1950's Hamburger Goulash

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3/4 lb macaroni
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 3 cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda (you could use a pinch of sugar. i find the baking soda "quaint" as it show the age of the recipe!)
• 1/2 lb bacon, cut in small pieces (i use scissors to cut, you can use "ready cooked bacon" but it's better with a good maple cured baco)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 1/2 cup onion
• 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 garlic clove, chopped fine (if you love garlic, you can use more)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley or 1/4 cup dried parsley
• 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs (preferably homemade- fresh or toasted)
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon very finely chopped parsley
• 3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 cook macaroni in boiling salted water until tender.
• 2 drain macaroni.
• 3 combine tomato paste, water and baking soda and set aside.
• 4 fry bacon in a medium fry pan until medium done.
• 5 add mushrooms, green pepper, onions, and cook until tender (about 5 minutes).
• 6 add ground beef,stirring constantly until beef is done.
• 7 add all seasonings (including parsley) and half of tomato paste mixture and simmer for 5 minutes for flavors to blend.
• 8 place half of the cooked macaroni in a greased 9x 13 casserole dish.
• 9 sprinkle half the parmesan cheese.
• 10 cover with all the meat mixture.
• 11 cover with remaining half of cooked macaroni.
• 12 sprinkle with remainging parmesan cheese.
• 13 finally, top with remaining tomato paste mixture.
• 14 if desired, top with bread crumb mixture.
• 15 cover casserole tightly (spray foil with pam or casserole top will stick) and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.