Tag: budget friendly

Ground Beef Stew With Mashed Potatoes

 

Ground Beef Stew with Mashed Potatoes

Ground Beef Stew With Mashed Potatoes

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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The idea for this dinner came from a conversation I had with my wife where we were reminiscing about the old days and the types of things we used to have for dinner. Now my wife, being born in Manchester England, had a lot of things that were typical in a British household…. Fish and Chips, Lamb Chops, Shepherds Pie just to name a few but there was one that stuck in my head and is the inspiration for this dish….. Ground Beef Gravy With Mashed Potatoes and it is something my late Mother-In-Law loved to make.

This recipe is my version of this old time favorite and I hope you enjoy it.

Cooks note: This is a budget friendly recipe. It fed 6 for less than $20.00.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 2 pounds Ground Beef
  • 3/4 cup Beef stock
  • 4 – 6 ounces Worcestershire sauce
  • 7 Yukon Gold Potatoes – peeled and cubed
  • 4 Garlic cloves – peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium White Onion – chopped
  • 1 26 ounce bag of frozen Mixed Vegetables
  • 1 28 ounce can Diced Tomatoes
  • 4 tablespoons Butter
  • 3/4 cups Milk
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large pot of salted water cook the potatoes until just fork tender.
  2. While the potatoes are cooking brown the ground beef in a large frying pan.
  3. When browned remove the ground beef, drain the grease and add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent.
  4. Add back the beef and mix in the vegetables, tomatoes, Worcestershire, beef stock and salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for about 15 mins.
  5. Drain the potatoes and mash with the butter and milk.
  6. Plate the mashed potatoes and top with the stew.
  7. Enjoy.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time………

                           Bon Appetit 

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Curried Vegetable Couscous with Ham

Curried Vegetable Couscous with Ham

Curried Vegetable Couscous with Ham

  • Servings: 4 - 6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Healthy eating does not have to consist of boring and tasteless food items it can be as tasty as you want it to be…. all you need is a little imagination and the right seasonings.

I decided on this recipe mainly because I had some Couscous in the cupboard that I needed to use and the Curry because Couscous on it’s own is tasteless and bland. As for the ham???   I like ham however you can use anything else you wish or leave it out for a healthy vegetarian dish.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 1/2 cups Couscous
  • 1 1/2 cups Sodium reduced Chicken Stock
  • 2 cups diced Ham
  • 2 cups frozen mixed Vegetables
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons Curry powder
  • 2 tablespoons Turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • Fresh Ground Pepper to taste

Putting it all together:

  1. In a medium stock pot combine the chicken stock, curry, turmeric and butter and bring to a boil.
  2. Mix in the couscous, cover and let stand off the heat for 10 minutes.
  3. While the couscous is standing heat the vegetables in a separate pot of water.
  4. Combine the couscous, vegetables, salt and pepper mixing well. Adjust the seasonings.
  5. Plate and top with the diced ham.
  6. Enjoy.

Cooks note: You can heat the diced ham or leave it cold.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…….

                           Bon Appetit

Pot Roast

Pot Roast

Pot Roast

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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I’m all about “simple but tasty recipes for the grilling season and beyond.” yet I don’t hesitate to think outside the box and tackle something that may seem “gourmet” and  “difficult” to make. Things like Osso Bucco with three mushroom Risotto or Crab Cakes with a Garlic Aioli or even create something that I think may be relatively new like my recent Pad Thai Meatballs. 

With that in mind this particular recipe falls under the “simple but tasty…..” category because it is essentially a one pot dinner that is not only filling but flavorful in its simplicity and can be considered a budget friendly dish as well since it can feed a number of people for a relatively low price.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping List:

  • 3 pound Beef Pot Roast
  • 2 large Carrots – peeled and rough chopped
  • 1 large Yellow Onion – peeled and rough chopped
  • 2 Celery ribs – rough chopped
  • 4 Garlic cloves – peeled and smashed
  • 24 Baby potatoes
  • 1 20 ounce can Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 cup Red Wine
  • 3 cups Low Sodium Beef Broth
  • 1/4 cup  Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 2 tablespoons Black Peppercorns
  • 2 tablespoons dried Rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons dried Thyme
  • 2 tablespoons Sea Salt
  • Cheesecloth
  • Butchers Twine

Putting it all together:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
  2. Season the pot roast with salt and pepper and place in a large Dutch Oven.
  3. Arrange the vegetables around the roast and add all liquids.
  4. Using the cheesecloth make a Bouquet Garni with the dried herbs and tie with the butcher string. Place in the pot.
  5. Bring to a boil on the stove. Turn off the heat and place in the oven for 2  hours.
  6. Remove the roast to a cutting board to rest, the potatoes to a separate bowl and discard the bouquet garni.
  7. Pour the braising liquid and vegetables into a blender and blend until you have a smooth gravy. Pour the gravy into a small pot. For a rich gravy add a dollop of butter.
  8. Slice the roast, plate with the potatoes and pour on the gravy.
  9. Enjoy. 

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…..

                         Bon Appetit 

Pad Thai Meatballs

Pad Thai Meatballs

Pad Thai Meatballs

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Fusion in cuisine is the blending of two cultures into one and making it work which I guess is what this recipe really is because it has taken what is considered a traditional Italian dish, Meatballs, and blended it with a traditional Asian dish, Pad Thai, and frankly it works.

Now as a time saver and the fact I was feeling rather under the weather today I used frozen meatballs and that’s okay with me.

Cooks note: At the end of the day this recipe fed 4 Adults and 1 Child for a total of $20.00 which is astounding for anyone’s budget.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 2 pounds frozen Pre Cooked meatballs 
  • 1 package Extra Broad Egg Noodles
  • 3 tsps Olive Oil
  • 1/3 cup Water
  • 1/3 Cup Fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup Soya sauce
  • 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
  • 3 tbsp Sambal
  • 2-3 tsp Lime juice
  • 2 tbsp Peanut Butter
  • 4 Garlic cloves – rough chopped
  • Salted Peanuts – crushed for garnish
  • Cilantro – chopped for garnish
  • Scallion greens – chopped for garnish
  • 2 tbsp Cornstarch and 4 tbsp Water   (optional)

Putting it all together:

  1. Heat the oil in a large fry pan and heat the meatballs on medium high.
  2. While the meatballs are heating mix the remaining ingredients, except the peanuts and cilantro, and mix well.
  3. When the meatballs have heated trough add the sauce mix stirring well. If you wish for your sauce to be thicker this is the time to add the slurry of cornstarch and water.
  4. Plate the noodles and top with the meatballs
  5. Garnish with the peanuts, scallions and Cilantro
  6. Enjoy.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                           Bon Appetit