VMBurns: Today, it rained cats and dogs. On days like today, I long for comfort food. My mom used to make something we called, Hamburger Mac and that was the comfort I craved today. I don't have my mom's exact recipe, but this is close enough to give me all the warm cozy feels that I needed. You'll notice that I list sugar as optional. Here's my confession. I don't like tomatoes. I suspect it's the acidity that I don't like. So, I usually add a tablespoon (or two) of sugar to most of my tomato-based sauces. Feel free to skip that step. If you've read any of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series, you may have noticed that Samantha Washington doesn't like tomatoes either. That's why Frank Patterson always makes her a BLT, minus the T. Fiction imitating real life!
HAMBURGER MAC
- Add onions, bell pepper, and ground beef to a Dutch oven. Heat over medium-high heat until the beef is brown and the veggies are soft.
- Drain the grease and return the beef and veggies to the pot.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the macaroni. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir in the macaroni, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the macaroni is soft, but not mushy.
- READERS: They say confession is good for the soul. You read my confession about tomatoes. Are there foods that you don't like but everyone else on the plant seems to love? Let me know in the comments for a chance to win a copy of Bookclubbed to Death, the 8th book in the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series (US ONLY). Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment so that I can contact you.
BOOKCLUBBED TO DEATH, MYSTERY BOOKSHOP MYSTERY #8
AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD
V. M. (VALERIE) BURNS
When the bookshop she owns becomes a crime scene, mystery writer Samantha Washington discovers there is such a thing as bad publicity . . .
After the local library in North Harbor, Michigan, is flooded in a storm, Sam offers her bookstore as a new venue for the Mystery Mavens Book Club. Unfortunately, she immediately runs afoul of the club leader, Delia Marshall, a book reviewer who can make or break careers—something Sam can ill afford with her debut historical mystery soon to be published.
But the next morning, Sam opens her shop to find the unpleasant woman dead on the floor, bashed with a heavy—apparently lethal—tome: the Complete Works of Agatha Christie. While Sam is busy writing her latest British historical mystery in which the queen mother is suspected in the murder of a London Times correspondent, a pair of ambitious cops suspect Sam of the real-life crime. When she gathers Nano Jo and their friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village to review the case, they discover every one of the Mavens had a motive. With her novel about to hit the stores, Sam must find out who clubbed Delia before a judge throws the book at her . . .
V. M. (VALERIE) BURNS
When the bookshop she owns becomes a crime scene, mystery writer Samantha Washington discovers there is such a thing as bad publicity . . .
After the local library in North Harbor, Michigan, is flooded in a storm, Sam offers her bookstore as a new venue for the Mystery Mavens Book Club. Unfortunately, she immediately runs afoul of the club leader, Delia Marshall, a book reviewer who can make or break careers—something Sam can ill afford with her debut historical mystery soon to be published.
But the next morning, Sam opens her shop to find the unpleasant woman dead on the floor, bashed with a heavy—apparently lethal—tome: the Complete Works of Agatha Christie. While Sam is busy writing her latest British historical mystery in which the queen mother is suspected in the murder of a London Times correspondent, a pair of ambitious cops suspect Sam of the real-life crime. When she gathers Nano Jo and their friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village to review the case, they discover every one of the Mavens had a motive. With her novel about to hit the stores, Sam must find out who clubbed Delia before a judge throws the book at her . . .
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I confess, I don't like bananas. I guess it's the mushiness. Your recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for a chance to win,
ReplyDeletebabemomara@att,net
I'm not a fan either. I don't like mushy fruit and can't eat bruised bananas.
Deletesorry that's babemomara@att.net
ReplyDeleteGot it!
DeleteI don’t like fish.
ReplyDeleteKitten143 (at) Verizon (dot) net
Christine, I didn't like fish for a long time. However, as an adult, I now like it more.
DeleteMy two dislikes are both in the seafood category. Hubby loves oysters - fried or raw, and I can't even stand the thought of them. When we go to a seafood buffet, it seems everyone is standing in line for them to bring out more oysters. I'm like you all can have it! The other is sushi. It seems to the "in" thing, but I just can't wrap my head around eating RAW fish.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy of BOOKCLUBBED TO DEATH! Love your books and I would really love the opportunity to read and review this one. Shared, but hoping to be the very fortunate one selected.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Kay, thank you, I'm not fond of oysters or any raw seafood either. I wish you luck in the giveaway.
DeleteI like fish but no other seafood. cheetahthecat1982ATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteKim, I didn't like fish for years. Now, I do. However, I LOVE shrimp. Good luck!
DeleteI enjoy fish and seafood but won't eat raw fish ever. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteRaw fish isn't my favorite either. Good luck!
DeleteI will not eat iceberg lettuce. Only kale, spinach and real greens. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI don't like cooked spinach, but love it in salad. Good luck!
DeleteI don't like any seafood and refuse to even try any I've not tried before. I don't know why - it just makes me queasy to even think of it. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com ps I love this cover - and love love love the poodles.
ReplyDeleteMaybe seafood intolerant? I'm glad you like the cover and I love the poodles, too. They are my babies. Good luck!
