Homemade hamburger helper

Cook the ground beef in the Dutch oven until pretty much fully cooked; leave its fat in.

Finely chop the onion and roughly chop the garlic; add both to the beef.

Season with salt and black pepper and cook 3 to 5 minutes until the onions soften.

Stir in a little flour to give the sauce its thickness so it clings to the pasta.

Add the beef stock, tomato sauce, spices and milk; bring to a boil and simmer about 5 minutes.

Add the pasta shells, cover, and cook about 8 minutes until the pasta is cooked through.

Taste and add a touch more salt before taking it off the heat.

Stir in the extra sharp cheddar until melted and combined. Serve, optionally with fresh parsley and chives.