I don't know about the rest of you, but I practically grew up on Hamburger Helper. Their Stroganoff is one of my favorites; but I always feel bad serving it to my family because it has so much sodium, the preservatives, it's prepackaged, etc. So, I was looking in my favorite cookbook-Miserly Meals-and found a recipe for "Helping Hamburger." It is practically as easy as the famous Hamburger Helper, but I feel better because I know what's in it! I thought it was great and Draven asked for 3rds, but Pierce hasn't had it yet. I made homemade Chicken Tenders (also from Miserly Meals) for lunch today, so he's eating those instead. So, in case your mouth waters every time you see the little white hand man, here is the recipe...
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup uncooked macaroni
15 oz can tomato sauce
1/3 cup Onion Soup Mix (I used one package)
1 1/2 cups water
Brown hamburger. Drain the fat. Add the remaining ingredients. Stir to mix well, cover, simmer for 15 minutes or until noodles are tender.
Variations:
Cheesy-This is the one I made...Add 1/2 cup grated cheddar during the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
Mexican-Add 1 tsp. Mexican Seasoning Mix, omit noodles, and serve over tortilla or corn chips.
Stroganoff-Replace tomato sauce with 1 cup sour cream, and replace macaroni with egg noodles.
My grocery budget has been obliterated lately and I'm looking for more cheap AND healthy meals so if you have any, please share!
4 comments:
Jennifer this recipe sounds great! I will have to try it. Oh the joys of cooking on a budget right! Also do you think you could send me the picts of the party? That would be great.
Jenn - one of our faves is creamy chicken noodle soup.
Boil 2 quarts water. Add 1 whole chicken breast cut into cubes, 2 big carrots peeled and sliced (or a few handfuls of baby carrots), 2 celery stalks washed and sliced, and 1/2 of a medium onion chopped. Reduce heat to medium and cook about 20 minutes till chicken is done.
Turn the heat back up and add about 2 more quarts water and 1 TBSP chicken base (we get it at Sam's - you can use bouillion instead if that's what you have). When this is all boiling again, add 1 1/2 packages bow tie pasta and cook just until al dente. Do not drain! Stir in 2 cans cream of chicken soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
This makes a BIG pot of soup. If you want to make less, add only about a quart of water the 2nd time and use just 1 package of noodles. You may only need 1 can of cream of chicken soup if you do that. It depends on how much water is left after the noodles cook.
My kids love this! Our little friend Kolter says it's his favorite meal and always asks for it when we take dinner to their house on date nights!
There are a bunch of easy (and cheap!) recipes on my blog under the recipe label. Thanks for sharing the helping hamburger recipe. I'll have to try that one. I may have to pick up that cookbook too! Happy cooking!
I was not a total loser mom!!! We ate things other than Hamburger Helper! Good grief - don't make me look so bad! Ha!
Can't wait to try that Creamy Chicken Soup...maybe we'll have to invite someone over to share it with us since it makes so much!
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