A ridiculously easy recipe. I made two batches, one with ground beef and one with texturized vegetable protein. Like many things in life, it is better with meat, but it’s a great way to use TVP too. This is the kind of Middle American recipe you see on those little booklets in the supermarket checkout line. But it's mighty tasty. I only had penne but it should really be made with elbow macaroni.
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef (or 2 cups of TVP, rehydrated)
- 2 packets of taco seasoning (or bulk from Penzey’s)
- 1 lbs macaroni, cooked
- 2 jars mild salsa
- 2 cans pinto beans
- 1 8 oz block of cheddar or jack cheese, ½ shredded, ½ in quarter-inch cubes
- 1 cup sliced green Spanish olives
- Cook the ground beef or TVP according to the taco seasoning directions
- Add everything but the shredded cheese, mix together.
- Top with cheese.
- That was easy.
Frugal Factor: Made with beef, $5 for supermarket beef. $2 for cheap macaroni, $5 for two jars of salsa, $1 for the seasoning mix. Thats $14 for 9 portions, or $1.55/portion
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