Yep. Mad old Greek women who wanted to inflict a curse on future generations, because that’s just what evil old Greek mummas do, right?
Ever tried to make Pastitso without using every damned pot and pan, every wooden spoon/whisker/grater, every flat surface in the house? And it takes all freakin’ afternoon to prepare all the layers. :rolleyes:
I HATE making Pastitso. I loathe it with the fire of a squillion suns etc. But oh, GOD, do I LOVE it when the final dish comes bubbling away out of the oven with all its cheesy, fatty goodness oozing out the sides.
Guess what’s for dinner in the Buckta Household tonight?
I’ve never heard of Pastitso. What is it?
Pastitso? Buuuuurp.
It’s like a Greek version of lasagne, only instead of flat pasta sheets, you substitute penne pasta (cooked, then basted in butter and parmesan and tossed with a few eggs for good measure).
And then you make the bechamel sauce. With eggs of course.
And then, you finally make up the meat sauce, but sans oregano but with extra fatty goodness in the form of a cup of the bechamel you made earlier.
After many pots and pans, you get the pleasure of putting it all together in the baking tray…only to find that you have too much pasta and meat, so it all oozes over the top once you add the creme sauce. Topped with some freshly grated reggiano.
Oh, gawd, I feel delightfully sick.
I made Pastitsio… ONCE. I will never again attempt it again, for the very reasons you’ve stated. I’ll leave all the work to the old Greek grannies at the Orthodox Church come Greek Fest time.
But damn, it’s good… I like mine with extra cinnamon, but that’s just me.
Well, I love pastitso, but it’s one of those things I tend to get at a restaurant for just the reason you mention. I did make it once, and I don’t recall it actually using every dish and utensil in the house. I do recall the kids refusing to eat it, however.
Anything with tits in it is bound to be good. Unless it’s really spelled pa’s tits o. In which case I’ll join Sal’s kids and take a pass. I mean, I love my daddy, but…that just ain’t right.