| I know there are some of you out there hanging on for dear life to your Hamburger Helper. Admit it. Even though it’s got TONS of additives and not-so-good stuff for you in it, you keep it. Like a safety net or a blankey. But guess what? You can make your OWN Hamburger Helper and it will taste even better. Bye bye additives and artificial coloring! Hello Lumberjack Macaroni! This post is for you, Tia Thomas!Guest posting for me today is my very close and dear friend, Brandy. You’ll probably get used to seeing her around here because I like her point of view. Thanks Brandy! |
Stashed in the closet at my grandparents’ house was a box of cookbooks. Not many other people in my family were interested in cooking from scratch, so I gladly accepted the box when my grandad offered it to me. Mike and I took it home and looked through its treasured contents. In it, there were many cookbooks and handwritten recipes–recipes I recognized. The garlic toast, the Busy Day cake, the Economical Gold cake. My Grandma Lois was known for her cakes and now I would be, too. Two more wonderful surprises were the Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook and the Betty Crocker Cooky Book. Both of these books are central to cooking in our home. If I’m looking for a recipe for a pie, waffles, cookies or how long to broil a steak, I check Betty first. One of my favorites from the Picture Cookbook is Lumberjack Macaroni. I tried it first because I liked the name, but I also appreciate its simplicity and economy. My daughter noted how much it was like “Burger Helper” (without all the creepy flavor enhancers). Here is my modified version: |
Lumberjack Macaroni
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If you are offered old cookbooks from someone in your family, take them. Treasure them. If agriculture is the single most essential human activity, cooking is surely not far behind. |
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This reminds me a lot of the Mexican Mac & Cheese that we make quite often – I make mac & cheese, then stir in a can of chili beans and a can of diced tomatoes with green chilis. It is yummy!!
do you have a homemade chili recipe??
There is one on the site…..and I hope to come out with one this fall. 🙂
http://www.stacymakescents.com/deceptively-delicious-turkey-chili
Can’t wait to try it!
I may be uninformed — but isn’t American “cheese” actually processed cheese? If so, is processed cheese a “whole food”? This is in no way meant to be a criticism, if anything – it may be a stupid question. I figured you’d be just the person (or one of your readers) to answer this question. thanks
ps I don’t eat American cheese, so I’m not really that familiar with it.
Dianne, you are correct. American cheese IS processed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cheese). Our family doesn’t like it, so we don’t eat it. Any time a recipe calls for American, I substitute cheddar – without exception.
You could easily substitute any cheese in this recipe. Even with the American cheese in it, a homemade version of HH is going to contain a lot less additives. 🙂
This may be one HH I can actually eat without feeling sick. I don’t know what it is about that stuff in the box, but it just makes me sick…yuck!
Amanda, I have never cared for HH either. 🙂
Wow! The original recipe called for a LOT of butter!! :O 🙂 Looks delicious. 🙂
Butter is very delicious. 🙂
Yum – sounds simple & easy and GOOD! Thanks!
Easy peasy! Thanks for this recipe Brandy. I like Mr. Bell’s attitude, lol!
Have you seen this post ever? http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/homemade-hamburger-helper/ It’s like a HH knock off bible. 🙂