Poverty Meal

2 (16 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
1 can water
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Sautee onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent.
2. Add tomatoes, water, ground beef, macaroni, salt and pepper.
3. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until macaroni is done.
4. If desired, top with parmesan cheese.
5. Serve with crusty bread and a salad.

I'm not sure why it's called poverty meal--sounds alot like what my mom called "chilli". Nothing like coming home after a long day at school, and finding mom home w/ her chilli on the stove. YUMMY!!!!

THanks for posting,
Julie

My mom used to make something like that. Don't remember what she called it right off the bat, but I'm telling ya...It was GOOD!

We call that Yucamay. Only difference is I use 1 can of stewed tomatoes and one can of tomatoes. I also put in diced yellow peppers.

Around here we call that American cop suey.

That's it! American Chop Suey! I knew I'd think of the name of it! lol
Must be a New England thing, huh?

I don't kown I'm a navy brat. I grew up in a few sates.

I made it for hubby one time when we first got married. He asked me what it was. I told him and he said...it must be a New England thing. lol
He had never heard of it. He grew up a Navy brat, now he's IN the Navy and WE have Navy brats. lol

Hi Sondray:
This recipe is similar to what my mom used to make when we were kids. She called it "Goulash." We loved it! Thanks for reminding me of the dish...I will have to try your recipe very soon. Thanks for sharing.

Thats what Mom always called chili-mac. Yummy :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Pam W.

One a week we had that when I was a kid. My dad 's mom added milk. My mom added a chopped green pepper or celery. I throw some boullin in and the kids like to sprinkle cheese on top........The name Macaroni Soup :D :D

Funny funny... That's what we call Hungarian Goulash!

Mom didn't use stewed tomatoes, but regular ones, and they were usually ones she'd canned herself from our garden.
She added corn.

It was called Homemade Soup!

sometimes the meat wasn't ground beef, but little pieces of beef she got on sale or leftover from a roast or something! LOL!

Isn't it funny how it's all basically the same thing (minus this, add a little of that) with a different name?!

We make something like it, too...I usally add tomato juice or V8 and some carrots...sometimes a little rice or barley...sometimes some cabbage...just whatever is on-hand at the time....or whatever we had for supper the day before.... :wink:

I absolutely adore V8 juice in soup. It just tastes better to me. I have never, ever made this recipe--isn't that tragic?? My mother was NOT a good cook but on those cold, winter days, this was the best thing around.
Julie

Around here they use to call it Poverty Meal because the ingredients and recipe were given out at local food pantries. When I was a Jaycee, we would deliver packages to shut ins, or older folks with no transpertation from the local food pantry once a week. When we had this in their bundles a couple ladies would giggle and then there were a few that got , well, lets say a bit hot under the collar and offended. But that was ok...so long as they got the fixins for a hot meal, a little pride saving was cool in my book LOL.