Grandma's Three Cheese Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef stew meat, cut into small bite sized pieces
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 10 1/2 ounces tomato soup
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup chili sauce (I used Sweet Thai Chili Sauce. You could also use Sriracha, which is spicier.)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano
• 6 ounces medium egg noodles
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 8 ounces small curd cottage cheese
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 4 ounces mushrooms (fresh or canned)
• 4 ounces sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. 1

   Combine flour, paprika, salt, and pepper in large zip top bag. Add meat, shaking well to cover.

2. 2

   Heat oil in large skillet until rippling and just starting to smoke. Very carefully, add meat to skillet and cook until browned, approximately 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Add minced garlic, and saute 1 minute.

4. 4

   Add tomato sauce, soup, water, chili sauce, sugar, and oregano. Simmer until meat is tender, approximately 10 minutes.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, cook egg noodles according to package instructions (usually 6-8 minutes in a quart of boiling, salted water.) Drain noodles.

6. 6

   Combine meat mixture and noodles with the cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese.

7. 7

   Gently stir in the mushrooms and water chestnuts.

8. 8

   Pour the mixture into a greased 2 quart casserole dish, and top with cheddar cheese.

9. 9

   Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.