theinspiredhillbilly

Now, I’m fully aware that you can buy every thinkable version of hamburger helper at the grocery store, and all you have to do is add the meat.  I’m also fully aware that most people prefer items that can just be assembled from a box and somehow today that qualifies as a “home-made” meal (anyone feel a rant coming on?). 

Come on folks, what happened to the day where we spent time being creative, wanted to actually invest time creating something for our family, and wanted to do something original?  I know we have busy lives, I know that many things take our focus and time away from kitchen time, but should it?  The family dinner table (the one at your house, not down at Cracker Barrel) is still a place where memories are made and we connect to one another.

Oh, I hear the voices saying, “Well, he’s single, he has time to cook.”  Folks, when I was working a job that took 50 hours a week, and was investing 15 to 20 hours a week at my church involved in ministry, I still took time to cook.  Yes, I’m single and ate alone, but it connected me to great memories of my childhood, my heritage, and when friends were over, it showed them that I wanted to invest some time in doing something special for them.

One great memory (rant now subsiding) I have from my childhood is my mom’s hamburger helper.  Nope, no boxed food here.  She had her own recipe and made it from scratch every time and made it her way.  So we named it, “Mommy’s Helper” in honor of her effort.  I think we even bought the store version once, and mom’s was by far superior and dad was told to never pick that stuff up again at the store. 

So as I’ve done with some of my mom’s great recipes, I’ve taken this great recipe and fixed it many, many times; each time remembering our growing up and mom’s great cooking.  So, I’m going to provide you this simple recipe for the base “mommy’s helper” and then share with you some add-on’s that will make this a great recipe that you can make your own.  Enjoy!!!!  This recipe will feed 5 Hillbilly’s or 8 Yankees, lol.

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs Hamburger (try to get at least 85/15 fat ratio, or leaner)
1 Large Sweet Onion – Chopped
1 Medium Bell Pepper – Chopped
Worcestershire Sauce
1 lb Elbow Macaroni – Cooked
Ketchup
Salt & Pepper

DIRECTIONS

Brown the hamburger with the onions and bell pepper.  Don’t just get it cooked, make sure you get some good browning. Drain the drippings (that’s the grease for you Yankees). Add Salt and Pepper.  Taste the meat, if it doesn’t taste good at this point, add more salt and pepper.  Taste your food!!!!!

Now add Worcestershire Sauce.  I’d say at least 2 Tablespoons, but honestly I never measure.  Taste it and see if it’s good.  Now add the cooked elbow macaroni.  Add Ketchup, again to taste, but I’d say maybe a cup or two?  Just depends on desired flavor.

Heat until hot all the way through, and that’s the basic “Mommy’s Helper”

ADDITIONAL POSSIBILITIES

Sausage – Instead of 2 lbs. of Hamburger, only use 1 lb and substitute with 1 lb. of great Country Sausage.  The two meats will blend together really well and provide great flavor.

Italian Twist – Adding a can or two of diced tomatoes really will bring more of an Italian flavor to it.  Also you could add some Oregano and Italian Seasoning.  Add Parmesan Cheese as well.

Parmesan Cheese – Sometimes I’ll add a cup or so of Parmesan Cheese to the base mixture just to give it a little twist.

A Chili Twist – Sometimes, I’ll take that base mixture, and add Chili Powder.  Then I’ll add a couple of cans of either Kidney Beans, or Pinto Beans.  It really is good and provides more protein in the meal.  And yes, keep the macaroni in there, it’s good!  Maybe also add some Cheddar Cheese in the end.

A Veggie Take – Want a whole meal of this creation?  Add to the base mixture a couple of cans of drained, whole kernel corn.  Along with that, add a can of drained carrots, and a can of drained peas, or some frozen peas.  Friends, it’s really good.  Just make sure to taste it, and add more Worcestershire Sauce and Ketchup to mask the veggies from your kids, lol.

So, now you have it, a unique and easy home-made meal.  Hope you’ll try this Hillbilly Hamburger Helper!