Goulash

I first made this recipe because it was a dish my hubby liked and had grown up with.  I was searching for a goulash recipe but had never had this dish myself so I decided to do a Google search and found that Paula Deen had a recipe.  Well, I figured I couldn't go wrong with her recipe so I gave it a try and really liked it!  I've cut the recipe in half and adjusted an item or two for convenience.  Her original recipe calls for her special House Seasoning so I've made the substitution without having to make a batch of her House Seasoning.  This is an easy weeknight meal!  Serve with a side salad and your favorite bread for a meal your whole family will love!

Goulash

Adapted from :  Paula Deen's recipe - Bobby's Goulash

1 lb. ground beef

1 yellow onion, chopped (I used 1 cup of a frozen onion seasoning blend)

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/2 c. water

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 T. Italian seasoning

1 bay leaf

1 1/2 T. soy sauce

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 t. garlic powder

1-1/2 c. elbow macaroni (I typically use only 1 c. but this time I added another 1/2 c. and it was fine!)

Brown ground beef over medium-high heat.  Drain.  Add onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients (except macaroni).  Stir well and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  Add elbow macaroni and simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Turn off heat, remove bay leaf and allow to mixture to sit for 10-20 minutes.

Taco Squares

Tonight we had Taco Squares for dinner!  Every time I make these I'm reminded that I don't make them often enough.  This is such an easy recipe and is so delicious!  My mom made this frequently when we were growing up.  She actually made it as a diet recipe using ground turkey.  I use lean ground beef instead.  I've adjusted the recipe to feed our small family.  The original recipe uses a 9x13 pan so if you have a large family simply double my recipe!  I did make an oops tonight that turned out to be a good thing.  The original recipe calls for a 325 degree oven, but I accidentally set mine for 375.  After 15 minutes or so I checked and they were nice and brown.  The original recipe usually cooks for about 25 minutes.  They were so much better at the higher temperature.  The crescent rolls stayed much crispier this way.  So I'm adjusting my recipe!!  I really hope you enjoy these!!!

 This recipe calls for Crescent Rolls!  Got your attention now???

 Start by browning 1 lb. ground beef or turkey along with 1 1/2 tsp. onion flakes. 

Once meat is brown, drain liquid and add 1 1/2 T chili powder and 1/2 can diced tomatoes. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.  (Today, I made the beef mixture early in the day and placed it in the fridge.  At dinnertime, I simply reheated it and assembled the taco squares.)

 Spray 1 1/2 quart casserole with nonstick spray. 

 Place 1/2 of the crescent rolls in bottom of casserole.

 Pour all of meat mixture over rolls.

 Place 4 slices of mozzarella on top of meat mixture.

 Place the other half of the crescent rolls on top. 

 Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

 I like mine with a little lettuce and sour cream!!  My hubby adds a little taco sauce to his! 

Dinner is served!!!

Taco Squares

1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey

1 1/2 tsp. onion flakes

1/2 can diced tomatoes

1 1/2 T. chili powder

4 oz. mozzarella slices

1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls

Brown ground beef and onion flakes and drain.  Add in diced tomatoes and chili powder and simmer for 5-10 minutes.  In a prepared 1 1/2 quart casserole, layer half of the crescent rolls.  Pour all of meat mixture over rolls.  Place 4 slices of mozzarella cheese over meat mixture and layer remaining crescent rolls over cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until crescent rolls are golden brown.


Shared on:
Everyday Mom's Meals Church Supper
Melt in Your Mouth Monday Blog Hop

Simple Sloppy Joes

This is one of those recipes that I tend to change from time to time.  This is how I made this dish for supper last night.  On occasion, I will even add a splash of Worcestershire for an extra kick or even spicy brown or honey mustard intead of the yellow mustard.  I've tried several different sloppy joe recipes over the last few years and just combined some of the ingredients that I liked while still keeping this a quick and simple recipe! 

 The one thing I love about this recipe is that I almost always have everything on hand!

 Saute' beef and onion seasoning blend together.

                                   

Drain beef mixture.

 In a measuring cup, mix together remaining ingredients.

 Add ketchup mixture to ground beef.

 Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

 Serve on hamburger buns or rolls.  I like sloppy joes on multi-grain sandwich thins!

