My college roommate and I have finally gotten back in touch with each other and have been emailing about every day.  I love Facebook.  I have talked to more people from college than I ever did at homecoming.  Plus I stink at mail and phone calls, but I’ve been able to talk to some of our former youth group kids, one in Ohio in medical school, the other in Iraq.  Plus I talk to my niece and nephews more than I ever have.  If you have teenagers you love and want an easy way to talk to them, I highly recommend it.  It’s very safe and much easier than MySpace.

Anyway, today my friend asked me what was for supper.  She was looking for ideas and had read my blog.  I was force to confess we were having frozen chicken strips, frozen corn, and boxed parmesan noodles.  And that’s normal for us.  Every now and then I can get adventurous, but groceries are expensive and we are trying to raise three kids on one salary, and a minister’s salary at that.  Here is one that I made the other night that my kids loved, even Emily, my pickiest.  (BTW, she’s growing out of that and getting braver.) I’m writing the recipe for someone who does not cook a lot and is learning how.

WHO NEEDS HAMBURGER HELPER CASSEROLE

1 lb hamburger, ground turkey, ground pork, chopped cooked chicken, or 1 large can tuna

8 oz. dry macaroni noodles (not macaroni and cheese, the plain kind over by the spaghetti noodles)

1 lb velveeta (or half of the big block, I think that’s a pound), cut into chunks

1 bag frozen broccoli or peas

Cook the macaroni according to package directions.  After five minutes add the vegetables to the pasta.  It can cook in the water with the pasta.

In the meantime brown the meat in a large skillet and drain.  (If the meat is fully cooked already skip this step.)  Drain pasta and vegetables.  Return to pan or into skillet with browned meat.  (If you didn’t have to brown your meat just use the pot you used to boil the pasta and veggies.)  Keep the heat on medium low and add velveeta cheese.  Stir well until the cheese is melted.

I made mine with hamburger and broccoli and my kids begged for more.  Hope yours like it, too!