Shared by Christine Beetlestone

Easy plain cooking after Christmas and it will serve 4 generously.

• 1lb minced beef
• 1 onion (6oz) chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or mashed
• 1-3 green chillies* seeded and chopped finely
• Smoked Paprika*
• 8oz mushrooms sliced
• 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes Optional: 1 tin of red kidney beans, rinsed.
• 1 tbs tomato puree
• 3 Oxo cubes added to
• 11/2 pts boiling water (this is the right amount!)
• 8 oz macaroni
• 1/2 teasp salt and ground black pepper
• Just a dash of Worcester sauce
• 2 litre oven proof casserole dish or saucepan

1. Fry the onion, garlic and chilli for a few minutes until softening, add the paprika, then the beef and keep stirring around – if you can lightly brown it, do, it adds to the flavour.
2. Add the mushrooms and stir round for 3-4 mins.
3. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, Oxo water, kidney beans if using, then bring to the boil.
4. Add the pasta and stir to mix well.
5. Cover the pan and simmer for about 1 hour, when it becomes thick and rich.
6. Serve, if you like, sprinkled with Parmesan.
7. It can be cooked on the top, in the oven or a slow cooker.