Darla's Healthier Hamburger Help'r

Threw these ingredients together tonight and everybody in the family liked it. Maybe it should be called Hamburger Miracle!

Here's what you need:

2 cups elbow macaroni (measure uncooked)
1-2 lbs lean ground beef
1 can tomato soup (I use store brand)
1/2 can water
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 tsp dried oregano

Boil water to begin cooking macaroni in a 2 qt saucepan according to package directions. It generally takes about 10-11 minutes for pasta to cook, so while that's cooking, brown ground beef in frying pan. Drain off any grease. Add can of tomato soup then water, salt, pepper, and oregano. Stir until heated through.

When the macaroni is done, drain it using colander. Return macaroni to saucepan. Pour sauce mixure into macaroni. Mix. Add in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

If you don't care for a lot of cheese, you could leave it out completely or just sprinkle a little on top.

Kid friendly macaroni and cheese

This recipe comes from a Boar's Head brand catalog, so of course they'd like for you to buy their products...but if you can't find Boar's Head in your store, I'm sure you could substitute with other brand cheeses. I've put asterisks to further explain some ideas I have.

4 TBSP unsalted butter****
3 TBSP All-purpose flour
2-1/2 cups whole milk
1 lb Boar's Head Yellow American Cheese, chunked*
1/2 tsp dry mustard**
1 lb macaroni, in shapes like pinwheels and spirals***
1/4 cup Boar's Head Vermont Cheddar Cheese, grated
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Coat 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Melt 3 TBSP butter, add four, and cook over moderate heat for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Don't let it brown. Add milk and whisk constantly until thickened: 3 to 5 minutes. Add American cheese, mustard, salt and pepper, and stir until blended. Remove from heat.

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain well, but do not rinse.Mix cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce. Stir until blended. Pur mac and cheese into baking dish. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs. Dot with remaining tablespoon of butter. Bake 30 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

*You could replace this with cheddar cheese, or for more smoothness, you could use Velveeta.
**Dry mustard will be found with spices etc in your grocery store. It won't be labeled Dry Mustard, it will just be labeled Mustard, but it's a powder, usually in a tin.
***I've even found Disney pasta shapes, so check out all the options to pick something your kids will like.
****It's important to use UNSALTED butter. Makes sense if you think about why. Cheese is pretty salty, so if you have salted butter with cheese, it's going to be entirely too salty. Also keep in mind you can look for reduced fat cheeses to reduce the calorie count of this.

Low Fat Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni & Cheese

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
2 cups uncooked macaroni
8 oz. reduced fat cheese product (like Velveeta Light), cut into cubes
1/2 cup non-fat milk
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
1. Cook macaroni as directed by package. Drain and return to sauce pan.
2. Over low heat, add milk, salt, pepper, and cheese to cooked pasta. Stir until cheese is melted and pasta is evenly coated.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 234
Fat: 6.5 g
Carbohydrates: 28 g
Protein: 15.4 g

Homemade "Hamburger Helper"

Cheap Hamburger Helper

1 lb of ground beef
2 boxes of store brand macaroni and cheese

Brown hamburger
At same time cook macaroni and cheese as per box instructions adding in
just a little extra milk
When all is done mix hamburger into mac & cheese
Cook over medium heat for a few more minutes adding in any seasoning you
like

--
Courtesy of:
CJ Marley
www.fungifts4kids.com
FUN GIFTS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

Tuna Casserole

I make this one so much, that I have memorized it! It is very easy.
A great thing about this recipe is that you can make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. Everyone in our family loves it, from youngest to oldest...and my husband hates fish so this is really saying something!

Darla
http://darladixon.com/

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Tuna Casserole

• 2 cups uncooked elbow pasta

• 1 can tuna (I recommend the tuna in vegetable oil - if you use tuna packed in water, it tends to get dried out in the baking process...the vegetable oil keeps it more moist and flavorful).

• 1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup

• 1 cup whole milk

• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

• 1/4 tsp. dry mustard

• 2 tbsp. minced onion (if you want less, try 1-1/2 tbsp)

-1 small can mushroom stems and pieces (optional)...I often leave this out because the kids don't like the mushrooms.

Boil elbow pasta according to package directions. Drain.

While the pasta is cooking, combine drained tuna, soup, milk, only ONE cup of the cheese and the remaining ingredients in large mixing bowl.

Mix in the cooked elbow pasta.
Pour into greased 2 quart casserole dish, top with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
Cook in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cheese on top is melted.

Let sit 10-15 minutes before serving.

Peppy Mac & Cheese Pizza Pasta

Recipe today from Dana -
"We change this recipe up some, adding in other veggies at time to the mix or
other meat/s. But mostly my kids love it as is. This has been a hit at
potluck dinners as well.

This recipe is great for taking to parties and is always a big hit at home
too!"

Dana -
Dana's sites are: http://AmazingDesignSolutions.com - Hosting, Design, Domains, Ultimate Site Builder, & Carts.
http://MamaUniverse.com - Forum, Games & more for Mamas
http://FlipAlbumDesigns.com - Free & Premium FlipAlbum Themes.

Get more recipes at MamaUniverse!!!


Peppy Mac & Cheese Pizza Pasta

2 boxes Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese (or any pasta and 2 cups grated cheese or
velvetta will work).
1 12oz. can tomato sauce
1-2 package of sliced pepperoni (or slice your own)

Boil Pasta for Mac & Cheese.
While pasta is boiling - brown pepperoni, drain off excess oil.
Add tomato sauce to cooked pepperoni, heat over medium.
Add cheese sauce (or grated cheese of your choice if doing homemade) and
melt together with pepperoni and tomato sauce. When pasta is done, drain and
mix all together in large saucepan with tomato sauce mixture.

Serve with salad and garlic bread for a full meal.

Macaroni Surprise - kids love it

Today's easy recipe is courtesy of Tina Marie Rey of
http://www.TMRey.com

Macaroni Surprise

1 Box of Elbow Macaroni
1 Jar of your favorite tomato pasta sauce
1 lb of chopmeat
3 TBsp of Olive Oil
1 TBsp of Garlic
1/2 of a Vidalia onion - chopped
1/2 cup of Miracle Whip

Cook the Pasta as directed, and put aside when finished. While the Pasta is cooking, Cook till soft the chopped onion and garlic in the olive oil, then brown your chopmeat in the mixture. When your chopmeat is all brown, remove any excess oil or grease from the pan, and add the sauce. Cook for another 10 minutes. Add this over the finished pasta, and stir it all thoroughly. After it is all mixed, add the 1/2 cup of miracle whip. It adds a wonderful zing to the recipe, and my kids love it!

Will serve 6-8

Tina Marie Rey
http://www.TMRey.com