![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4CYAVfy7yFjMHRp70hb70KIH9A6rQVyY6CID0qfHKUz8LRXjV2pDgCcBOzTUqqIi4SqRZDLrmlTCwwwzmWc0ONJ59s9UsC71_k6m2JquWOX9vqwxVG4PfrZD4zJsbWT7ed5lWPO9dkU/s400/IMG_5401.JPG)
This is a really good way to get your kids to eat their vegetables.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57DIzzX_Y_G1EY3O_1nUQojg9nLqFWfxVtRzoZ2RjcIrXQAf-SRFzzbnVgwOdx0K6b9FvTwv5cHicGwhur5-SKStNc0yNtWM2dBmuVr67qr1yYpnVy4fAJlJCtpmH5mQA3dtvo7JNLPQ/s400/1.jpg)
Put 1 or 2 T. of olive oil in a heavy pot.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCnSMRiMxPIWbU9I9UO1U-3rsTTxwUH2s1W-h5ELvO703vmlzSN9NSbRvi7Jf7DnW_f-0Q-AzqEYC5Ju3B_CptppKfLCas4IxVacGyyEAK8tmFFxEd3-Wc-rhyphenhyphen57YlGH254E2Wf6DPEM/s400/2.jpg)
I ground more bacon and used it in this recipe but you can skip this step if you are bacon phobic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVr1DUjEN2x1P5N7Yryt0QlkBm06mIl3L9VBSDW2AN2g9aJsymAjEnsn3lL11Rg-W7Cdo2Xx1GOt8Pod5hIMX67ruM0I2EBlxDt1G3i80K39a-jXCX0OHM_TTbET4tQW4_jtTz3uIEz4/s400/3.jpg)
I sauteed a couple T. of the ground bacon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbmpjatCrVMTrHXpytRY29bcFBcrcfc6Z7QpGKrYSCyYE1cbYX847iqO-GYosKNo0ybnklmgHNdAYcaseEpLpz17M1wwE4ELzqXIHMbnwZ38nG3hys4BdOGDSkuXnTmZ27EgIhG2p6e8/s400/4.jpg)
Saute' about 3 cups of assorted diced vegetables. I used celery, onions, red peppers and carrots. Use whichever ones you like.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGssbUTTFKh4dd8LAKW9l7Px1pAjE8xZnxRZuPcZsgO8DSP7vUhhJv-pZC_Avk6ySsEJzSp62UIow1R1W3HBDxU2hkDp87kowkXSl1yWlxWVoaQACL2F3-TgCktX0WTMN23AJixmTi-dM/s400/IMG_5389.jpg)
After a couple minutes, add 1 pound of ground beef.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk3lcTw5IcMGlrIzkxuyn8hQXFAi5A-xwnl3UEEo_F924HWSJ9u3fIVtS3vTOHDCvQq8NwQkmg1cuaVKnMbGWkMNNEoAQ2Gmkdpm8sDZurs-5-Def12n1om0Lla2TdB_keSmUUPRuOx0/s400/IMG_5390.jpg)
Add 1 tsp.of thyme, 1 tsp. oregano and some salt and pepper.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKb5ydDs2nRLOTb9st8cSVyWcsxK-9QwjEgA11ZgJLw5LeMMolz3itcu8_bnvAgMsyV0xtSG4hDWl5g93Ko6pkj8KSgwMnWeKTvKhhyphenhyphent93W2uxNfG6ogxvc36c8bIOWNvNwgubLomYnRw/s400/IMG_5391.jpg)
Add several diced garlic cloves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXau6M8UsO6uRgf7Ms4QlarA1tviErXFC87r3MzgA8LzDniFQLa7sDx-sfsu7A6bLKWO2q-wzHaLnvo9ajuXd8GLUldddyg7FMduu6JH95O7P54Jd6j5VwQExG2FsM1kxI_RDBJ6Rj5w/s400/IMG_5392.jpg)
Add 1 cup of tomato sauce.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhdjEgH4ac6ufKFYlG9mtN-HRaWA_kCwiS4Qja_1YzcbZvK8v2zE84MXmRmq-sDZ8AuNPcVktZvBLAh1rvalbrm1j1KSTFOlwnCSpZjvgpeqFkyK3rgQePzrOA5i-IqLRi1vZUQsM3kk/s400/IMG_5393.jpg)
Stir in 1 cup of grated cheddar.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuVC00F21j8IXKGXKUgkC9CxvSCAZ8mV1f6TWQjLkvhQQ590pknQNsBazL68BBegZo9vfLwiXNVLfN23aVr7K-V8-X69TzsMmeeAo2Ux_4Vbd6kE1IswK_uzQM1c76foMghFuehzrb-s/s400/IMG_5394.jpg)
If you want it to be nice and creamy, add about 1/2 cup of
Velveeta.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLZVXdksUb_e1YDI_SdzzBSNphuQMMWCVNQcZiBX-zNuR-g76f14pVXSvDqVjE9yK4VfAIZajCDD7ZN-Ic78PBso8bvsCUmPjad-Ql1kTt8pltfA6jVIrQsPb5uYSEXPgTh6p1SUiiGA/s400/IMG_5396.jpg)
Turn the heat off and let it sit on the burner covered for 10 minutes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnVOckp0S4HodTu8iwvzNtl5m_NtF86lLfw_bpP0IZi2Dhn8c7cHS4CTlY0s-N5YvJt1ASDlA8e8XMVdeXswY8bI6StIqKbzaCIz-CpMz-Kbi1B_fnAUsGf5xOHl8a_CaUQLQzJEIoaY/s400/IMG_5398.jpg)
While the pot is sitting, boil 1 pound of pasta to
al dente. Don't overcook the pasta.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWCoAYkgQ-_lQd_sIkgedWnqsHVU6JUUcrErOI3wfstBntgDDrSIcLanck_LhzBViQAWz206OarzwZ6nfzKk-xVDVhTe3yD4rhJpMcwXpXYUtb-IvWecQO7Xm0ICkFAmNtH6yLGWQOPo/s400/IMG_5399.jpg)
Remove the lid and stir to combine the melted cheese. Stir in the cooked pasta along with some chopped fresh parsley.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wWX7CkYmCrqly5l7NLNPK0V8t9vIs5nZhejBVgRiX9AYhyphenhyphenqMI2TxrNGxCQmjQZ_YKBmhUuiscm1Q2EbIPnNs3H8Dfkk08d69H4urf_6oCBFd-FD6C60A1ejPLG6XM2OP6iYS_OfKpPk/s400/IMG_5401.jpg)
Yum! The veggies are still a bit crunchy and this is a gazillion times better than store bought.
Comments
For anyone who has not tried the ground bacon. It is fabulous to keep on hand. I made another batch yesterday.
My kind of food :-) If I hadn't start to fry some hotdogs I would have made this today :-)
Have a great day!
Christer.
We are getting snow now - it picked up about noon. It's really coming down but so far we are not buried, just tucked away by the fire :) Hope you don't get too much snow!
My sister's chow chow Roxy has the same visiting dog policy as your Teddy: if you arrive, you must prepare to die. It made my sister sad but because Roxy is a poor hostess, she could not take Halle when my mom's knees got bad & she made the hard decision to let me bring Halle to AK. my sister is as crazy about Halle as I am but it would not have worked out with Roxy.