Fun, Easy and Inexpensive Recipes - Magic With Ground Beef

Dedicated to B.T. Evilpants.

Jackalopes in Michigan love Shepherd's Pie and I have had a request for such a recipe and am happy to produce it here from the old recipe box.

In addition to that great dish with an international flair, I have included several other ground beef recipes that are fast and delicious. Any of the ground beef in these recipes can be replaced with ground turkey, diced eggplant or even cubes of stew meat or sausage chunks. It's all good. I like to grill or broil thick eggplant slices first in olive oil and then cut into cubes.

I hope you enjoy these...

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 package any good brand of mashed potato flakes, garlic or butter flavored
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 medium onion diced
• 2 tsp. chili powder or red pepper
• ¾ tsp. salt
• 1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes, with chilies if you like
• 1 16-oz. can Baked Beans or Black beans
• 1 11-oz. can whole kernel corn, well drained
• ½ Cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• ¼ Cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add ground beef and onion and cook and stir until meat is brown.
• Stir in chili powder and salt, cooking another 1 minute.
• Stir in tomatoes AND their liquid, adding next the beans and corn.
• Cook all together over high heat until bubbling.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for just 10 minutes.
• Prepare the potatoes according to the package for 4 servings.
• Stir cheddar cheese and cilantro into the potatoes.
• Top the meat with ¼ Cup of potatoes for each serving.

And don't forget Admiral Halsey's Pie for desert.

Ingredients

• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 1 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak, ¾" thick, cut into 1" cubes. Or use ground beef.
• 1 can Condensed Tomato Soup
• 1 can Condensed French Onion Soup
• 1 TBSP. Worcestershire sauce
• 24 oz. frozen vegetables for stew, thawed and drained

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add beef and cook until browned and juices evaporate, stirring constantly. For ground beef, stir but leave in larger chunks than for tacos.
• Pour in the soups, Worcestershire, and vegetables and heat to the boil.
• Cover, reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup
• 1 Cup Chunky Salsa
• 4 hot baked potatoes, split open lengthwise [fast cooking in the microwave]
• Low fat sour cream or yogurt
• Sliced pitted ripe olives

Instructions

• Brown beef in skillet.
• Combine with soup and salsa and heat through.
• Serve over potatoes and top with sour cream and olives.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• 28 oz. beef broth
• 14½ oz. diced tomatoes
• ¼ tsp. dried Italian seasoning
• 1½ Cups uncooked corkscrew pasta
• ¼ Cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Cook beef with garlic in skillet until browned.
• Add the broth, tomatoes and Italian seasoning and heat to boiling.
• Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat 10 min. or until pasta is al dente.
• Stir in cheese and serve with more cheese as a topping, if desired.

Ingredients

• 1 large New York Strip steak (300g)
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 3 TBSP chopped shallots or green onions
• 3 - 5 hot chili peppers
• 3 sliced red shallots (or red onion if you cannot find red shallots)
• Juice of 2 limes
• Small bunch mint leaves
• Small bunch coriander or cilantro leaves
• ½ TBSP sugar
• Fish Sauce

Instructions

• Trim any excess fat from the steak and cook or grill it to medium rare. Do not over cook.
• Add all dry ingredients together and add juice from 1 lime and about a TBSP of fish sauce.
• Taste. Add sugar, fish sauce, or lime juice, if needed
• When steak is somewhat cool, cut into thin slices and add it with coriander and mint to the salad.
• Toss and serve.

Serves 6 and can be made ahead and reheated within 3 days.

Ingredients

• 26 oz. Italian Pasta Sauce
• 1 1/4 lb. ground beef or turkey
• 1 1/4 Cups Pepperidge Farm® Herb Seasoned Stuffing
• 2 whole beaten eggs
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• ¼ Cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 tsp oregano
• 4 oz. Mozzarella cheese, cut into 6 pieces - one for the center of each loaf

Instructions

• Pre Heat oven to 400 Degrees F.
• Combine ¾ Cup pasta sauce, beef, stuffing, eggs, onion, pepper and oregano and mix well. Shape into 6 loaves, placing 1 piece of cheese in the center of each loaf first.
• Place loaves into a large enough baking pan to hold them without crowding.
• Bake the loaves at 400 Degrees F for 25 min. or until done. Serve