"kicked Up" Macaroni and Cheese

I have made this quite a few times, it is just delicious and a favourite with my family. This recipe makes quite a lot so make certain that you have a very large fry pan or use a Dutch oven. The complete recipe is made on top of the stove. Make certain to only cook pasta until just firm but a bit tender, as the pasta will cook more in the pan. All ingredients may be adjusted to suit taste. I have even added in some chopped cooked bacon...you will love this!

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  lbs ground beef
• 1 -2  teaspoon seasoning salt or 1 -2  teaspoon salt
•  black pepper
• 1  tablespoon  minced fresh garlic
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 2 -3  stalks celery, finely chopped
• 2 (225 g) boxes  macaroni & cheese dinner mix (I use Kraft)
• 2 (10 ounce) cans mushrooms, drained
• 2  tablespoons  HP steak sauce (or to taste)
• 1  dash Tabasco sauce (optional)
• 1  green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) can  tomato soup, undiluted
• 2 (10 ounce) cans  cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• 1 -2  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2  tablespoons  grated parmesan cheese (optional)
•  milk (to thin sauce) or  half-and-half cream (to thin sauce)

Directions

1. Cook the pasta from the Kraft dinner until firm-tender (do not over cook, leave firm!) drain and rinse under cold water, set aside the cheese packages and the cooked macaroni.
2. In a large frypan or Dutch oven brown the ground beef with onion, garlic and celery until beef is no longer pink; drain fat.
3. Add in the mushrooms and the cooked macaroni to the ground beef; mix to combine.
4. In a bowl, mix together mushroom soup, tomato soup, HP steak sauce, Tabasco sauce (if using) green pepper, Parmesan cheese (if using) and the two packages of cheese mix; mix well to combine.
5. Add the mixture to the ground beef in the pan and stir to combine.
6. Simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes; reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, adding in milk to thin sauce (I use about 1/4-1/3 cup).
7. Delicious!