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Sneaking in the Vegetables: Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper and Pumpkin

Boxed Helpers for hamburger, chicken, and tuna are a favorite go-to meal in my house. Helpers are inexpensive, and I can always find coupons for the brand in my Sunday paper. The only downfall for the boxed meals is that most of the varieties do not contain many, if any, vegetables. Thus, in an effort to include more vegetables in my family’s diet, I have been experimenting with adding different vegetables to my favorite meals.

My first experiment was adding pumpkin puree to chili cheese Hamburger Helper. I began with a pound of cooked ground beef and a box of the Helper. I then added one cup of pumpkin to my pan of beef. Additionally, I added two cups of milk and only one-third cup of water. The directions on the box call for 2/3 cup of water; however, to make up for the additional water in the pumpkin puree, I added only 1/3 cup of water.

The results of my cooking experiment turned out wonderfully. The Helper ends up with the same texture and consistency as usual but now contains some added vegetables. My husband agreed that the addition of the pumpkin was a winner. So, if you want to add more vegetables into your family’s diet, then try adding some pumpkin to chili cheese Hamburger Helper. Bon appétit!

Pumpkin, Hamburger, and Milk

Uncooked Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper with Pumpkin

Cooked Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper with Pumpkin

Image Credits

Pumpkin, Hamburger, and Milk © 2012 Heather Johnson
Uncooked Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper with Pumpkin © 2012 Heather Johnson
Cooked Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper with Pumpkin © 2012 Heather Johnson

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