When coming up with a title for this recipe, I was briefly reminded of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood... one of my favorite childhood television shows, by far. I didn't think of Mr. Rogers himself, but of the 'Speedy Delivery' mailman, Mr. McFeely. My brain is random... :)
This recipe is great- not too many ingredients, quick to do when you get home from work/errands/etc... but my favorite part is that you can prepare it up until the baking stage and store it in the fridge until you're actually ready to bake it!
*** Handy hint: Pasta that is baked in a casserole should be slightly undercooked. If you make it according to the package directions, by the time it finishes baking it will get mushy & fall apart. I usually take about 1- 1 1/2 minutes off the package cooking time.
Speedy Taco Mac & Cheese
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
1 package (about 1 ounce) Taco Seasoning (pick your own heat! I use mild, usually)
1 package (1 pound) large elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
4 cups (16 ounces)? shredded Cheddar cheese (sharp is great, but I've also just used the 'mexican blend' cheese from the grocery store)
2 cups milk
3 eggs, beaten
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
1. In medium skillet, brown ground meat; drain fat. Stir in Taco Seasonings (DO NOT add any liquid like the seasoning packet might suggest!)
2. Spray 13x9x2 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Layer half of macaroni in bottom of dish. Top with half of cheese. Spread taco meat over top and repeat layers of macaroni and cheese. In medium bowl, beat together milk and eggs. Pour egg mixture over top of casserole. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.
Bon Appetit!
