I remember my grandmother making a version of this when I was younger that was basically green pepper, onion, tomatoes, macaroni, and ground beef.  There was something about that combination that I absolutely loved.  I made some changes to her recipe in order to create this nutritiously protein packed meal.  Hope you enjoy!

Warren’s Goulash

Ingredients:

2 pounds 95% lean ground beef

black pepper (to taste)

salt (to taste)

McCormick’s Italian seasoning (to taste)

1 tbsp olive oil

3 garlic cloves

2 green bell peppers (diced)

1 medium white onion (diced)

3-4 Beefsteak tomatoes (diced)

1 (14.5oz) box of Barilla Protein Plus elbow macaroni or favorite multigrain or whole wheat pasta

12oz Fresh baby spinach

Directions:

1. Brown the lean ground beef in a pan and heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil over medium heat in a separate large pot.  Either chop garlic cloves or use a garlic press and begin to sauté chopped onion, garlic, and green pepper over medium heat in the large pot.  After peppers and onion begin to soften, add tomatoes and Italian seasoning.  Continue to cook on medium to low heat for a few minutes and then stir in beef.
2. In a separate pot, cook the elbow macaroni according to the directions on the box.  A few minutes before the pasta finishes cooking, add the baby spinach to the pot with the beef, peppers, onion, and tomatoes, stirring until the leaves soften and shrink.
3. When the pasta is done, drain and mix well into the meat mixture.  Be sure to stir everything around very well while on low heat for a couple more minutes.  This recipe makes about 6 servings all together.  See below for nutritional information.