Simple Sloppy Joes

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 cup frozen onion seasoning blend
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 c. ketchup
1 T. mustard
1 T. brown sugar
1 1/2 t. vinegar

Saute beef and onion seasoning blend until meat is browned and onions are tender.  Reduce heat to a simmer.  Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and stir into meat mixture.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Meatloaf with Panko Bread Crumbs

As a kid, meatloaf was probably my least favorite meal!  I remember watching an episode of Wheel of Fortune years ago where one of the contestants, as he was being introduced, announced that his favorite meal was meatloaf.  This seemed so strange to me at the time.  How could someone's favorite meal be meatloaf???  Well, it will never be my favorite meal but I have learned to appreciate it over the years.  After I got married, I started to search for a great meatloaf recipe.  I have tried many in the seven years I have been married to my hubby, but always went on the search for another recipe to try.  It wasn't until last year that I finally found THE recipe!!  I was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time.  I had just been introduced to using Panko (Japanese style) bread crumbs and began to wonder if I could use them to make a great meatloaf.  One late afternoon, I began scouring the internet and finally found a recipe that incorporated the Panko bread crumbs and adjusted the seasonings to my taste.  We had it for dinner that evening and it was delicious!  . . . and to top it all off, nine hours later I went into labor.  (No joke- true story folks!)  I will ALWAYS wonder if it was the meatloaf. . .

 Gather your ingredients. . . 

 Here are the Panko (Japanese Style) bread crumbs.  These are also great as a breading for tilapia!  Someday, I will share that recipe!

 Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl!

 Mix well!  Be sure that all the Panko crumbs are distributed evenly throughout the mixture or you will have clumps of Panko in your meatloaf.  Trust me- I speak from experience!

 Form the mixture into a loaf and place into prepared pan.  Drizzle with remaining ketchup.

 Bake @ 350 degrees for one hour.

Enjoy!!

Meatloaf with Panko Bread Crumbs
1 pound lean ground beef
2 eggs
1 cup Panko (Japanese style) bread crumbs
3/4 cup ketchup, (DIVIDED)
1 T. salt-free seasoning blend ( I used Mrs. Dash- Original Flavor)
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a baking pan.  Place the ground beef, eggs, panko crumbs, 1/2 c. ketchup, (reserve 1/4 for topping the meatloaf), seasoning blend, garlic, onion, salt and pepper in bowl and mix well.  Be sure all crumbs are incorporated evenly into the mixture.  Form into a loaf shape, and place in prepared pan.  Drizzle with remaining 1/4 c. ketchup.  Bake 1 hour to an internal temperature of 160 degrees.

Easy Beef Stroganoff

Tonight, we had Beef Stroganoff for dinner.  My hubby loves the Hamburger Helper version of this but me- not so much.  I found a recipe a few years back on All Recipes but I've tweaked it a little over time.  I will say that tonight I reduced the sour cream significantly because I wanted my 13 month old daughter to be able to enjoy it with us.  It wasn't as rich and creamy as it usually is. So next time, I'll dish out her serving before I add all of the sour cream!  Live and learn!

 Originally, this recipe called for freshly chopped onion but I prefer to use the frozen seasoning blend.  It has onions, celery, peppers, and parsley!  It's great for chili, spaghetti, tacos, etc!!  I always have this in my freezer!!!  There's nothing worse than chopping onions!!

 Here's a closeup of that frozen seasoning blend!

 Start by sauteing the seasoning blend with about a tbsp of EVOO.  (about 3-5 minutes)  You'll want to put a small pot of water on to boil.  This dish is served with egg noodles!

 Then add in a pound of ground beef.  I used lean ground beef.  Drain off the liquid and then stir in the bouillon, garlic powder, salt, pepper.

 Then add the mushrooms!  I ended up using my spatula to roughly chop these.

 Continue to cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until mushrooms are heated through. 

 Remove from heat (very important)!  Then add sour cream and stir.  Remember, I only used half the amount this time.

Stir in the egg noodles!

 Dinner is served!!

Easy Beef Stroganoff

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2tsp. pepper

1 t. beef bouillon granules

2/3 c. onion (I used a frozen seasoning blend.)

8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 pint (2 cups) sour cream

1 1/2 c. egg noodles cooked and drained

In a large skillet, saute onion blend in about a TBSP of olive oil over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes.  Add ground beef.  When meat is browned, drain excess fat from skillet.  Add garlic powder, salt, pepper, bouillon and stir in.  Add mushrooms and cook an additional 5-7 minutes or until mushrooms are heated through.  Remove from heat (very important) and add sour cream.  Stir in cooked egg noodles.