"elbow macaroni" news and stories

My high school boyfriend's mom used to make this strange pasta dish she called "American Chop Suey." If I recall correctly, it was a dish she grew up eating in the Fifties. There is nothing Chinese about it so perhaps the "chop suey" refers to the hodge-podge of ingredients found in the dish.

I made it tonight after not having eaten it for almost twenty years, and I have to say, it wasn't bad. No, I'm serious! It really wasn't. ...But my three-year-old wouldn't eat it.

American Chop Suey

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tsp. of  garlic powder
1 tsp sugar (optional)
1 can of Campbell's Tomato Soup
1 pound of elbow macaroni

Put on pasta water to boil. Salt water generously. When it comes to a boil, cook macaroni according to package direction.

In the meantime, fry the ground beef, onion, and garlic powder together over medium heat until beef is browned, crumbly, and cooked through. Stir in the tomato soup and sugar. bring to a simmer and then turn heat to low.

Drain cooked macaroni and combine with ground beef-tomato soup mixture. Serve topped with grated parmesan cheese.