Category: Beef

Make Ahead Meatloaf

Beef, Crockpot /Make Ahead Meals, Pork, potatoes

Another busy weekday calls for a make ahead meal. Last night I assembled this meatloaf ahead of time so all I had to do when I got home was pop it in the oven. It took a good 1 hour, but I still had dinner on the table by 6:30. Most families I know eat between the 5:30-7:00 window, so this is a perfect thing to make the night before. You could even make 2, and freeze one uncooked for another night!

Easy Make Ahead Meatloaf- Feeds 4-6- You can double this recipe for a bigger family, leftovers, or an extra uncooked meat loaf to go in the freezer

Ingredients
1 pound of ground meat- I used 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground mild sausage
1 egg
1/2 cup of seasoned breadcrumbs (add more if too wet) or crackers
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
1 can tomato sauce (1/2 in the meat and 1/2 on top)
1 splash of red wine (more if too dry) *this can be omitted, or you could add extra Worcestershire or tomato sauce.
1 garlic clove grated (or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder)
1/4 onion grated (or 1 teaspoon of onion powder)
fresh or dried herbs- This time I used dried Italian seasoning- about 1 tablespoon
salt and pepper to taste- do not skimp

Directions

In a large bowl combine all your ingredients. I get in there and mix it up with my hands. Mix just enough to combine the ingredients. DO NOT OVERMIX! I do not use ketchup at all. The tomato sauce, tomato paste, and Worcestershire combo is better and gives the meatloaf so much more depth of flavor than ketchup ever could. I take my mixture, form in a loaf shape, and put it on some aluminum foil in a long baking dish. Top with more tomato sauce. 350 for about an 1 hour or until meat is at 155. Take out and let it sit for 10 minutes to set and for carry over cooking. Enough leftovers for the hubby and I to take for lunch tomorrow!

I served with some green beans and fried potatoes (small white potatoes diced with salt and pepper cooked in a bit of olive oil and cooked until tender, about 40 minutes).

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Dinner with Friends

Beef, Dinner with Friends, Mexican, Vegetarian

I am starting a new category tonight. Dinner with friends is becoming the new normal with my new kitchen. I love it! Tonight, 2 college friends came to dinner. One was the fabulous Miss Mandy, who my girls pretty much adore as an auntie. The other was my dear friend Lita, who also brought her lovely hubby and 2 adorable boys. It was loads of fun. For some reason it didn’t even occur to my to take a picture of us, but that is ok. Their pretty faces still look 22 to me, so there is that =)

Here are some shots that I took that mattered…

Homemade Guacamole

The start… 2 avocados, salt, pepper, juice of 1 lime, and a tablespoon of queso fresco diced and stirred in.

  The amazing result! YUMMO!

Margaritas!

Enchiladas 2 ways- Beef and Bean

Can’t wait to see these lovely ladies again!

 

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Rigatoni Pasta

Beef, Crockpot /Make Ahead Meals, Pasta

Happy Thursday! I am so glad tomorrow is FRIDAY! Looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend spending time with family and friends. Yesterday, I cooked this lovely meal in my slow cooker. By the time Becca came home from cheer practice, dinner was already on the table. Lots of leftovers to eat and share!

Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs with Rigatoni Pasta

Ingredients

4 Beef Short Ribs, salted and peppered on each side. Coast with olive oil. Massage.
1 container mushrooms
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup red wine
1 beer
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1 pound Rigatoni (or any hearty noodle)

Directions

*****Can be done the night before******
Brown ribs on high heat, about 6 minutes on first side, 3 minutes on second side.
Take out meat and turn down heat to med. Saute veggies, about 15 minutes. Add in tomato paste and stir together, about 3 minutes. Add in red wine. Reduce, about 3 minutes. Put ribs in the bottom of slow cooker. Add veggies, Worcestershire, beer, and tomato sauce. Mix with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, plug in slow cooker and cook on low heat for about 8 hours. If you have to go longer, that is just fine. If you can prepare all of this in the morning that is fine. You can also cook this on high for 4-6 hours.

All you have to do in the evening is make the pasta. This would also be amazing over Polenta or mashed potatoes.

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Pantry Raid- Homemade Hamburger Helper

Beef, Pantry Raid, Pasta

Finally Friday!!!! So I mentioned in the last post that I was basically going to do a pantry raid to figure out what to make with my ground beef. That is what I did tonight! I basically made a homemade hamburger helper. There were some onions, which Becca picked out, but Katie declared them delicious and yummy.  Here is how I made it…

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 container mushrooms, sliced or chopped
4 tablespoons flour
1/2 container of reduced salt beef broth
1 small can or tomato soup
1/2 small container of heavy cream
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 box of Rotini pasta
1 mug pasta water

Directions

Boil pasta water.
Meanwhile, brown your beef, onions, and mushrooms. Do not drain.
Add your flour. Stir well, then add your beef broth and tomato soup. Stir well until it becomes thick.
When your pasta is aldente (chewy), add it to the sauce plus a cup full of pasta water, and the heavy cream.
Mix well until all incorporated.
Take off heat, mix well, and let sit for 5ish minutes and stir. This should be a perfect Hamburger Helper consistency.

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Last Supper

Beef, Misc. stuff

  
The last dinner cooked in my kitchen before construction begins. This week it is kitchen pack up, next week demolition, then a few more for instillation and completion. Using the toaster oven and microwave and cheap meals out. See you on the flip side peeps!