Creamy Mushroom Spaghetti (Spaghetti Alla Funghi Cremoso)

This recipe came to me after my daughter Danielle suggested making spaghetti with a sauce similar to cream of mushroom soup and that's what this basically is: homemade cream of mushroom soup with spaghetti! It is unbelievably flavorful due to the soaking of the dried mushrooms in the milk used for the bechamel. 

Ingredients
1 pound spaghetti

11/2-2 cups dried mushrooms (I get mine at Costco)
1 large onion
2 garlic cloves minced
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
fresh thyme/several sprigs OR 1/2 teaspoon Herbs De Provence OR 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
olive oil
kosher salt
pepper
Parmesan Cheese (For Serving)
Directions
Heat up the milk in a microwave for 3 minutes or until it almost boils but not quite.
Place the dried mushrooms in the hot milk and soak for 15 minutes.
Chop the onion finely and mince the garlic.
You can now start the pasta water.
Drain the mushrooms out of the milk and chop finely, reserve the milk for the bechamel.
Cover the bottom of a hot saute pan with olive oil and saute the onions, garlic, herbs, and mushrooms until golden and caramelized.
Add the wine and cook down for 2-3 minutes. Add salt & pepper to taste (Add salt at end so you can caramelize  the onions. Reserve.
Bechamel:
In a small sauce pan add 3 tablespoons olive oil and 3 tablespoons of flour and heat to a simmer whisk it awhile cooking for 2-3 minutes.
Pour half the milk into the pan with the oil/flour and whisk until thick like heavy cream over medium heat. Add the other half of the milk and do the same. Reserve.
Cook the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
Toss everything together adding the pasta water if it is too dry. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and lots of Parmesan Cheese!
Serving Suggestions: I served this as a main dish with plenty of good quality Parmigiana Reggiano and a salad on the side. Even though the cheese and mushrooms are pricey it still comes out as a low cost meal since there is no meat in this dish. I estimated it at around $7 for a main dish that will feed 6-8, throw in a few more dollars for salad and you have fed a family of 6 for $10!