Honey’s Slumgullion: Freezer Meal

Slum what?! Slumgullion or perhaps you know it best by goulash. Basically – it’s ground beef – macaroni – and tomatoes made in a skillet or large pot.
Honey – my grandmother – was an amazing cook. Sadly she is no longer with us. This meal brings back many fond childhood memories of my grandmother. She was always gathering the family to come over for dinner -whether it be this meal or one of the many other delicious meals she’d share with all of us. It excites me to know that some of her recipes are being shared here on MCK- she would be honored.

 Yields (2) three qt. baking dishes – one for now – one for later if you’re a smaller sized family. 
*SEE NOTES*

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 medium sweet onion, diced
4 celery sticks, diced
1 bell pepper, seeded, diced
6 garlic cloves
2 cans 8 oz. each tomato sauce
2 cans 14.5 oz. each stewed tomatoes
4 cups frozen corn
1 cup tomato paste
season salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 package elbow macaroni
mozzarella cheese, desired amount
cheddar cheese, desired amount

Directions
In a large pot, cook ground beef, onions, celery, garlic & bell pepper over medium heat until no longer pink. Remove from heat, drain off fat, season with pepper & season salt. In the pot smash the whole garlic with the back of a spoon. Add corn, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook over medium to low heat for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Meanwhile cook pasta per packaged directions. (You will want your pasta al den te’ =  a little under cooked.) Drain pasta water, add drained pasta to pot, stir. Scoop mixture into (2) three qt. baking dishes and top with cheeses. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until cheese is melted. Serve.

Notes:
If using as a freezer meal, make sure you have freezer safe baking dishes with lids. Prepare as directed leaving off cheese & letting mixture cool completely. Make sure to cover baking dishes with foil and then lid. To reheat bring to room temp. Pour an additional 4 oz. of tomato sauce over dish, top with cheese, bake as directed.