Seeing as tonight is the Oscars, I decided to make a movie tribute version of a one-pot family favorite, Western Mac. I got the original recipe in college from the back of a box of macaroni and cheese. I have included both the movie tribute version and the original for your cooking enjoyment.
Spaghetti Western Mac
1/2 lb. Italian sausage
2 boxes mac and cheese (Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar is our favorite)
2-3 tbsp. plain yogurt or sour cream
1 c. spaghetti sauce (more or less to taste)
Brown sausage in 4 qt. pot; set aside in a bowl lined with a paper towel (to absorb excess grease). Fill pot with water and bring to boil; add pasta from box and cook for 8 minutes. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add yogurt/sour cream and stir until pasta is coated; add powdered cheese from package and stir until mixed. Stir in Italian sausage and spaghetti sauce until well mixed, and presto! One-pot Spaghetti Western Mac!
Original Western Mac
1/2 lb hamburger
1 small onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 box Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup canned or frozen corn
1 small (6 oz.) can tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste
Brown hamburger in 2 qt. saucepan; add onion and green pepper and saute until onions are soft. Set aside in a bowl lined with a paper towel (to absorb excess grease). Fill pot with water and prepare macaroni and cheese according to package directions. (If using frozen corn, cook it by placing it in the colander and draining the pasta over it.) Stir in corn and meat mixture; add tomato paste and stir until mixed. Season to taste.
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