Filling, tasty meal that can easily be made in large quantities.

Ingredients:

  • 8oz dry macaroni
  • 1lb canned, or 8oz dry beans (red kidney is ideal, pinto is fine)
  • 1/2 onion, diced (optional)
  • lb ground beef or pork
  • 2lb tomatos
  • 1/4 cup of chili seasoning (I use premixed)
  • 1tbsp red chili flakes (optional)
  • 8oz shredded cheese (I like colbyjack)
  • Salt
  • Oil

Instuctions:

  1. (If using dry beans) Soak beans in a large amount of fresh water for 12 hours or so,
  2. (If using dry beans) Bring beans to a boil in a 3qt pan,
  3. (optional) Simmer onions in a 5qt pot – low heat with oil, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add meat to 5qt pot, brown it and break it up.
  5. Add tomatoes, seasoning, and chili flakes to 5qt pot. Simmer, reduce to taste.
  6. At about 20 minutes, salt the beans to taste.
  7. At 45 minutes, drain beans and add to 5qt pot. Stir, continue simmering if needed.
  8. Cook macaroni in fresh water, using the now-empty 3qt pot.
  9. Pre-heat oven broiler at 500F.
  10. Evenly spread shredded cheese on top. Put pot into oven, broil until the cheese has gained some brown color.
  11. Remove from oven, allow to cool a bit, serve. Goes well with chopped green onion and cilantro.