Tightwad Tuesday

 

Hamburger

When we find a good deal on hamburger we buy lots of it. We divide it up and put it in the freezer. Here are some creative ways to use it.  I copied most of these from All Recipes because I am too lazy to type them!

A Good Basic Hamburger (With Variations)
(to pan fry, foil wrap, or grill outside)

1 lb. hamburger
1 t. salt
4 twist of pepper mill
1 T. minced onion
1 T. minced parsley
1/2 t. sugar
1 T. salad oil, if hamburger is very lean
4 hamburger buns
4 T. soft butter for buns

Mix together, in the order in which they are listed, except oil and buns. Form into 4 patties and brown in skillet. Serve on buttered buns.

Variations:

Cashew Burgers: Add 3/4 c. chopped salted cashew nuts to the hamburger mixture.

Pecan Burgers: Add 3/4 c. chopped pecans to the hamburger mixture.

Walnut Burgers: Add 3/4 c. chopped walnuts to the hamburger mixture.

Zippy Burgers: Add 1/2 c. chili sauce and 1/2 t. cinnamon to the hamburger mixture.

Stretch that meat Burgers: Add 3/4 c. mashed potatoes and 1 well beaten egg to the hamburger mixture.

Cheesits: Add 8 slices American process cheese, diced into 1/4" cubes, to the hamburger mixture.

Italian Burgers: Add 2 cloves minced garlic or 1 T. garlic juice, and 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, to hamburger mixture.

Hungarian Burgers: Add 1 lg. grated carrot to the hamburger mixture, and sprinkle generously with paprika before browning.

Herb Burgers: Add 1/2 t. thyme, 1/4 t. rosemary and 1/8 t. oregano to the hamburger mixture.

Indian Burgers: Add 1/8 t. curry powder and 1/8 t. coriander to the hamburger mixture.

Amish Meatloaf

2 pounds ground beef 2 1/2 cups crushed butter- flavored crackers 1 small onion, chopped 2 eggs 3/4 cup ketchup 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 slices bacon

1 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons vinegar 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard 1/2 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	In a medium bowl, mix together ground beef, crushed crackers, onion, eggs, 3/4 cup ketchup, and 1/4 cup brown sugar until well blended. Press into a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Lay the two slices of bacon over the top.
3.	Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until cooked through. While the loaf bakes, mix together the remaining 1 cup ketchup, vinegar, salt, mustard and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Spread over the top of the meat loaf for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Swiss Meatloaf

INGREDIENTS:

12 ounces chopped raw bacon 1 small white onion, chopped 5 button mushrooms, chopped 1 1/2 pounds extra-lean ground beef

1 egg 1/4 cup evaporated milk 6 ounces shredded Swiss cheese, divided 1/2 cup corn flake crumbs

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.	Place bacon in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the pieces are browned. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease. Stir in onions and mushrooms, and cook until soft. Remove from heat.
3.	In a large bowl, stir together beef, egg, and milk. Stir in the onion and mushrooms. Mix in about 4 ounces of Swiss cheese, and all but 1 tablespoon of bacon. Stir in cornflake crumbs, and mix until well blended. Shape into a loaf, and place in a meatloaf pan.
4.	Bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour. Drain fat, and sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon. Return to oven, and bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

 

Spaghetti Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound lean ground beef 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 tablespoon dried basil 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook ground beef with onion until brown; drain. Stir tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, garlic powder, oregano and mushrooms into beef mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer one hour. Serve over hot pasta.

Crockpot Chili

 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound ground hamburger

2 (10.75 ounce) cans low sodium tomato soup

2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained

1/2 medium onion, chopped

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

1 pinch ground black pepper

1 pinch ground allspice

salt to taste

Cook hamburger till lightly brown. drain.

Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray, and mix in turkey, tomato soup, kidney beans, black beans and onion. Season with chili powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, allspice and salt.

Cover, and cook 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High.