When it's cold outside and the days are short, a filling dinner in front of the heater is bliss, especially one that is easily prepared from ingredients that can be kept readily on hand. For a cheap, quick and simple winter meal, try this beefed up version of the traditional macaroni cheese recipe:
Ingredients
1 onion, diced
Handful of sliced mushrooms
3 rashers of chopped bacon
750gm minced beef
500gm macaroni
200gm shredded cheese
Soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Method
1. Lightly sauté onion, bacon and mushrooms in a saucepan, then add minced beef, breaking up the meat until cooked through.
2. Add a couple of tablespoons of soy sauce, a couple more of Worcestershire sauce, then simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni al dente and drain thoroughly.
4. Spoon a layer of the macaroni into a deep casserole dish, then add a layer of the meat mixture on top – repeat until all of the macaroni and meat mixture is used.
5. Top with shredded cheese and pop it into a moderate oven until the cheese is golden brown.
Serve with a winter salad of lightly dressed green beans and cherry tomatoes, like
this one from Bill Granger.
