Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees F and position rack in upper third of oven. Butter a 9-inch round or square baking pan. In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Reserve 1/4 cup grated cheese for topping. In a large bowl, combine remaining grated cheese, milk mixture and uncooked pasta. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.

Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Our evalu8'tion: Halfway through it looked insipid, when I had to take the foil off, but now it looks evilly good. This recipe is remarkably easy, even if the ingredients are guaranteed to go directly to the blood vessels supplying your heart. This version sticks to the casserole pan more than the other one, but it's really excellent. My favourite by a slight margin over the other recipe.

Difficulty level: Easy.