TWO LAYER BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• RED SAUCE: Cook ground beef in a large skillet, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
• Drain off fat.
• Add next 7 ingredients& cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes& paste, bring to a boil, then reduce heat& simmer until a spoon scraped across the bottom of the pan leaves a gap that fills in slowly.
• This should take about 30 minutes.
• WHITE SAUCE: Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan.
• Whisk in flour& cook, whisking constantly, for a minute.
• Gradually add milk, 1/2 cup at a time, whisking constantly; continue cooking& whisking until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in cheese& seasonings.
• PASTA: Cook in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but firm, about 8- 10 minutes or according to package directions.
• Coarsely chop spinach, add to the pot& give it a stir.
• Drain well.
• ASSEMBLY: Arrange half of the pasta mixture in a 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish.
• Spoon red sauce over top; sprinkle with artichoke hearts.
• Top with remainder of pasta mixture.
• Spoon white sauce over top; sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake in preheated 375F oven until bubbly& golden, about 25 minutes.
• Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• If made in advance& frozen, thaw in refrigerator& add 10 minutes to cooking time.