Pasta Bolognese With Cheese

If you like lasagna, you'll love this dish, and the addition of the red wine takes this over the top! (We're not wine drinkers, but it makes this dish "totally money", as my nephew would say.) Nary a single human being has crossed paths with it and NOT loved it. I like to cook the bacon and mushrooms separately first - and longer than stated below so that they brown and crisp up better, but the flavor will be the same if you follow the instructions as is. We just gotta have our carcinogens! ;)

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  onion, chopped
• 1  garlic clove, crushed
• 1  carrot, diced
• 2  celery ribs, chopped
• 4  slices bacon, finely chopped
• 5  button mushrooms, chopped
• 1  lb lean ground beef
• 1⁄2 cup red wine
• 1  tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (7 ounce) can chopped tomatoes
• 1  sprig fresh thyme
• 2  cups dry penne pasta
• 1 1⁄4 cups milk
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 2  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1  cup  diced mozzarella cheese
• 4  tablespoons  grated parmesan cheese
•  salt and pepper
•  fresh basil leaf (to garnish)

Directions

1. Fry the onion, garlic, carrot and celery in the olive oil until softened.
2. Add the bacon and fry for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the mushrooms, fry for 2 minutes, then fry the beef until brown.
4. Add the wine, tomato paste, 3 tablespoons water, tomatoes and the sprig of fresh thyme; bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 400 F; Cook the pasta.
6. Meanwhile, place the milk, butter and flour in a saucepan; heat gently, whisking until thickened.
7. Stir in the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and season.
8. Drain the pasta and stir into the cheese sauce; uncover the Bolognese sauce and boil rapidly for 2 minutes.
9. Spoon the sauce into a casserole; top with the pasta mixture and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
10. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden; Garnish with basil and serve hot.