March 17, 2025 | Posted in:

Pastitsio II (Baked Macaroni with Meat)


Submitted by: The Ladies Philoptochos Society of Saint Sophia
Recipe origin: Greece

“The Ladies Philoptochos Society of Saint Sophia would like to share with you our Pastitsio II (Baked Macaroni with Meat) recipe that appears on page 117 of our cookbook. The recipe was introduced by renowned Greek Chef Nicholas Tselementes in the mid-1930’s who converted a very old recipe of a pasta and meat pie wrapped in phylo into a hearty, delicious casserole of layers of pasta, meat, cheeses and bechamel sauce. This is a version of his recipe. Since it’s publication, pastitsio has graced countless family dinners, party buffets, Greek festival and restaurant menus. You will enjoy making this tasty yet simple to make dish.”

Meat Mixture:
2 lb ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 stick (½ cup) butter
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp allspice
Salt and pepper to taste
Macaroni:
1 lb (No. 4) macaroni
1 stick (½ cup) melted butter
¾ lb grated Romano cheese
Crema Sauce:
5 cups milk
5 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk, mixed with 5 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp butter

Prepare the Meat Mixture:
In a pan, sauté the onion in 1 stick of butter until softened.
Add the ground beef and brown well.
Stir in the tomato paste, allspice, salt, and pepper.
Simmer for about 20 minutes until thickened. Set aside.

Prepare the Crema Sauce:
In a saucepan, bring 5 cups of milk to a simmer, stirring constantly.
Before it reaches a boil, slowly stir in the milk-cornstarch mixture.
As the sauce thickens, gradually add the beaten eggs while stirring continuously.
Once thickened, remove from heat and set aside.

Cook the Macaroni:
Boil the macaroni according to package directions, making sure not to overcook. Drain.
Mix the drained macaroni with ½ pound of grated cheese, 1 stick of melted butter, and 1 cup of the prepared Crema Sauce.

Assemble the Pastitsio:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Butter a 10″ x 15″ baking dish.
Spread half of the macaroni mixture in the dish and sprinkle with cheese.
Evenly distribute the meat mixture over the first macaroni layer, then sprinkle with more cheese.
Add the remaining macaroni mixture and sprinkle with more cheese.
Pour the remaining Crema Sauce over the top.

Bake:
Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool slightly, cut into portions, and serve.
Enjoy! 🍽️

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January 14, 2022 | Posted in:

Chili spiced braised beef

Here is a warm and cozy family favorite recipe that’s been updated with a spicy twist. Enjoy it on a cool winter night with corn bread or rice.

Ingredients

8 to 10 dried ancho chilis (2 tbsp ground if you can’t find them)
4 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
One 4- to 5-pound chuck roast or tri-tip roast, cut into 1-inch cubes, or try short ribs for richer, but fattier version
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 large onion, sliced
2 cups beef stock
1 tablespoons sugar
2 bay leaves

Preparation instructions

Add the chilis and garlic to a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and steep for 20 to 30 minutes. Pour off half the cooking liquid. Using an immersion blender, puree the peppers, garlic and remaining liquid until smooth. You can skip this step if you are using ground chilis.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season the meat with the salt, pepper and spices. When the oil is hot, add the meat to the Dutch oven and brown on all side. Set aside.
Add the tomato paste and onion to the pot and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the stock, sugar, bay leaves and pepper puree to the pot and stir to combine. Return the beef to the pot and cover. Cook in the oven until the meat is fall-apart tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
Remove the bay leaves. You can serve this as is as a stew, or pull it apart and serve it in tortillas as you would carnitas. Garnish with cilantro.

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June 19, 2019 | Posted in:

Cheesy cheddar meatloaf

Ingredient list

2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
32 Ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon mustard
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat eggs. Add milk and crackers . Stir in onion and cheese. Add ground beef. Mix well. Shape into a loaf.
3. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
4. Combine ketchup, brown sugar and mustard to make topping. Spoon half of the topping over the meatloaf after 30 min. of baking. Return loaf to over for 10 more min. of baking. Spoon the rest of the topping over meatloaf, return to oven and bake for 5-10 min more.

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June 14, 2019 | Posted in:

BBQ sandwich

Braised Beef with BBQ sauce

Ingredient list

1 6-pound brisket

Rub into beef:
1 1/2 tablespoons seasoning salt, pepper, paprika

Marinate beef for 8 hours in:
2 cups oil
2 cups cider vinegar
1/2 cup Worcestershire
2 bay leaves

Place in covered container over indirect heat for 3 1/2-4 hours, basting with marinade every 30 minutes.

The last hour of cooking, coat both sides of brisket with barbeque sauce. Continue to cook until tender and baste only the top.

Barbecue Sauce:
4 cups catsup
1 cup cider vinegar
2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 medium onion, grated
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons seasoning salt
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon pepper

Bring to boil. Remove bay leaf.

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May 14, 2019 | Posted in:

One pot chicken with lime and cilantro

Lime_LR-3
Ingredient list

-1.5 lbs chicken cut into 1-2 inch cubes
-1/3 cup olive oil + 2 tbsp
– Juice of 2 limes
-1 tbsp vinegar
– 3 cloves minced garlic divided
-1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander
– 1 tsp cumin
-1/4 large white onion diced (about 3/4 cup)
-6 medium Yukon Gold Potatoes diced
-1 tsp Salt plus more to taste
-Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Make your marinade: Combine oil, lime juice, zest, vinegar, 1 clove garlic, fresh coriander, and cumin. Blend until well combined. Pour marinade over chicken reserving about 2 tbsp of marinade to set aside.
3. Heat an oven proof skiller to medium- medium high heat. Once hot, add 2 tbsp oil. Toss in diced onion and potatoes. Saute for 3-5 minutes, then add garlic. Season with salt. Saute another 2-3 mins.
4. Add chicken and transfer to oven.
5. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are done.
6. Salt and pepper to taste, top with remaining 2 tbsp of marinade.

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May 13, 2019 | Posted in:

Mom’s Cabbage Rolls

cabage rolls hor
Ingredient list

1 large head green cabbage
1 lb lean ground beef
2 C cooked rice
1 t minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 can tomato sauce
2 onions, chopped
3/4 C brown sugar, packed
1-28 oz can tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1/2 C honey
Juice of 3 lemons
Salt, pepper, paprika
Instructions

Boil whole cabbage in water for 10 minutes. Remove as many leaves as possible. Combine beef, rice, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika. Place a large spoonful on each cabbage leaf. Roll up tightly. Secure with a toothpick. Cut up the rest of cabbage, add 2 onions and apple. Mix together and spread half of the mixture in two 9 x 13 pans. Arrange cabbage rolls on top. Combine brown sugar, tomatoes, tomato paste, honey, and lemon juice. Pour over all. Cover pans with foil and bake at 300 for 30 minutes. Bake at 325 for 2 1/2 hours. Baste with juices.

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April 12, 2019 | Posted in:

Sweet and sour brisket

beef roast
Ingredient list

3 and 1/2 pounds 1st cut Beef Brisket
2 cups Heinz ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1 and 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 packages Lipton Onion Soup Mix
6 large cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon pepper
Instructions

Place all ingredients (except brisket) in a bowl and mix well.
Divide marinade in half and marinate brisket for 24 hours.
Place brisket and the marinade you marinated it in into baking pan, cover and bake 2-3 hours at 350* – fork tender.
After cooking, refrigerate overnight.
Take out and slice thinly AGAINST the grain (while cold).
Place in clean baking dish, cover with remaining marinade and reheat at 350* 15-20 minutes until hot.

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April 5, 2019 | Posted in:

Cabbage rolls

cabbage and onion
Ingredient list

1 head of cabbage
1 med. onion
1 T. butter
2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg (beaten)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. water
2 c. beef broth
Instructions

Remove core from cabbage. Place whole head in a large kettle filled with boiling water. Cover; cook 5-10 minutes. Remove softened outer leaves. Repeat until all leaves are softened and have been removed; drain. Cut thick stem from each leaf. Saute medium onion in butter. Add ground beef, egg, salt, pepper and water. Mix thoroughly. Place about 1/4 cup hamburger mixture at stem end of each leaf. Roll each leaf, tucking ends in toward center. Place cabbage rolls, seam side down, in ungreased baking dish. Pour 2 c. beef broth over cabbage rolls. Cover with foil for 30 minutes. Bake at 350º for about 1 1/2 hours. Makes 4-6 servings.

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April 2, 2019 | Posted in:

Deliciously moist pork chops

Ingredient list

1 egg
4 pork chops, 3/4 to 1-inch thick
1 c. bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 T. flour
1/4 to 1/2 c. chicken broth
1/2 large onion, sliced
1 to 2 T. butter
Instructions

Beat egg in small bowl. Mix bread crumbs with flour and pepper; pour onto waxed paper. Dip pork chops into egg, then roll through bread crumb mixture. Dip pork chop into egg and crumb mixture a second time. Melt butter in 10-inch skillet. Place pork chops into skillet and brown both sides lightly. Pour chicken broth into casserole dish, about 1/4 to 1/2-inch deep. Place pork chops into dish and cover with onions. Bake, covered for 35-40 minutes at 425º. Add more broth, if necessary.

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March 21, 2019 | Posted in:

Swedish Meatballs

Ingredient list

2 lb. hamburger
1 lb. ground pork
2 eggs
5 slices of bread, soaked in milk and rung out
1 med. onion, grated
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 to 1 tsp. ground allspice
Gravy:
1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. water
salt and pepper
gravy master (for color)
Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Make meatballs, 1 to 1 1/2-inch in diameter. Brown in 1/4-inch oil. Drain on paper towel, place in casserole dish. Prepare gravy: Drain oil from pan. In bowl, combine flour, water, salt and pepper and gravy master. Mix and place in heated frying pan. Stir until smooth; pour over meatballs.

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