2Tsp olive oil
500g ground beef (or ground lamb, or a mixture of both)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
300g can tomato puree or sauce
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pkg. spaghetti or You can substitute ziti or penne 


For the béchamel sauce:

2Tsp cup unsalted butter 
3Tsp all purpose flour
1 liter milk
a pinch of ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese (or cheddar cheese )

Begin with the Meat Filling:

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until pink color disappears, about 5 minutes.
Add onions and cook until they are translucent, about 5 minutes more.
Add tomato sauce, allspice, cinnamon, salt, and pepper and allow sauce to simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. While sauce is simmering put water on to boil for pasta.

Cook pasta noodles according to package directions and drain well. Rinse pasta in colander under cold water to cool them slightly.

Brush the bottom and sides of the lasagna pan with olive oil. Layer the bottom with half the pasta noodles and press down so that they are somewhat flat.

Add the meat filling in an even layer to the pasta. Top with remaining pasta noodles and flatten top layer as best you can.
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees while you prepare the béchamel sauce.

Béchamel Sauce: 

Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Using a whisk, add flour to melted butter whisking continuously to make a smooth paste or roux.
Allow the flour/butter mixture to cook for a minute but do not allow it to brown.
Add milk to mixture in a steady stream, whisking continuously. Simmer over low heat until it thickens 
Add pinch of nutmeg. If sauce still needs to thicken, return to heat and cook over very low heat while continuing to stir

Béchamel is thicker than gravy but not quite as thick as pudding. It should be somewhere in between..

Pour the béchamel over the pasta noodles making sure to pour sauce down in to the corners as well. Sprinkle with remaining grated Parmesan cheese. Bake in 180c oven for 30 minutes or until the top is a nice golden color. serve !