Passive Pasta Bake

Slave thought something different for tonight! A Pasta with ground beef and tomato sauce but not Italian! Instead how about the flavors of a Sloppy Joe? While we're at it lest make this a bake now and have another to bake next week?

Ingredients

2 slices bacon, chopped

1 onion, diced

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup sliced mushrooms optional

1 can of sloppy joe mix

1 lbs ground beef.

1 box mac and cheese

½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

¼ cup sliced green onions (4 medium)

Directions

Make this super easy:

Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 inch square baking dish.

Use pasta from a box of generic mac & cheese dinner. Cook it 3 minutes less than called for on box. When done, drain well and stir in no more than 1½ tbs of oil just to keep it from clumping. (If you are cooking this the night before – also add 1 tbs of lemon juice, then bag and refrigerate)

If you have saved back any cooked ground beef from other recipes get that as well as some of the chopped onion from the freezer.

Fry up a couple of strips of bacon and remove to paper towel. Dump frozen onion into the grease, being careful not to splash because it will sputter. You want about ½ cup of onion.

Once that is turning translucent, add the beef and let warm up. Tiny bits will start to pop when this is ready.

If you don't have any meat or onions saved back, it really does not take much more than 8 minutes to brown the ground beef from fresh. Or to have chopped up about ½ cup of onion.

Add the can of drained diced tomatoes, slave uses the fire roasted kind without any garlic or other flavoring. You see for this dish slave does not want the typical Italian flavor. It is fine if you wish, slave is just going for something different here. Stir in 1 cup of the can of “sloppy joe” mix. For that matter if you choose, you could use your favorite BBQ sauce for this.

(anytime slave makes a dish with a tomato type sauce, I add the drained diced tomatoes because it adds such a touch of homemade goodness.)

Stir that in, cover and reduce heat! Let simmer for a full 20 minutes on very low heat to cook in the flavors. If you like you can also add sliced mushrooms for a heavenly flavor!

While that cooks, it is a great time to clean up the pans already used, and in general tidy up and sweep. Why wait until after you have eaten? Besides it is fun to sing along as you clean and cook, almost like you were one of those Disney creatures working in the kitchen. Serving someone: if it is a Master of not, is a noble and great calling for anyone. You are very lucky to get the chance. Enjoy it, fantasies can swirl around you and nobody has to know! Just You enjoying yourself! The more you enjoy your time here, the better you will be at it! Also the food will taste better!

Once the timer has gone off at 20 minutes, stir the mixture into the cooked macaroni.

Split the recipe in half. Put half into the baking dish and the other half into bowl to cool before bagging for freezer.

Don't put hot food into the freezer!

Sprinkle half of the cheese on to the dish with bacon pieces and bits of green onion.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Once frozen the other half can be kept in freezer for up to 2 weeks.

When ready for second meal: thaw in refrigerator overnight, add to a sprayed dish, top with cheese, bacon and bits of green onion. Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes at 375°F

Remove the foil and bake 15 minutes longer or until the cheese is bubbly.

Hope you enjoy this Passive Pasta Bake!

slave finds wonder and fulfillment every day in serving my Master Indy

socialslave

To satisfy and restore.

To nourish, support and maintain.

To gratify, spoil, comfort and please,

to nurture, assist, and sustain

…..I cook!

Please buy slave's cookbook:

The Little Black Book of Indiscreet Recipes by Dan White http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F315Y4I/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_vAT4sb0934RTM via @amazon