Baked Rigatoni with Meat and Cheese Sauce

Ok folks, I made this last week on a whim...and I must tell you that it was A-MAZING!!! Please, hear me when I tell you that you must try it!!!

For the meat sauce:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 1/2 lb. sausage
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
14 oz. can chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp dried italian herbs
2 tbsp tomato paste (I used an entire 6 oz. can)

For the cream sauce:
1/4 c. butter
1/2 cup flour
1 3/4 c. milk
2 egg yolks
1/2 c. freshly grated parmesan cheese

12 oz. rigatoni
salt and ground black pepper
fresh basil sprigs to garnish


To make the meat sauce, heat the oil in a large skillet and brown the ground beef and sausage. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, herbs, and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan, then stir in the flour and cook for 2 mins, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and gradually stir in the milk. Return the pan to the heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally until thickened. Add the egg yolks, cheese, salt & pepper to taste, and stir until the sauce is well blended. It will be thick.

Preheat the broiler. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water. Drain, and pour into large mixing bowl. Pour on the meat sauce and toss to coat. Now, you can either divide the pasta up into individual flame-proof serving dishes, or just put it in one big casserole dish. Spoon the cheese sauce over the top and place under the broiler until brown. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil.

Yum, yum, yum!!!!!