I grew up eating Hamburger Helper, the Cheeseburger Macaroni flavor, and I've never outgrown my love for it. I still make it because it's cheap, it's fast, and it's tasty. The problem is it's made with stuff I can't pronounce. I know there is no way it can be the best choice for my family.
So I was particularly intrigued by Laura's ability to break up with HH and start a new love affair with a recipe made from scratch. Honestly, after the taco corn fritter meal, I was pretty skeptical. But I made it exactly as directed, using whole wheat pasta (not my favorite because it can tend to be tough) and white cheddar cheese that I shredded quickly using my Pampered Chef Ultimate Mandoline. I happily used whole milk to ensure it would be as creamy as possible. I served it up, took a bite, and…
It wasn't exactly like Hamburger Helper. I was worried. But the more I ate, the more my old Hamburger Helper was like a high school honey–long forgotten! The whole wheat pasta was tender, my husband loved it, and the kids who normally eat it were satisfied (c'mon, if everyone ate it, I'd think I was dreaming). Leftovers were particularly yummy I thought.
The great news is it's good, it's better for us, and it doesn't take long to make. I cooked the noodles 15 minutes from the time they started simmering. That's when the milk and cheese mixture really started to thicken.
Do you have any other healthy meal makeovers to share with me?
Hi! Might you share the recipe or is this top secret? I used to love the HH also back in the day, but as I am gluten-free, I no longer make it (unless I could make it w/ GF pasta). I would love your recipe…looks fabulous! How are you? I’ve missed u this summer. xoxo
Barbie, click on the link or search http://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com. Many of Laura’s recipes are GF and many of her readers are and post modifications. The key is preparing the right kind of noodle. Depending on the type, you might not want to cook them in milk as she does with wheat. I you don’t you are going to need something to thicken the milk mixture. Great hearing from you!