BEEF
Ground Beef
An endless variety of meals can be made
with ground beef. Most markets carry two or three grades of ground beef
depending on the fat content of the meat (the less fat, the more
expensive). The type you buy is a matter of personal choice. The final
subtle flavors of each of the following recipes is highly dependent on
the amount of seasoning which you decide to add. Broiling is easiest if
you put aluminum foil over the broiling pan or baking dish. After
cooking, just throw away the aluminum foil and there is nothing to wash.
When baking, its faster to preheat the oven to the desired temperature
before mixing the ingredients.
Hamburgers
The great American favorite. Mix ground
beef with spices, ketchup or barbeque sauce, red wine and onions
(optional). Divide mixture into hamburger patties and broil for about
5-10 min. on each side (depending on how well done you like your
burger).
Tacos
Tacos can really be made into a full meal
by themselves. The easiest tacos shells to use are the pre-formed ones
that just have to be heated in the oven. The meat filling consists of
browned ground beef with spices (chili powder, pepper, salt). With the
addition of grated cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped onion,
tomato and meat to the taco shell, you have both a salad and a main
course all rolled into one.
Taco Salad
Taco salad is and is not a salad; it does
have lots of lettuce and tomato, but it also have lots of ground beef.
In fact the only difference between regular tacos and a taco salad is
that the taco salad does not have a taco shell. To prepare a taco salad,
shred about 1 cup of lettuce per person andplace all the ingredients for
a regular taco on top of the bed of lettuce.
Enchiritoes
A combination between an enchilada and a
burrito. To make the meat sauce, first brown ground beef, then add
spices and tomato sauce. Warm mixture over low heat. Lay meat sauce in
an unfolded large flour tortilla. Add avocado, onions, cheese, and
olives. Roll all ingredients into the tortilla. Use as many tortillas to
use up the meat sauce. Bake enchiritoes in oven at 350 for 10-15 min.
During the last 5 min. of baking time, place slices of cheese of the
enchiritoes. Serve with sour cream on top.
Sloppy
Joes
Sloppy joes can be made as spicy hot as
you like. Brown ground beef and onions. Drain fat, then add tomato
sauce. Spice and serve on bread or a hamburger bun.
Pizza
It's too much trouble to make pizza crust
from scratch--instead use a "ready-made" pizza crust and a can
of tomato sauce. The real art of making a pizza comes in its
"decoration". So, follow the baking directions to make the
crust and spread out the tomato sauce. The choice of topping is
limitless.
Some suggested ingredients:
- Cheese (jack, cheddar, mozzarella?,
Parmesans)
- Meat (ham, ground beef, salami, sliced
hot dogs, bacon)
- Olives, onions, tomatoes, green
peppers, mushrooms, etc, etc, etc ....
Spaghetti
and Meat Sauce
Spaghetti is a dish where you can really
show your individual tastes with seasonings. Brown ground beef, drain
fat, then add spices. While the meat is simmering, add desired amount of
dried or fresh spaghetti (or any other pasta) to boiling water. Combine
tomato sauce, onions, mushrooms and garlic with meat (for an additional
spice, add 1/4 cup of any red wine). For a thicker sauce add one small
can of tomato paste. Serve spaghetti and sauce either separately or
mixed together. A little bit of Parmesans cheese as topping can't hurt.
Sometimes it pays to make a little more than you can eat because its
great for leftovers.
Meatballs
Add meatballs on top of rice, spaghetti
or old smokey, and you have yourself a meal. Heat tomato sauce in a pan.
Mix spices, ground meat, and 1 egg in a bowl. Shape ground beef into
individual meatballs and drop into tomato sauce. Cook until the
meatballs are cooked inside (about 15 minutes depending on how big you
make each meatball).
Meatloaf
You never thought you would make a
meatloaf, did you? It's probably one of the easiest recipes to make.
Just combine and mix all the ingredients listed below and bake in a dish
for about 45 min. The oven should be set at 350. Cheese can be melted on
top for the last 5 min. of baking time.
Quick
Stroganoff
A beefy dish which can be served over
rice or pasta. Brown ground beef and onions, and drain fat. Add a can of
creamy vegetable soup like cream of mushroom or cream of onion and 1/2
can of water. Add spices and cook until hot. A lot of spices are not
needed because the soup has enough flavor. Additional cooking time will
thicken the broth.
Pepper
Boats
An elegant dish which will impress even
Mom. Brown ground beef and onions; drain fat and add spices and tomato
sauce. Cut 3-4 green peppers in half and remove seeds and stems. Stuff
green pepper halves with meat mixture and then bake for 15-20 min at
350. Melt slices of cheese on top of "boat", if desired.
Potato
Socks
A popular dish served in many restaurants
and bars as an appetizer or a main course. Wash large potatoes
thoroughly before baking them for about 45-60 min at 400. While waiting
for potatoes, get the stuffings ready; mince onions,grate or slice
cheese, ready sour cream in a bowl, slice avocado, brown ground beef,
find those bacon bits, baton down the hatches. When potatoes are soft
inside (test by poking the potato with a fork), slice them in half.
Remove cooked potato from potato skin, but leave the skin whole - this
can be tricky!! Mix potato with cheese and about 2 tablespoons of milk
for every potato. Stuff potato skin with potato/cheese mixture and add
additional stuffings on top.
Chasteen's
Shepard's Pie
Chasteen Mullins has contributed
this recipe that is sure to make enough for 4 people and have plenty of
leftovers. Brown ground beef (or ground turkey) then drain the meat. Add
diced onions and cook them until done. Prepare gravy mix according to
the package, then add the gravy to the meat. Simmer until mixed. Add
spices. Take the meat mixture off the heat and set it aside. Make mashed
(smashed) potatoes. After the potatoes are ready, spread the meat evenly
over the bottom of a baking pan. Spread the potatoes on top of the meat
and put a little butter on top of the potatoes. Cook in the oven at 350
until the top is brown.
Wanny Joe
Special
Meat dish, egg dish, meat dish, egg
dish...it's both!! Brown ground beef. While the meat is cooking, beat 3
eggs in a bowl. Drain the meat, then pour the eggs into the meat and add
the spices. Heat the meat/egg mixture until the eggs are cooked (about
3-5 minutes). Serve with toast and ketchup.
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copyright 1996-2000, Eric Chudler. All
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