour over the meat/pasta mixture.
6. Bake at 375F for about 30 minutes until the top has browned and the sauce is bubbly.