Nieces and Nephew Summer Slumber Party: Easy Cheesy Mac for a Crowd

 

Once a year or so we try to have a big slumber party with all three of our nieces and our nephew.  Two of them live here in town but the other two live about an hour away with their mom. Just because of work, school, life in general, we don't get to see them as much as we would like but we all know how it is, right? But we do try to have an overnighter when we can so that we can do an Aunt Gonnie and Uncle Gene and the kids thing where it's more about hanging out and catching up with what's going on in their lives.

One of the things I've learned over the years is to try to put aside the OCD "party" definition in my brain that tends to make all things including food and house cleaning into a spectacle so big that by the time my guests/friends/family arrive I'm so tired from over-working myself that I didn't use to enjoy the "together" part of getting together as much as I should have.  These guys are my nieces and nephews. They know I'm not a perfect housekeeper and they don't want a meticulously Martha Stewart set table or gourmet food so this family casserole my brothers and sisters and I were raised on is perfect fare for the occasion: quick and easy to make and yummy to eat. I even made it up the day before so that all I had to do was slip it in the oven when I went to pick up the kids at my brother's and then my sister's house.  We grew up with Mom (Karen) calling it "goulash" but it's not the traditional Hungarian dish of chunked meat with vegetables, it's an Americanized version from the 50's, I believe, that's made with hamburger, macaroni, and a tomato sauce.  Gene's mom had a recipe for it in her recipe box called "Chuckwagon Macaroni". The recipes follows the jump, along with lots of fun dorky pics.

 

Taylor and Jordan playing "80's" Trivial Pursuit. They did a great job! I was surprised they did as well as they did considering they weren't even BORN during the 80's!  Kaylee is the demure wallflower in the center.  :-)

 

Sydney and Isaac in the front with Kaylee and Jordan in the background.

 

Mmmmm....dessert of Make-Your-Own Sundaes:  Schwan's Dulce De Leche Ice Cream on the left (soooo decadently good!) and vanilla on the right, along with waffle bowls, good old Hershey's chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and sprinkles.  Just for fun I picked up a bottle of Cherry Dr. Pepper ice cream topping--and it's very good. It does taste just like Cherry Dr. Pepper, which is kind of a family joke.  We all love Dr. Pepper. It's our favorite cola. Aunti Miranda refers to us as the "prune juice drinkers".  We'll take that label as long as it's served as our beloved Dr. Pepper.

Sundae creations:

  

The first one was Isaac's bowl. We all commented on how artistically he put it together. Not sure who made the second one but I like the 1:1 whipped cream to ice cream ratio.

 

Love it that the kids get old enough to "earn their keep".  After a little instruction, Isaac mowed the yard for Uncle Gene.

 

This is his "Why are you taking my picture NOW?" look.  Just cuz you're cute, Isaac!

Love those kids!!!!!!

Karen's Cheesy Goulash

recipe by Karen Haggard, adapted by Glenna Anderson Muse

This recipe is great for a crowd--Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs extra lean Ground Beef
• 24 oz Spaghetti Sauce or your favorite home-made sauce (I used Prego Vegetable Smart Chunky & Savory)
• 15 oz Queso (any brand, I used a white queso with a monterrey jack base)
• 8 oz. Macaroni, cooked al dente and drained
• Optional:  2 tsp smoked paprika (The smoked paprika was a gift Auntie Miranda brought back from New Orleans--sooooo good!)
• Salt and Pepper to taste (if needed)
• 2 cups Italian blend shredded cheese

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef.

2.  Cook pasta to al dente and drain. Do not overcook since pasta dish is finished in the oven.

3.  In an oversized mixing bowl or the pasta pot, mix together rest of ingredients except the shredded cheese.  Spoon into 4-qt casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Top with cheese.

4.  Bake @ 350 degrees, covered, for:

   30 minutes if baking immediately after cooking hamburger and pasta, OR

   60 minutes if baking after storing in the refigerator prior to baking.

Uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until cheese browned.

Serves 8

Nutrition per serving:  Calories 494;  Protein:  45;  Carbs: 26;  Fat: 22; Fiber:  3;  Weight Watchers Points: 12

 

Comments

[Denise in PA]

Hi Glenna, I'm making this for family dinner tonight! It looks so delicious, I know they will all love it. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!