Homemade Hamburger Helper

I was raised by a middle eastern single father and hamburger helper certainly wasn't on the menu at our house.. He worked all day and cooked delicious mediterranean meals from scratch every night. I didn't know how good I had it because all I wanted to do was stay for dinner at my friends house and experience all the processed foods that I wasn't allowed to have at my house. To me it was a treat and I loved it. Of course, we know now more than ever that all those preservatives are terrible for us. But if you're feeling nostalgic, you can recreate an even better version of those childhood helper meals that you had when you were a kid. It comes together quickly, easily and all in one pot.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound of ground meat ( I used beef)

• 1 Large onion, diced

• 6-8 cloves garlic minced

• 1 Jalapeños, seeded and minced (optional) you could also use a bell pepper

• 2-3 Stalks of celery

• 1 Carrot finely shredded

• 1 Cup of chopped freshly tomatoes or a 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes

• 3 Cups of broth ( I used beef broth since I used ground beef)

• 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce

• 1 cup cream

• 12 Ounces macaroni or comparably sized pasta

• 1 Tablespoon paprika

• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 Tablespoon onion powder

• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley or handful of fresh parsley

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 Cup of cheddar cheese ( or your favorite cheese)

• 4 Ounces Cream cheese

Directions:

1. In a large pot or dutch oven over a medium heat, sauté meat, onions, garlic, jalapeños, celery, and carrots until meat is no longer pink and veggies have softened. Stir frequently

2. Add tomatoes, sauté another couple minutes

3. Add broth, sauce, cream, seasonings, and herbs, mix together well

4. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat

5. Add pasta and reduce heat to medium low

6. Allow to simmer 10 minutes or until noodles are fully cooked, stirring occasionally

7. Add in cheese

8. Stir until melted

9. Enjoy!