Cheezy Baked Penne

If there is one thing that truly comforts my kids, its a good dinner. And as much as possible I try my best to concoct dishes that will fill both their hearts and their tummy. I’ve had my hits and misses, I must admit. But my kids know how to tell me straight up if they like what I made or if I should never repeat a dish ever.

This dish, however was a hit. It was an impromptu dinner using ingredients I found in our refrigerator. When I say clean plate, I mean clean plate and clean forks. And the best compliments came from my kids. Gaby said that I should open a restaurant with this as the star dish. But Adi said it much better. She said that she hoped the whole world was like my pasta dish….cheesy, creamy, and yummy. Now that warms my heart.

Cheezy Baked Penne With Creamy Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese Sauce :
700 gms. lean ground round (or turkey)
1 can diced tomatoes
3 Tbsp. olive oil
5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsps. dried oregano

Bechamel Sauce
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk (scalded)
1 bar cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese (room temperature)
1/2 tsp. pepper

400 grams Penne (cooked but slightly underdone)
1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, american)

For the Bolognese sauce. In a large pot, heat the olive oil. Saute the onion until translucent. Add the garlic until slightly colored. Add the ground meat and saute until cooked through. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for a minute or two. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Lower the heat and cook for about 45 minutes. You may add a little water if it is too dry.

For the Bechamel Sauce. In a medium pot, heat the butter/margarine. Off the heat, add the flour and stir until incorporated. Return to fire and cook for about a minute on low heat. Slowly whisk in the milk. Turn up the heat to medium and wait until mixture boils. Add the cheese and pepper. Whisk until cheese is mixed well. Simmer for around 3 minutes.

To assemble. Combine the bolognese sauce and the bechamel sauce. Toss in the cooked pasta. Transfer the pasta mixture into a large enough baking dish and cover with more cheese. Bake in an oven which has been preheated to 350 degress farenheit for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly.