Measure or not to Measure Pastitsio

 No Measure Pastitsio.....I'm not a big fan of accurate measuring, well, unless it's reallllly necessary. I kind of like the "dump and pour" method....go my sight and feel. So this is how I make Pastitsio without really measuring........especially fun when I have a new oven to bake it in! You can use meat or  veggies to make this. I like both. Or you can mix them.

FIRST: Cook up a large packet of ground beef with a handful of onions. Or, stir fry any veggies that you like ( I love root vegetables with pinto beans)  till softened. Add a jar of really nice spaghetti sauce, toss in a small amount of sugar to take the acidic taste from the tomatoes. 

SECOND: Boil up a package of rice noodles, more or less. when they are cooked properly, drain, then toss noodles into a 13 x 9 inch pan or casserole dish that you have sprayed with veggie spray.

THIRD: Pour on the spaghetti sauce (meat or veggie or both) over the noodles, till below the rim . Make sure you leave space to add the white sauce. Any leftover sauce that you do not use can be frozen to use in soups, stews, etc. I do this all the time.)

FOURTH: Make white sauce by putting a small  amount of margarine in a large skillet to melt. Add a good shake of flour.....a handful possibly and stir to make a roux. After the flour has incorporated into the margarine take skim milk, or veggie broth, but the skim milk is better, and pour into the pan. I let it go almost to the 3/4 point in the pan. Stir till thickened. You can always toss in a little more flour, and whisk like crazy. Break two eggs into a bowl. Ladle in a little of the white sauce into the eggs and stir....this will stop them from curdling. Then take the egg mixture and dump into the white sauce in the skillet. stir until it thickens. Add a sprinkling of nutmeg. This is very important. Gives the sauce a lovely flavour. Pour the sauce contents over the veggie/meat mixture in the 9 x 13 pan. Discard the leftover sauce. It will not freeze. Sauce will come to top of pan.

FIFTH: Put pan of Pastitsiio on cookie  sheet. Place in 350 degree oven. Bake about 45 minutes till bubbling. Take out, add something green to each plate. I love these sushi veggie rolls ( like in the picture) No, I don't make them...I get them from the  store, once in a while....there is one place that makes them and it is a real treat. Beautiful, green and fresh.)
    And the Pastitsio is not too bad either...................