Area chefs and businesses are sharing special recipes this season, as we all begin cooking up a storm. PenBayPilot.com is posting recipes and tips throughout the holidays. Enjoy!

Chef de Cuisine Brian Krum of Fresh Restaurant, on Bayview Landing in Camden, gives us a festive, traditional Greek, family holiday meal.

The recipe calls for a pound of ground lamb and feta cheese. If you wish to simplify the dish, substitute ground beef and Parmesan cheese. It will give you a dish that’s more akin to American Chop Suey, and popular on the Midcoast.

Krum said that this dish works well for potluck. Start to finish, it only takes 80 minutes, not counting the prep time. The dish goes extremely well with grilled zucchini and roasted red cherry tomatoes.

The recipe serves six people.

Fresh Pastitsio

Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) package Elbow Macaroni
1 pound Ground Lamb (or extra lean ground beef)
2 medium Onions, chopped, about 1 cup
1/4 pound Butter, melted
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp. Oregano
2 cups Water
1 (8 oz) can Tomato Paste, no salt added

For the white sauce:

3 Tbs. Corn Starch
3 cups Milk
1/2 cup Water
1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves
1/4 tsp. Salt
4 Eggs, beaten

Topping:

2 cups Feta Cheese (or 2 cups Parmesan Cheese, grated)
2 additional cups Parmesan Cheese

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Butter a 13 X 9 X 2 inch baking dish.
Cook and drain pasta as directed on the package.
While the pasta is cooking, cook the beef and onion together in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until beef is browned. Drain.
Stir in salt, cinnamon, tomato paste and water.
Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.

For sauce:

Heat milk on stovetop until simmering, stirring often.
Combine cornstarch and water and add to milk.
Cook, stirring frequently with a wire whisk until mixture starts to thicken (do not boil).
Stir in cloves and salt.
Add cheese and stir until cheese is melted.
Stir in eggs.

Combine:

Spread half the pasta in the buttered baking dish.
Spread beef mixture evenly over pasta.
Sprinkle with 1 cup of parmesan cheese.
Add remaining pasta and beef and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Remove and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

More Holiday Cooking Tips:

• Francine Bistro: Brussels Sprouts Salad

• Darby's Restaurant: Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Apricot Brandy Mushroom Sauce

• Delvino's: White Chocolate Candy Cane Martini

• Fresh: Fresh Pastitsio

• Park Street Grille: Braised Duck Adobo

• Graffam Bros. Seafood Market: Lobster Mac and Cheese

• Shepherd's Pie: Roasted Mussels with Cedar Leaf; Roasted Cauliflower with Rhode Island Sauce

• Chocolate Drop Candy Shoppe: Eggnog Milkshake and Chocolate Peppermint Sundae