Comfort Casserole

As unclassy as that macaroni casserole known variously as goulash, Johnny Marzetti, or American chop suey is, I could eat it every day for a week. Happily. Last night, I made it for our dinner, along with Fordhook limas, Fresh Express' blue chese vinaigrette salad (quite good and I added some extra Maytag chunks on top), soft Italian bread scattered with poppyseeds, and nectarines Romanoff. Here is the recipe:

American Chop Suey

8 oz. elbow macaroni, cooked 2 tbsp. olive oil
14 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained 3/4 lb. burger
8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar 1 stalk celery, diced
1 onion, diced 1/2 tsp. soy sauce

Stir tomatoes and cheese into hot macaroni until cheese is melted. Cook onion in oil until soft, about 3 minutes. Add meat & cook until browned. Add celery & soy and heat through. Add meat mixture to macaroni and mix well.

And the nectarines, which I used instead of strawberries when the store was out of organic strawberries:

Nectarines Romanoff

3 nectarines, pitted and diced 2 tbsp. orange liqueur
1 tbsp. honey (or to taste) Whipped cream (I whipped mine with a smidge of sugar)
Mix fruit with honey and liqueur. Cover and chill a couple hours. Serve topped with whipped cream. This is really nice when served in stemmed dessert dishes or wine glasses, but mine are still packed!