Easy Meatloaf

My husband loves meat loaf but I really don't. So when I found an easy meatloaf to make for him I was thrilled. He says this is really good.

Stuffing Meatloaf

2 pounds ground beef
1 package stuffing mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup water

Mix together in a gallon freezer bag (that's what the instructions said) and when well mixed press into an ungreased loaf pan. Cook 1.25 - 1.5 hours at 350 degrees or till internal temp is 160 degrees.

Hamburger Stew or Stone Soup

Okay, this hardly warrants a recipe, I guess, b/c it's so self explainatory, but I love this in the Fall and sometimes I forget about it, so it's nice to have in our recipe book! My mom makes this and they have even made it a youth activity where everyone brings whatever ingredient they want to add to the soup. I've always wanted to make in in conjunction with reading "Stone Soup" to my kiddos when they're old enough. Here goes:

1 1/2-2 lbs Hamburger
3-4 Carrots
5-6 Potatoes
1/2 Onion
3 Stalks Celery
Lots of Salt and Pepper to taste.

Brown the Hamburger in a large skillet with salt and pepper. Then add vegetables--I've listed my favorite, but whatever you like and however much you want will do! Add water for the broth and cook until the veggies are soft. You will want to add lots of salt and pepper for taste. You can also thicken the broth with flour or cornstarch, but I like it clear. I love being able to taste all the vegetables without alot of extra spice.

Beef Macaroni and Cheese Surprise

This is a really yummy casserole. The night I made it, one kid fell asleep before dinner and wouldn't get up and my husband worked late. I ate a bit and the baby liked it so I saved it for the next day. I had almost no hope for this dish, though I thought it was very tasty, it was now casserole AND leftovers. The surprise was, for the first time ever, I made a casserole and it ALL got eaten up.

For about 8 servings (I halved it for my family)
Ingredients:
1 LB bag of elbow macaroni
2 TBS vegetable oil
2 C Green pepper chopped
1 TBS Garlic chopped
2 LBS Lean Ground Beef
3 C canned crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper
1 tsp each dried basil, ground cumin, and dried oregano
2-3 C grated cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350. Cook macaroni to just done - not over done, drain and set aside. Heat oil in skillet, add peppers, onion, and garlic, saute until soft. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, and basil, cumin, and oregano. Combine macaroni and beef mixture. Spread into a 9X13 baking dish. Top with cheese and bake for 20-25 until cheese is lightly brown and bubbly.

Oh, and when I made it I didn't have green peppers, cumin, or basil, so I used celery salt, chives, parsley and Season All. Since then I have bought cumin and can't wait to use it, it smells really good!

Janet's Easy Red Beans & Rice

Just a warning, Janet showed me how to make this in college and neither of us have written directions so this is a very loose recipe.

My version:

Easy Red Beans and Rice

1 polska kielbasa sausage sliced (Janet also uses ground beef)
1 can individual can of v-8 (can also use stewed tomatoes with juice)
1 can pinquitos, drained (little beans sort of like kidney beans but with additional seasoning)
1/2 cup water (only if using minute rice)
1 1/2 cups Minute Rice (or cooked regular rice)
Oregano
Garlic
Chili Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
dash of Tabasco

In a skillet or saucepan (with a cover) brown meat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Add spices to your taste. Let simmer covered till most of juice is absorbed. I simmer it for about 10 - 15 minutes, but I'm also high altitude.

Shepherds Pie

Shepherds Pie (last night and left overs tonight!)

1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
1 can tomato soup
1 can italian stewed tomatoes
1 can french cut green beans
lots of mashed potatoes:)

fry hamburger (you can add onions too, that's yummy) and add tomatoes soup and stewed tomatoes, green beans, salt and pepper to taste. pour into a casserole dish and spread mashed potatoes on top and grate cheese over that. bake 350 until hot through and cheese is melted.

Grandma Canfield's Hamburger Stroganoff

This has been a quick hamburger stand-by in our family for longer than I've been around. Grandma actually measures everything, so this recipe is much different from any coming from my kitchen. I hate washing dishes and that includes measuring spoons and cups. Of course, grandma can make the same dish several times and have it taste the same every time... that's not a guarantee I can make about anything coming out of my kitchen.

1/2 cup minced onion

1 pound ground beef

garlic salt

2 Tbsp flour

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp paprika

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup sour cream

Saute (can't find the accent mark) onions until golden. Stir in beef and cook until browned. Stir in flour and seasonings and saute 5 minutes. Add soup and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Heat 10 minutes. Serve over toast, rice or noodles.

Really Yummy Enchiladas

We're having enchiladas for dinner tonight and it happens to be my favorite thing I can cook. So here's my recipe (technique would be more accurate).

Makes 8 servings (and leftovers are amazing)

You will need:

1 pkg McCormick's Enchilada Sauce mix (I've tried the cans of sauce, I like this powder better)
1 1/2 Cups water
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 lb. ground beef (sometimes I use shredded chicken, ground turkey would work, and plain cheese ones are good too)
8 (or so) tortillas (I use flour, corn or wheat would work)
lots of shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Stir sauce mix water and tomato sauce in a medium size pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until a thickened (5 mins).

2. Brown the meat (I season it with salt, pepper, season-all), drain the fat. Stir in 1/2 cup of the sauce.

3. Grab a tortilla - spread a little sauce on in, put about 1/4 cup meat down the middle, add some cheese. Roll it up and place seam side down in a 9X13 dish (like a cake pan) Repeat for all tortillas. Pour remaining sauce (and any meat if you have it) over tortillas and top with more yummy cheese.

4. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

Other option: Sometimes I make a box of Rice a Roni Spanish rice and put rice in the tortillas, also, olives are great in and on these. Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top. You can double the batch and freeze a pan, 2 great dinners in one shot.