Blast from the past : Cheeseburger Macaroni

I developed this recipe years ago.   A lot of years ago.   The total cost of 4 servings corn 4 adults was 3.47 for six,  prorate to 2.31 for four.     It was sooo long ago that hamburger was 1,66 at qfc.   LOL

1 pound hamburger , cooked and de fatted
1 stalk celery, chopped fine
1 slice red pepper
1/2 tsp EACH of garlic and onion powder
1 can diced tomatoes
2 T tomato paste
1 cup grated Mexican blend cheese
1/2 pound macaroni   cooked

Brown celery and pepper in a large skillet with a little olive oil.
Add cooked , hamburger
Add garlic and onion powder, tomatoes and tomato paste.
Simmer about 15 minutes

Meanwhile cook macaroni and drain.   Reserve some water in case
you have to add to the skillet to make it the right consistency.

Add macaroni to the skillet.  Top with cheese and cover for a few minutes until the cheese melts.

Costs then and now - just for fun .  

Hamburger 1.66 now 3.28
Celery .33 lb now 1.00
Red pepper .50 now 1.00
Diced tomatoes .59 now .50
Tomato sauce .33  now .50
Grated cheese was 2.00 a lb now 2.35
Macaroni .69. Now .59 to a dollar .  

Total cost now is 5.05 prorate four servings to 3.37
An increase of about 45 percent.  

First created 8/09

I added artisan bread with parmesean cheese and parsley butter and a green salad .
1/2 a loaf was fifty cents,   Sometimes you can get a loaf for ,88 of french bread at Winco.
The cost of a loaf of french bread is about 30 cents.  
Green salad is still a dollar a bag if on sale, but usually it's closer to three dollars a bag I priced tomatoes at a dollar.  They are still a dollar on sale this time of year and homemade dressing at a quarter.    The extras were cost at about a dollar for the bread and 60 for the salad.   The bread could be less if you made bread, but the salad could be remarkably more.