Hamburger Helper My Way

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 (6 ounce) box hamburger helper double cheeseburger macaroni (including macaroni and cheese sauce packets)
• 1/2 lb italian sausage or 1/2 lb ground chicken or 1/2 lb ground turkey or 1/2 lb ground beef or 1/2 lb lamb sausage
• 3 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/2 cup water

Recipe

• 1 brown the meat in a medium sized skillet.
• 2 do not add water to it unless there isn't enough fat in the meat.
• 3 if water is needed, add very little.
• 4 bring the 3 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan.
• 5 add the packet of macaroni.
• 6 boil until the macaroni is done and tender.
• 7 when the meat is done, drain the grease from the skillet and return skillet to the burner.
• 8 don't remove the meat from the skillet.
• 9 drain the water from the macaroni and rinse with hot water.
• 10 add the macaroni to the meat and stir.
• 11 lower the burner to medium.
• 12 in a shaker bottle or large cup, mix the half and half and the 1/2 cup water.
• 13 add the packet of sauce mix/powder and shake vigorously or stir in cup very well, until sauce mix/powder is completely dissolved and there are no lumps in it.
• 14 with one hand, slowly add the sauce mixture to the hamburger mixture, while stirring constantly with the other hand.
• 15 stir constantly so that it doesn't start to stick to the bottom of the skillet.
• 16 sauce will start to thicken.
• 17 continue stirring constantly.
• 18 you might need to lower the heat again.
• 19 once sauce has somewhat thickened, remove from heat and let stand.
• 20 the sauce will completely thicken on its own.