Hamburger Helper is...American

I should be focusing on the patriotic theme this weekend, but if you want to go out on a limb I'd say this recipe is a lot of what America is about. A lot of families are so busy with work and chasing kids around, that grabbing a box of Hamburger Helper is what gets dinner on the table. Plus this particular recipe has Velveeta cheese, and you can't get much more American than that.

I love this new recipe because it's all of the flavors of a Mexican inspired stuffed pepper, but simplified into a delicious one-pot meal that can completely replace the salty, preservative filled mess that is shoved into one of those pre-boxed meals. The diced tomatoes with chilies spices up the meat without being too overpowering, and the mix of cheeses makes it creamy without going overboard.

Recipe of the day: Homemade Hamburger Helper

1/2 yellow onion, diced small
1/2 red bell pepper, diced small
1/2 green bell pepper, diced small
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pepper (do not add salt)
1/2 pound 93% lean ground beef
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel makes it)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 small can beef broth
1 can water
1/2 pound small pasta (I used mezzi rigatoni)
2 oz Velveeta
2 oz sharp cheddar, grated
4 slices Land O Lakes white American cheese

In a large saucepan, add the diced peppers and onions with the oil and saute over medium heat for 5 minutes until softened.

Add the ground beef, and cook 5-7 minutes until meat is browned (see below).

Add the diced tomatoes with chiles and tomato paste, and stir well to distribute.

Add the beef broth and water, and bring to a boil.

Add the uncooked pasta, and stir to distribute.

Bring to a boil (as shown above), stir, and cover. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes to prevent sticking.

Add the cheese, re-cover, and allow to melt 2-3 minutes.

Stir well to incorporate melted cheese, and serve hot.