Pastitso (Macaroni & Meat Casserole)

One of the treasures brought to America from Greece long ago. Serves 40, great for potlucks but you can third the recipe for a family, divide the third recipe into 2 casseroles freeze one and serve the other.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 40

Ingredients

• Macaroni Mixture

• 1  cup butter, melted and separated
• 1 1⁄2 lbs  ground chuck
• 1 1⁄2 lbs elbow macaroni
•  salt & pepper

• Crema Sauce

• 1  cup butter, melted
• 3  cups milk
• 9  eggs
• 1  lb parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Macaroni Mixture: Melt 1/2 cup butter in skillet and add ground chuck.
2. Stir until brown, adding salt and pepper to taste.
3. Set this mixture aside.
4. Boil macaroni until almost done, drain well, and put in large bowl.
5. Stir in other 1/2 cup melted butter; set aside.
6. Grease bottom and sides of pan (11 x 14 x 2-inch).
7. Put 1/2 macaroni mixture into pan.
8. Then cover macaroni with all of ground chuck mixture and top with remaining macaroni.
9. Set aside.
10. Crema Sauce: Beat eggs until smooth, then stir in melted butter and milk.
11. Slowly mix in Parmesan cheese.
12. Mix all ingredients well and spread over macaroni mixture, making sure it goes through the mixture.
13. Bake 1 hour or until brown.
14. Let stand about 15 minutes; then cut in squares.
15. Secret: This may be frozen and warmed again to serve.