Abs Favorite Recipes

Archive for the ‘Ground Beef’ Category

I have gotten bored with store spaghetti sauce. Even my kids have not been eating it as well the last few months. So after talking with people who make it themselves I started to get excited about giving it a try. I admit I am a recipe person I don’t do a lot of just throwing stuff together so I started looking through my cookbooks for one to try. So when I came across this one I was excited. If you don’t have a slow cooker you really should get one they are the best. I admit I am more of a winter slow cooker user but its great year round. Plus one of the many benefits is smelling your yummy food cooking all day long.  I will say I did play with this recipe a bit. I will share the original and then tell you what I did different at the end.

Source: Taste of Home Quick Cooking 2009 Cookbook

Prep: 15 min (um more like 30) Cook: 6-7hrs

• 1lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 2 cans (28 ounces each) diced tomatoes
• 1/2 to 1 cup water
• 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
• 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
• 1 medium sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp pepper
• cooked pasta of your choosing

In a large skillet, cook beef and pork over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.

Transfer to a 3-qt. slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, water, tomato paste, vegetables, sugar, garlic and seasonings. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until vegetables are tender.

Serve with pasta

Yield: 8 servings

What I did different. I put less onion in (half), instead of 1 cup carrots I did a half of a cup and then added a cup of cut up fresh mushrooms as well as a half a cup cut up zucchini. I also added another 6oz can of tomato paste and more oregano(not sure how much more of this I added probably another tsp or so).  I also added another 1/2 cup of water which I may not have needed.

These kind of recipes are fun because you can ready make it your own with out a lot of work.

I also wanted to add that its..

This was a hit with my son. He loved it. He was shoving fists full of this into his mouth. He had it again for lunch today and same thing. Its the most meat and veggies I have gotten into his mouth in quite some time. This probably tickled me more then anything.

So this recipe was a hit all the way around. I might try to work with the spices a little the next time I make it but that is all part of the fun.

After I first got married back in 2003 I started my search for a meat loaf recipe that was easy and tasted good. I tried quite a few before I found this one. Its my go too meat loaf for sure. I have even used this recipe to make meatballs which turned out great as well.

Source: Betty Crocker’s Cookbook

• 1-1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp chopped fresh or 1/4 tsp dried sage leaves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 clove garlic finely chopped, or 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup ketchup, chili sauce or barbecue sauce

1. Heat oven to 350
2. Mix all ingredients except ketchup. Spread mixture in ungreased loaf pan or whatever you want to cook it in. Spread ketchup over top.

I mix all the ingredients together in my kitchen aid mixer so every thing gets mixed together well. I also tend to use dried minced onion because my family is not big on onion. It adds to the flavor but does not have bits of onion in it. I don’t measure how much just sprinkle some in. This is also a great recipe to make a head and then just take it out of the fridge and cook when your ready.

A few weeks ago I was going to make taco’s and I was looking for a easy and tasty cheese sause. The recipe I found also had a homemade taco seasoning so I gave it a try.  The cheese sause was a bust but the seasoning turned out really well.

Source: Cooks.com

• 2 tsp. instant minced onion
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red peppers
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. oregano leaves
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup water

Mix ingredients for Taco Seasoning and set aside in a small bowl. Separate ground beef and brown in a pan, drain all fat. Add the water and evenly shower the beef with the seasoning. Mix until distributed evenly and mixed thoroughly, then let simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.

The thing I like about making my own seasoning is you can add more or less of some ingredients for your taste buds. The first time I made it I thought it was a little too hot for me so this time I added less of the red pepper flakes. You could also make this in bulk and store it.

Updated Sept 2010: I don’t even add the salt to the recipe anymore. I think its fine with out it. I find most taco meat mix way to salty anyways.

I’m normally not a big fan of recipes made in the microwave.  I don’t know what I do wrong but the few I have tried just did not turn out, but this one has become a favorite. I like it because its fast and tastes great. The only issue I have had with this recipe is over cooking the meatballs.

Recipe source: Taste of Home 2008 Quick Cooking Annual Recipes Cookbook.

• 1 egg
• 1 -1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1lb ground beef
• 1 can (14-1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup uncooked instant rice
• 1 cup sliced onion
• 1 cup chopped green pepper

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, chili powder, salt and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-1/2-in, balls. Place in a 2-qt microwave safe dish.

Cover and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink; drain.

Stir in the tomatoes, rice,onion and green pepper. Cover and microwave on high for 5-7 minutes or until rice and vegetables are tender. Yeilds 3-4 servings.

This is also a very easy recipe to double. Just be sure to not over cook the meatballs.