So, is there anything from your SAD {Standard American Diet} days that you really miss? I miss things like Yoohoos and Cheetos. Sometimes I miss Pepperidge Farm coconut cake that my grandma used to serve at Christmas time. And, sometimes I miss freakin’ Hamburger Helper. Yes, I admit it. * hanging head *
Those are just a few things that I really loved from my SAD days but I really liked TV dinners {when they came in foil trays} and bakery cakes too … like cream cake. Yumm.
But, Hamburger Helper. That really brings back the memories. We used to love the lasagna version but we also liked the classic version of macaroni and cheddar cheese.
Well, after today, there’s no longer a reason to miss it. I’ve come up with a version that’s just as tasty and almost as easy. It can be made in about 30 minutes from ingredients you probably have on hand.
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 12 oz. macaroni, rice pasta*, Pasta Joy
- 4 cups water
- 1 Tbls chicken bullion, Better than Bullion
- 1 cup tomato, diced
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- to taste salt & pepper
- Brown burger in large skillet.
- Add water and bullion and bring to a boil.
- Add pasta and bring back to a boil.
- Simmer pasta covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Water will begin to thicken from the starch.)
- Add tomatoes and simmer (covered) until pasta is tender.
- Uncover and add cream cheese that has been cut into 8 pieces.
- Stir over low heat until cream cheese is melted.
- Add cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
- Season with salt and pepper.
A couple notes on the ingredients I use:
I use pastured beef. If you’re not sure where to find it, start here.
I use Pasta Joy rice pasta. Here’s a place to buy it.
I make my own bone broth. If you’d like to know how, here’s a short primer.
I buy organic produce whenever possible.
My one concession is that I use conventional cream cheese for this because homemade won’t give you the same thickening power as a commercial brand. If you’re concerned about RbST, buy organic.
* This can be made with regular (wheat) pasta too! You’ll just have to pay attention to the moisture level and add some more broth if it gets too thick. Make it as thick or thin as you like.
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