Baked Rigatoni with Meat Sauce

It's a perfect Sunday meal. This sauce isn't your typical tomato saucy meat rigatoni. Please enjoy,it's special enough for Christmas Eve dinner too!



Ingredients

 * 2 tablespoons olive oil
 * 2 tablespoons butter
 * 1 Onion, chopped
 * 1 carrot, finely chopped
 * 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
 * 2 cloves garlic, minced
 * 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
 * 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
 * 1 lb rigatoni Pasta
 * 1 lb lean ground beef (at least 90% lean)
 * 1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed
 * 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
 * 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
 * 1/2 cup white wine
 * 4 cups canned diced tomatoes in tomato puree
 * 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
 * 1/2 lb mozzarella Cheese, shredded

Directions

 * In large pan heat oil& butter over low heat.
 * Add Onion, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, basil and cook until very soft, about 20 minutes.
 * Raise heat to moderate, add ground Beef, fennel seed, salt and black pepper, cook until no longer pink.
 * Add wine and cook until almost evaporated, about 5 minutes.
 * Add tomatoes with juices and simmer covered for 30 minutes.
 * Stir in Parmesan and continue to cook.
 * Preheat oven to 350, and lightly grease 3 quart baking dish.
 * In a large pot of boiling water cook rigatoni until almost al dente, about 12 minutes.
 * Drain, toss Pasta with meat sauce.
 * Put 1/2 of the mixture in dish, sprinkle with 1/2 the mozzarella, cover with remaining Pasta mixture, and top with remaining Cheese.
 * Bake until Pasta is hot, about 20 minutes.