Whiteley Creek Homestead

I love challenges, no matter how simple. Today I started my most recent one… to try different recipes for hamburger macaroni hotdish. It's such a basic comfort food but with so many variations. I googled it and chose a recipe link from the first few in the list that popped up. This one is from simplyrecipes.com. In 30 minutes, you'll be sitting down to a hearty meal.

Hamburger Macaroni Hotdish #1

1 lb ground beef (I use buffalo from A & J’s Buffalo Ranch near Pequot Lakes, which is 17 miles from Brainerd, that I cook by adding a little water to the pan then brown after the water has evaporated. Buffalo is so low in fat that either oil or water is needed.)

1 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced 

½ tsp seasoned salt (I use Johnny’s seasoning salt.)

Dash crushed red pepper

½ tsp celery seed

2-14 ½ oz cans diced or stewed tomatoes with basil and garlic

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (I use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos.)

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or 4 tsp dried parsley

2 cups uncooked macaroni (I used *Eden Organic Kamut Spirals.)

Cook macaroni according to directions on package. Brown ground beef (or buffalo) in oil or water. Add onions and sauté during final few minutes of browning time. Add remaining ingredients except macaroni and simmer for about 10 minutes. Mix in cooked and drained macaroni. Simmer for another 5 minutes. (For reheating leftovers, add a little water. I like to use the liquid byproduct from steaming veggies like broccoli.) Serves 4.

*Eden Organic Kamut Spirals is made from whole grain kamut wheat. Kamut (pronounced kuh-MOOT) is “an ancient grain revived by an organic farmer in the 1940s. Its plump, high protein golden kernels make whole grain pasta of surprisingly smooth texture. Many with sensitivity to modern wheat can enjoy kamut because of its highly water soluble gluten.” 

 *Eden Organic Kamut Spirals is made from whole grain kamut wheat. Kamut (pronounced kuh-MOOT) is “an ancient grain revived by an organic farmer in the 1940s. Its plump, high protein golden kernels make whole grain pasta of surprisingly smooth texture. Many with sensitivity to modern wheat can enjoy kamut because of its highly water soluble gluten.”