Baked Pasta w/ Broccoli & Meat

This has got to be one of my favorite "go to" recipes.
We especially like any type of baked pasta in the winter.
But it is just as great in the summer.
And the left overs are fabulous!

From the prep work to time in the oven,
it normally takes me about 30 minutes.
And I am being conservative.
I have 3 munchkins running amuck so it adds time on.

What you need:
12 oz Pasta of your choice (best w/ ziti or rigatoni)
1 lb Meat of your choice (love me Italian sausage)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 head of broccoli
1/2 cup grated Parmesan


Let's get to cookin'!

Get your oven going, 350 degrees.
Lightly spray your baking dish w/ spray.
Cut your broccoli in to about 1" pieces.
{I like to measure everything out &
have it ready to pour in as needed.}

1. Fill up a large pot w/ salted water & boil.
2. On medium/high heat, start browning meat. You want to make sure the meat is broken up in to small pieces. Cook until no longer pink.
   
3. Add 3 tbsp of butter and stir well.
4. Once butter is melted, start to sprinkle in the flour, stirring constantly throughout the process. This is the base of your cream sauce.
5. Stir in 3 cups of milk. Keep an eye on this, stirring until sauce thickens.
6. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and any other favorites. We love Tony's in this house so I always add a dash or 2 making this a bit spicy. Even the kids love it!

Now, I will say this, I normally wait
until the above is finished before I start
messing with cooking the pasta.
I just leave my sauce on low heat.

1. Add pasta to boiling water. Cook for about 5 minutes.
2. Add broccoli to boiling pasta. Cook for about 3 minutes.
3. Drain pasta and broccoli.
4. Pour in to the sauce mix. Add the grated parmesan.
5. Stir well, letting all the ingredients "get to know one another"
6. Pour in to baking dish.
7. Sprinkle a bit more parmesan on top.

Now it is time to pop that baby in to the oven!
Or, if you want to cook ahead, this is good for 48 hours
in the fridge or just pop in to the freezer for later in the week.

Cook for about 25-30 minutes.
Serve nice & hot!


Kitchen Tips:
~ Need more sauce, the ratio of butter, flour, & milk is 1:1.
This means for every extra tbsp of butter, you need another
tbsp of flour and 1 cup of milk.
~ Make it low fat by using skim milk & lean meat.
~ If you don't have lean meat, make sure to rinse the meat
before you continue cooking. This will wash out the grease.

I would LOVE to hear if you try it out!
Happy cooking!!!