Baked Pasta with Bechamel and Parmesan Cheese

Pasta al Forno con la Besciamella is what the official name is for this fabulous Italian version of mac and cheese. I don't know about you, but when I think of mac and cheese it's normally the kind made creamy with tons of cheddar or heaven forbid - the version found in the little blue box.

This simple dish is usually made with rigatoni although I used penne last night along with a basic cream sauce, a touch of nutmeg and grated parm on top. It bakes in the oven just long enough to form a golden crispy crust on top and it fairly oozes creamy goodness. What can I say. It is luscious -absolutely the epitome of comfort and I have no idea what took me so long to make it again. Download Baked Pasta with Bechamel and Parmesan

Funny how some dishes automatically bring back memories of another place and time. When my 14 years with Calgary Flames were over needless to say my life changed significantly. I sold my house in suburbia and moved into a wonderful apartment right in the middle of the action just off 17th Avenue in Calgary - I loved the place. It was huge, very bright and within walking distance of almost anywhere you'd possibly want to go...great restaurants, fabulous shopping and a special coffee shop. Best of all it resulted in a new circle of friends one of whom became like a little sister to me. She loved to cook, had incredible talent and actually hooked me on this dish by Biba Caggiano from the book Trattoria Cooking. Many's the night we'd all sit and devour this along with a bottle or ten of cheap wine.

Anyway, enough reminiscing. It's a great dish for a few people or a huge crowd because it can be made entirely in advance which is a real bonus. Last night we enjoyed it along with some sweet Italian sausage, browned then braised with onions, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes in a touch of marsala wine. It was "molto buona".

Comments

[Mags]

Grown up mac and cheese. I love it when you think outside the blue box...lol.

Don't you just love food that brings back fond memories?

[June]

I agree Mags I do love food that brings back memories - course there's some that aren't so fond, like tongue cooking in a pot on the stove...EEEWWWYUCK.

[Julie]

That just looks amazing!!

[June]

Thanks Julie. Nothing like a good feed of pasta for whatever ails ya.