Ground Beef And Potato Casserole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 medium white potatoes (pared, and sliced very thin)
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup celery, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon celery leaves (fresh or dried optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (spicy optional)
Cheese sauce
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup milk (add a little more if needed)
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
Topping
1 pinch paprika
grated cheddar cheese

Preparation

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
Preheat oven 375 degrees.
Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and brown ground beef.
Drain ground beef, if necessary.
Add onions and celery to same skillet and cook until soft, adding rest of spice ingredients through pepper flakes. Stir well. But in a bowl and set to the side.
In same skillet, melt butter (or use 1 tablespoon of leftover grease from browning ground beef). Add flour to butter, stirring for one minute over medium-high heat.
Gradually add milk and cook till bubbly and thickened.
Add cheese, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and chili powder continue to stir until melted.
Spoon 1/4 cup of the ground beef mixture and spread evenly on bottom of a baking dish.
Add 1 layer of potatoes.
Alternate ground beef mixture, then potatoes until completely used.
Pour cheese sauce over ground beef and potato mixture.
Top with a pinch of paprika and grated cheese.
Bake for 1 hour, or until potatoes and beef are bubbly and done.