Receta Cheating with Velveeta.

by Mary Cokenour

This is simply one of those, "I really have no idea what to make tonight" meals.  When it comes to packaged macaroni and cheese, I prefer the Velveeta Shells and Cheese; it's smoother and creamier than the powdered cheese brands.  It also makes a one skillet meal easier to create, and I don't have to deal with "hamburger helper" type boxed stuff. Now I have tried Velveeta's Skillet Meals, and hated it!  Even though I was using the Velveeta cheese (I know, is it really cheese?), there were added ingredients in the box that simply gave the entire meal a horrible after taste.  The recipe I'm posting was simply looking through the pantry, figuring out what would go together with ground beef, and creating a total one skillet meal.  Yes, a separate pan is needed to cook the pasta, but the total package deal is created deliciously in one skillet. Semi-Homemade Velveeta Cheeseburger Macaroni   Ingredients:   1 package (24 oz.) Velveeta Shells and Cheese - Family Size 1 and 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef (93% or leaner) 1 small onion, diced 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chiles (mild, medium if desired hotter) 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper   Preparation:   Prepare shells from Velveeta package as directed, but do not add the cheese sauce.   At the same time, in a 12 skillet, medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onions. Add the diced tomatoes, ground black pepper and cooked shells; mix and let cook for 5 minutes. Now here comes the Velveeta cheese part, squeeze it into the skillet, mix, reduce the heat to low, let it cook 5 minutes.  Makes 6 servings of awesome goodness!  ...and here's the best part, the whole thing only took 20 minutes.  Semi-homemade, simple, easy and quick; can't ask for anything more, well except take out. Mary Cokenour