Easy Ground Beef #1 – Creamy, Meaty Rotini

I was asked to do some recipes for ground beef that were easy and quick. So, I’m taking this week and dedicating it to ground beef. Beef! It’s what’s for dinner! Where’s the beef? This is sort of a Stacy original. I used a recipe from Taste of Home as a base, and went from there. I didn’t have all the ingredients that it called for, so I improvised……I didn’t follow the recipe. Don’t shoot me or turn me in to Martha Stewart. If you shoot me, you may end up in prison WITH Martha Stewart. You can do so many things with ground beef. I grew up on a cattle farm, so we’ve always had beef in abundance. I’ve never had to buy it at the store, but I hear it’s pretty cheap as far as meat is concerned. So, let’s make a cheap meal shall we?

You’ll need ground beef, sour cream, green pepper, mushrooms, shredded cheese, tomato soup, canned tomatoes, and rotini pasta. If you don’t have rotini, use what you have…..macaroni, penne, bowtie. Pasta is so much fun! Plus, it makes great art. Oh yeah, and oregano. I’m a little scatterbrained sometimes so I left it out of the picture. I sometimes feel like I’m out of the picture, so it’s fitting. Because my canned tomatoes were “No Salt Added” I had to add salt later. So, what is the use of getting them that way if I’m going to add salt anyway? Hmmmm, good question. I’m full of good questions…..and my husband says I’m full of something else too. It. Whatever “it” is.

In a big ole skillet you need to brown your meat. Also cook the green peppers and mushrooms with it. It will help them get nice and done. I don’t like crispy veggies in my spaghetti. That’s just wrong. If you use a plastic stirring spoon make sure you don’t leave it on the side of the skillet too long, or it will get soft and bend into a funny shape, making it hard to fit in the drawer. Not that I’ve done that or anything…..I just hear it happens to some people.

While you’re browning your meat, go ahead and cook your pasta. I always add salt to my water, about 1 teaspoon, because I think it makes the pasta taste better. Can you tell I am not afraid of salt? Still not sure why I bought those no salt tomatoes……and no, I do not have high blood pressure.

When your meat is browned, you’ll want to drain it. I grab a colander and stick it in the sink. I dump my meat in and then use the sprayer with really hot water to rinse.  I don’t always rinse my meat, but when I used tomato sauced things I do. I don’t like seeing that greasy layer on the top of my red sauce. Eww. When it’s rinsed, dump it back into your skillet and set it back on the stove.

To your meaty skillet, add your tomato soup, diced tomatoes, salt to taste, and oregano. Stir it up really good and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer about 5 minutes to get nice and hot and let the flavors blend together. It’s going to pop red tomato juice all over your stove, but don’t sweat it…..a messy kitchen means a yummy meal. Or it means Mama’s been too busy to clean.

Now, stir in your sour cream. Make sure you mix it up nice and good. It will turn a pale red color. Nice! Let it warm up a tad. It’s smelling pretty delicious right now. Don’t try some, it’s hot and it will burn your tongue so that you don’t enjoy your dessert after dinner.

Your pasta should be done by now, so just drain it using the same colander that you used for your meat. I’m not here to give you extra dishes to wash…….unless someone else is washing them and then by all means use a different colander! Make it look like you really worked hard for this meal. Smear red sauce on your arms and face.

Grab a pretty plate and dish out your pasta. I love my daisy plates!

Pour your meat sauce on top of the pasta. Ohhhhh baby!

Now, top it with your desired cheese. I think this was Colby because that’s what I had in the fridge. Parmesan would be ok too. Maybe even blue cheese if you like to live on the edge and like stinky breath.

There you have it! You’ve been working less than 30 minutes on this meal. Don’t you feel proud? And hungry? Go eat dinner. Make someone else wash the dishes.