Autumn Evening

Or a night to take a fall!

You know that every night doesn't have to be a big dinner, or even one that takes a whole bunch of work. Sometimes just getting everything together at the same time, in a competent and reliable manner can be as comforting.

For this post, slave thought it would put together a cheap and nourishing meal that leaves most of the work up to the oven. This allows you to serve in other ways, the kitchen wont be the only room in the house to be warm: wink-wink!

1 pkg ground beef 1.7 lbs = $6.78

1 can Store brand Beef Broth = .69

1 pkg (10oz) Frozen stir fry vegetables (thawed) = $1.00

5 small Yukon gold potatoes = $1.99

1 yellow onion = .79

Total for this meal = $11.25 

Chop up onion and add about ½ cup to the ground beef. (freeze the rest of the chopped onion) Shape into 3 large patties. Put one back to freeze. Just Brown the other two well while you pre-heat the oven to 400.

Thaw the stir fry vegetables by microwaving on high for about 2 min. Toss with 1 tbs of oil and sprinkle with kosher salt, then spread on a foil lined baking pan.

Take 2-3 tbs corn starch and slowly add the can of beef broth to it as you stir it well.

When oven is ready: slide in the baking pan with the vegetables. Place the two browned patties into a baking dish and pour the broth mixture over them. Carefully slide that into the oven next to the vegetables. They will cook and plump up as they make the gravy.

For the next 26 minutes to half an hour the oven will do all of the work for you. You might check from time to time and stir around the vegetables, but mostly they will be just fine.

 

 Wash the potatoes well and chop them up into pieces approximately inch in size. Put them in a covered dish for the microwave. They will need to cook about 7 to 8 minutes on high.

Then remove, add margarine and milk, some salt and mash them suckers away!

Note if Your Master likes the very smooth kind of potatoes, don't try to mash them, use a mixer instead.

Remember when adding milk or margarine, add a little at a time, because you can't take any away! Keep taste tasting.

The joy of this meal is that when it is just about ready. Drop the oven temp to 200. Cover the mashed potatoes with foil and pop into the oven.

Set the table and wait.

 

This will hold well for up to an hour if something comes up and dinner is delayed.....for what ever reason!

Just remember when serving: the bowls will be HOT!

Now then, like slave said this is not a big or fancy meal. However it will all come together when it is needed. It will taste like you have been cooking all day long. Hope you enjoy it and have a great time serving!

Slave will, to be sure!

Socialslave

To satisfy and restore. 

To nourish, support and maintain. 

To gratify, spoil, 

comfort and please, 

to nurture, assist, and sustain 

…..I cook!