Most of last week, I was salivating over making this scrummy Beefaroni to cheer me up while trying to adapt my way through the Autumn changes.
My craving all started when I'd delved in to different food cultures linked to my Ancestry DNA results. If you're a nosy-parker like me, then here's my reaction to finding out what I'm made of (or see below).
But since learning I had an Italian great x 4 grandfather in the 1800s, I've struggled to locate him on incoming boats or other immigration documents and was curious as to whether I'd really inherited any Italian blood at all. It's all fascinating.
But to my surprise, I discovered I wasn't even predominantly British. It tickled me, actually and left me wanting more as I've always been quite fanciful about possibly having French or Spanish ancestors, so I wasn't disappointed.
I just can't find a paper trail on anything other than Italian yet.
And because I strangely enjoy watching YouTube videos of people's reaction to their DNA results, I was compelled to film one too. Also, the more people that take them, the more likely connections will be found for other people to help build a bigger picture. I've since found out too that I'm related to Hillary Clinton on her late father's Durham roots (8th cousin, twice removed) through Ancestry's official app, We're Related.
If you've been curious for a long time about your heritage too, then I urge you to not be as stingy as I was over the years if you can afford it. It's given me and my family so many stories and entertainment so far. I've even used my membership to help create a family tree scrapbook as a 60th birthday present for my Mum - (the packet of tissues that I provided too as joke backfired as my mum's tears had a chain reaction on me)!
But getting back to my video, the comments I've received have be fun to read too. Some people suspected I was this, that or the other all along and others guessed wrong. And one comment I received was a recommendation to upload my raw DNA data to GEDmatch, a free research service that taps in to your heritage even further.
You've got to take a lot of it with a pinch of salt, but being 100% European, I've since broken it down to quite a mix with GEDmatch. Even a smidgen Hungarian apparently, which led me to wondering about regional cuisines: one of which being Goulash.
Now, you're probably wondering, what the hell does Goulash have to do with this recipe? Well, after a google search, I came across so many types and one that caught my eye was American Goulash. And as predicted, because it's so far from the traditional dish, some people generally took offence.
But the idea of a cheesy beef macaroni got both my fiance and I so excited to enjoy as a feast over the weekend. Plus, I think Beefaroni has more of a ring to it and love how it's so easy to make as well as being delicious!
CAN'T MAKE IT NOW? THEN HERE'S A PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER!
📖 Recipe
Healthy Cheesy Beefaroni (Beef Macaroni) Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Frylight
- 1 red onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 500 g extra lean beef mince
- 160 g lower fat mature cheddar cheese
- 400 g tinned chopped tomatoes
- 500 g passata
- 320 g dried macaroni
- 3 teaspoon Italian seasoning or other Italian type of herbs)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Seasoning
- 1 beef stockpot or stockcube
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 200 degree.
- Meanwhile, cook the macaroni as instructed on the back of the packet then drain and set aside.
- Then spray a large deep based frying pan with frylight and saute the onions and garlic until softened.
- Now add the lean beef, Italian herbs (or similar) and seasoning and until the meat has browned.
- Add the tomatoes, passata, Worcestershire sauce and beef stockpot (or stock cube) and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a large baking dish, add the pasta, then the beefy tomato mixture and give everything a good stir.
- Evenly sprinkle the grated cheese on top anbd bake in the oven for 30 minutes and serve.
- Don't forget if you loved this too, to tag me on Instagram @TastefullyVikkie with a picture so I know you made it!
Disclaimer
*This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World. Slimming World’s website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/. Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.
EQUIPMENT AFFILIATE LINKS
Video
Nutrition
Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post in any way. My Ancestry DNA kit and membership was a gift from my Fiance and find it is genuinely so much fun to research.
Jackie
Thanks Vickie
I have tried this recipe with my family.bearing in mind they are fussy eaters Big hit will make again
George
Damn these pics of the Beefaroni…make me so hungry.
I would have married your Italian self for cooking me this signature dish (subject to your availability of course:)
This is the kinda meal a man wants to eat for dinner.