Caspalle al la bolognese‏

You all thought it was going to be lasagne for our Italian feature but surprise! I chose something slightly different. I hope you still like it and will try to prepare it.

Hint: Kids love the thought of stuffed pancakes!!!!!!

This is what you need:

For the thin pancakes:

6 eggs

12 Tablespoons water

6 Tablespoons flour

salt to taste

For the filling:

1 onion

1 stalk of celery

1/2 cup of thin sliced bacon

1 pound of lean hamburger meat

1 can of diced tomatoes

Garlic to taste

Pepper, Salt to taste

2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

Bechamel sauce for the topping:

3 Tablesoons butter or margarine

4 Tablespoons flour

1/2 cup milk (I use 2 %)

1 cup vegetable or chicken broth

1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream

Salt, pepper and garlic to taste

Nutmeg to taste (less then 1/4 of a teaspoon)

One pack mozzarella cheese or more if you like ;)

This is how you do it:

Let's start with the pancakes:

Whisk the eggs until fluffy, adding the flour and salt until completely mixed.

Last but not least, add the water. If you have sparkling water use that, it makes them even better.

Let the dough sit for a good 15 minutes, then bake THIN pancakes in a skillet and set aside. You should get 6 or 7 out of the dough, maybe more depending on how thin you make them.

Now preheat your oven to 400F/200C

In a skillet, place your bacon and hamburger meat as well as the chopped onion and cellery and brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

In a tall pot, add the butter and melt it.

Than add the flour. It will become a golden color when it's ready.

Pull your pot of the stove and whisk in the broth, milk and whipping cream.

Return to the stove. Whisk the sauce as it comes back to a boil. This will thicken the sauce. Add your seasoning.

Now lets assemble the dish:

Place equal amounts of your hamburger filling on to the pancakes.

Roll up like a burrito and place into a rectangular greased baking dish. Hint, place the opening of the pancake down to ensure it will stay closed.

Top off the dish with the white Bechamel sauce and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. Use as much or as little as you like.

Place the dish in the preheated oven and brown your cheese, about 15 to 20 minutes.