Sundried Tomato Beefaroni (Frugal Food Thursday)

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This is definitely not a gourmet meal.

I love comfort food, and beefaroni definitely fits the bill. It's also easy to make, and kids love it!  Pasta is always on sale - I recently got the whole-grain kind for under 30¢ per box - and tomato sauce is always cheap, too.  Add onions, mushrooms, and green peppers to the ground beef and voila, yummy and cheap dinner!

I made this just a little nicer tonight by adding in some sundried tomatoes. Usually that's not a frugal ingredient, but last week, Publix had a buy one, get one free sale on SunDry brand sundried tomatoes. I was really happy to be able to get this ingredient at half price!

Of course, you can make sundried tomatoes yourself cheaply when tomatoes are at their lowest price, or grow your own. Here are some instructions to dry tomatoes in your oven.

Enjoy!

SUNDRIED TOMATO BEEFARONI

8 oz dry elbow macaroni
2 oz sundried tomatoes, sliced into thin strips
2 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 4 oz can mushrooms, drained
12 oz jarred tomato sauce
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

In a medium saucepan, cook elbow macaroni according to package directions; drain.

Fill a small bowl with the hottest tap water.  Place the sundried tomatoes in the bowl and allow the tomatoes to rehydrate while the rest of the dish is cooking.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes.  Add the green pepper and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, making sure that the garlic does not burn.  Remove vegetables to a separate large bowl.

Add the ground beef and cook until meat is no longer pink.  Remove accumulated fat from the pan.  Return the vegetables to the skillet and add in the mushrooms; stir until well-combined.

Turn heat to high, add the tomato sauce and spices, and mix well.  When boiling, turn heat down to medium-low and cook for 5-10 minutes.  Add in the macaroni and sundried tomatoes; mix so that the sauce coats all ingredients and simmer for another 5 minutes.  Serve!

There are lots more cheap recipes posted here at Frugal Follies.  Click here for the list!

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