Mac and Cheeseburger Casserole

Today is a day when my back is to the wall, I have at least 8 more hours of work to do, and it’s already 6:00 P.M.

And since I have had no time for lunch, I am STARVING…. Time for fast, filling, comfort food.

I have pasta, I have cheese, and it looks like I have some chuck steak, so it looks like a cheeseburger n mac casserole…

A couple of things here. I do NOT buy ground beef, I like to KNOW what I am eating, so see my tirade on the meat industry, and see my post on Ground Beef – Make your own. No I’ve not gone Slow Foods, I have gone healthy foods, and tasty foods…

Preparation Sauce:

1. Foam out butter over medium low heat
2. Fry Cumin Seeds until aromatic (~60 sec)
3. Add onion, and saute unitl onions are translucent, (~5 minutes)
4. Add garlic and saute until aromatic, (~60 sec)
5. Whisk in flour and cook ~ 60 sec
6. Add milk and whisk until thickened, (~5 minutes)
7. Stir in Tomatoes and Herbs
8. Add Cheese in batches (~1/4 cup), stir each batch until melted

Preparing Casserole:

1. Preheat the oven to 350
2. Brown beef in a dutch oven
3. Remove beef and drain
4. Add 7 cups water to dutch oven and bring to a boil
5. Add pasta and cook until tender (~6-7 minutes)
6. Add ground beef
7. Add sauce and stir to coat
8. Top with bread crumbs (optional)
9. Top with cheese (optional)
10. Bake in oven until bubbling (~25 minutes)

Serve with a side salad.