DeleteI recently got the book. But thanks for sharing the recipe. Looks like something my mom would put together every once in a while. I just cant seem to get into shrimp. Thats ok. My husband loves them and I cook them for him.
ReplyDeleteLori, I love shrimp, but I rarely cook it. Usually, its my go-to recipe at Red Lobster. Thanks for commenting.
Deletepasta and potatoes - thumbs down to both
ReplyDeletefruitcrmble AT comcast DOT net
Both can be so bland that I rarely hear that people don't like them. It would help my weight loss if I could convince myself that I don't like them. Good Luck!
DeleteI like most foods. I do not like radishes or liver.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Nancy, I'm not a fan of either of those either. Good luck!
DeleteI don’t like raw tomatoes unless they are diced small like in fresh salsa. sgiden at verizon(.)net
ReplyDeleteI don't like any tomatoes, unless its been pureed into a sauce. I'm thinking maybe the texture bothers me (in addition to the acid). Oh well, good luck!
DeleteIt isn't exactly a food, but I am not fond of the aroma of lavender. It's supposed to be so soothing, but not for me.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
Libby, I find that lavender is being included with some teas. It is supposed to be soothing, but not if you don't like it. Thanks for commenting. Good luck!
DeleteThanks for the recipe I do not like liver. deborahortega229@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMe either! Good luck!
DeleteI have two, hot cereal of any kind, I think that is a texture thing, because I love oatmeal in every other way, just not cooked as a cereal. My other is an intense dislike of goat cheese. It just tastes disgusting to me and the after taste is even worse. Thanks for the Hamburger Mac reminder. Have been dithering about what to make for dinner tonight. This is it! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteMarcia, my mom hated oatmeal. She heard it was good for cholesterol and used to force herself to eat it. I suspect it was the texture. Now, oatmeal cookies are an entirely different matter. I hope you enjoy the recipe.
DeleteMy grandmother made a similar dish and it was so good and comforting. I really can't think of anything I really dislike. lindalou64(@)live(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLinda, that's nice. My grandmother wasn't a very good cook so I don't have any fond memories of her cooking. It's nice that you do. Good luck!
DeleteI always liked that Samantha didn't like tomatoes because that is the one food that makes me nauseous and I can't eat it! Funny though, I can eat ketchup and the sauce on pizza! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSAME! I'[m fine with ketchup and pizza sauce. Tomatoes are a big NO for me. Thanks for commenting and helping me feel like I'm not alone in this. Good luck!
DeleteSome people can eat tomatoes that are properly cooked, but not raw or under-cooked ones. Maybe that's why ketchup and pizza are ok.
DeleteThis recipe looks "to die for" (but not to be murdered...) and we will make it, BUT...I am onion and garlic intolerant!!! The whole world loves these ingredients, but you won't find any at our house, and we always substitute other ingredients like carrots or celery, depending on the recipe. When traveling, I carry a note in whatever language applies to our trip stating "NO ONIONS OR GARLIC!!!". We will enjoy it like one of your great books sans onions or garlic! Thank you for entertaining us with so many fun cozies!!! Luis at ole dot travel
ReplyDeleteI think it will be just as tasty without the garlic and onions. Carrots and celery are great substitutes. I actually considered adding both, but changed my mind. I hope its still tasty. And, thanks for the kind words. Good luck!
DeleteThis recipe sounds so good my grandma used to makt it for my son and he loved it with all the ingrediamts. I would love to win one of you books to read and review so glad it is prit. peggy clayton ptclayton2@ aol.com
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Good luck in the giveaway!
DeleteI can’t do oysters. My friends can do the raw bar and I cannot. Thanks for the chance. This recipe looks delicious and I will try it.
ReplyDeleteJess
Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)Com
I think quite a few folks either can't or won't do oysters. Seafood can be a problem for many people. I hope you enjoy the recipe. Good luck!
DeleteThank you for the chance to win! I'm hooked on this series and would love to win. Let's see - top of the list is liver!, followed by oysters (raw or cooked), and cabbage. Thank you for sharing the recipe - my mom made a similar dish, she called it goulash. madamhawk at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the liver and oysters. However, I've grown to appreciate cabbage, but I know it isn't for everyone. Thanks for commenting. Good luck!
DeleteI don't like most sauces and I really don't like ketchup. lkish77123 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteSometimes restaurants can be heavy handed when it comes to sauces. Thanks for sharing. Good luck!
DeleteI don’t care for white gravy but most people like it. I prefer a thinner brown gravy
ReplyDeleteMy email is sissie_sue@yahoo.com
DeleteWhite gravy is very common in the South, especially with biscuits and sausage. I'm not a huge fan, but I can eat it. Thanks for the comment. Good Luck!
DeleteI live in the south where brown beans and cornbread are very popular. While I love the cornbread, I've never been a fan of pinto/brown beans. As a kid, I remember trying to "hide" the taste by adding so much chow-chow, you could barely find the beans in the bowl! 🤣 marciawythe@hotmail.com
ReplyDelete