Some of you asked that I post this cheap, easy, quick recipe for my casserole dish. First, let me tell you how this came about!
Have you ever had one of those days where you stand there, staring into your cupboard and say, "There's NOTHING here to eat!" Oh yeah, the cupboard is full of "stuff" but nothing that is left there seems to go together to make something that could be called "dinner!"
In the back of my mind, I had this nagging thought about a "Hamburger Helper" meal I had made a few weeks ago. Usually, I'm disappointed in those boxes. But since they were on this fantastic, "can't pass it up" sale, I got some. The one I bought had a creamy Italian sauce. Of course, I had to add my own hamburger, and the little baggy of 12 or so noodles wouldn't feed any hungry family of 4 that I know of. So. . . . I set out to make my own.
But what could I use that was in this mish-mash of canned goods in my cupboard????
This is what I came up with: Please don't laugh ---- it is definitely NOT gourmet, or healthy, or . . . . . experienced cook stuff.
I had a large can of tomato soup on hand. That'lldo!
1 reg. size diced tomatoes
1 can evaporated milk
That made my base of my sauce
I sauteed about a 1/2 bag of frozen peppers and onions -- didn't brown them, just cooked enough to be "done."
Added this to the sauce above.
Then, I added some leftover hamburger that I had fried up and seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic the night before.
From here, it was taste and test several times. I added lots of pepper, Italian seasoning -- add whatever you would like in yours.
I let all of this simmer for a little while -- while my noodles were cooking.
When noodles were just done, I drained, mixed everything together, threw it in a casserole dish. I sprinkled the top with grated parmessan cheese and bread crumbs and baked until it was bubbly and the top was beginning to brown a little.
I have to say, it was REALLY good! And I love Fast!
Now! Please note that there are some great recipes out there that call for more sophisticated ingredients. Like heavy cream, crumbled bacon, sun dried tomatoes, ricotta cheese, etc. Some or all of these items could be substituted for what I used in mine. The bacon sounds really good, as does the sun dried tomatoes.
Let me know how yours turns out!!!!
