Baked Macaroni

One of my family's all time favorite pasta dish which we learn from my tita who loves to baked.

Ingredients:

1 500 gram pack macaroni

1 bar quickmelt cheese, grated

Meat filling:

1/4 cup oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 kilo ground beef

1/4 kilo sausage or ham, sliced

1 500 ml Spaghetti Sauce Pinoy Style

2 pieces bay leaf

salt and pepper to taste

Béchamel Sauce:

1/2 cup butter

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 big can evaporated milk

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Procedure:

Boil macaroni as directed in the package.

Drain then set aside.

Prepare Meat Filling:

In a skillet, heat oil. Saute garlic and onions.

Add pepper and cook until tender. Add ground beef and sausage. Cook until browned.

Add spaghetti sauce. Bring to a boil, lower heat then simmer for a few minutes.

Prepare Bechamel Sauce:

Melt butter then add flour. Stir to remove lumps. Add milk and chicken broth while stirring continuously. Add cream of mushroom soup and cook until smooth and thick.

To assemble:

Add half of meat filling in the cooked macaroni. Mix very well then transfer to baking pan or glass dish. Pour half of the meat filling on top then pour béchamel sauce evenly.

Top with some grated cheese then bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned.