This meal makes a quick and easy weeknight dinner for your family. I can remember my mother buying a box of Hamburger Helper way back in the early 1970's when it first came on the market. She left it sitting in the pantry so long that when I finally decided that I would make it for dinner myself, the box was full of weevils. Yuck! I could not get that out of my mind. I have no idea what we ate that night but I probably didn't eat much of whatever it was. In any event, you don't have to go to the supermarket to buy a box of Hamburger Helper. It is probably a lot healthier and tastier if you make it yourself. You can make almost any variety of Hamburger Helper yourself with a little forethought and planning. What you need to have on hand to create homemade helpers: Ground beef, various herbs and seasonings and other basic pantry items (such as sugar, salt, and corn starch), pasta, rice, potatoes, canned tomatoes, and cheese. (You can buy large bags of shredded cheeses to shortcut this step, or buy blocks of cheese and shred it yourself.) Some varieties also call for Frito's or nacho chips, and most call for milk because it makes a creamier sauce. Keep a large box of dry milk in the pantry so that you are never out of milk.
Lasagna Hamburger
Buddy
(Copycat Recipe)
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
2-1/4 cups hot water
1/2 cup milk
1-1/2 cups lasagna broken into small pieces or small egg
noodles
1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Prepare a spice packet including:
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon mixed Italian herbs
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
After browning and draining the ground beef (one pound),
in the same skillet add water and milk and tomato sauce, seasonings, and simmer
(about 10-20 minutes). Stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded, near the
end, sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese during the 5-minute standing period. Serve.
Enjoy!
The Creative Cook