From Freezer to Table in 25 Minutes

Tonight's meal is one of my favorites. Has been since I was a kid.

It takes less than 25 minutes from freezer to table.

It tastes great.

Every one of the kiddos will eat it, hubby included. It's called...

S.O.S

What you will need:

2-2.5 punds of ground beef
1 can mushrooms (8 oz), drained
1 packet Au Jus Gravy
1 packet Brown Gravy
2-3 cups water
Steam and Mash Russet Potatoes

Milk
Salted Butter
(For the mashed potatoes)

1. Put the potatoes in the microwave according to directions (most are 10 min.)
2. Brown ground beef and drain.
3. Add mushrooms, Au jus and Brown gravy packets.
4. Add 2 - 3 cups water, depending on how thick you want the gravy.
5. Mix well.
6. Simmer on Low-Medium while you make the mashed potatoes.

7. Mash potatoes either according to package instructions or your own taste.
8. Serve SOS (meat mixture) over mashed potatoes.


Prior to mixing together.

 We generally serve this with early peas and a side salad.

It super simple and quick. Tastes fantastic, too.

The cooking goes by quickly because everything seems to line up time-wise. While the potatoes are cooking in the microwave, the beef is browning. While the mix is simmering, the potatoes are being beaten.

And...this makes your kitchen smell Ah-Maze-ing!!!

Bon Appetit!
**Side Note: The Steam and Mash potatoes are truly the BEST thing since sliced bread. They are REAL potatoes...the ingredients are "potatoes, water, some preservative". They taste just like boil and mash potatoes. Here's a picture of them after being steamed and before being mashed:

Dinner For 10 - For Less Than $20

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have tried to have Sunday night dinners together. Something about those chaotic, laughter-filled evenings seems to recharge you for the coming week (even if they are exhausting while they are happening!)

Tonight is my night to host. Eek!

We're on a budget. Double Eek!

There will be 5 adults and 5 children. Argh!

What will everyone eat, so that I only have to cook one meal...economically?

Solution: Slow Cooker Crock Pot Salsa Chicken!

Ingredients:

2 cans whole kernel yellow corn, drained (0.69 each)

2 can black beans, rinsed and drained (0.67 each)

2 cans Ro Tel tomatoes (Mild - for the little ones) ($1 each)

8-10 Frozen chicken breasts ($7.99 a bag for frozen breasts)

Bag of shredded Cheddar cheese ($5.99)

10 flour tortillas (0.99 bag of 10)

Total: $19.69

I did my shopping at Kroger on 2/13 (for price comparison)

Here's the easy part:

Put chicken in large crock pot.

Pour over corn, beans and tomatoes.

Cook on Low 4-6 hours.

Shred chicken prior to serving.

Serve chicken, corn, beans and tomatoes together in flour tortillas.

Sprinkle on cheese.

Yummy!

**Note: the Littlests and Little Miss will eat this, too. Little Miss will eat it wrapped in a burrito-style, but the Littlests will only eat the "insides" of the burrito. **

**If you use Mild Ro Tel and non spicy black beans, this dish is not spicy at all**

Posted and shared at: I heart naptime, The Shabby Nest, and Finding Fabulous

Easy Middle of the Week Dinner - Ham and Cheese Casserole

What you need:

6-8 slices of ham (We used Hormel Natural Honey Baked Ham)

4-6 servings of white rice (Instant is fine...) - already cooked

8oz Velveeta cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Dice ham.

3. Dice Velveeta.

4. Combine ham, cheese and rice in casserole dish.

5. Cook 25-30 min, or until warm throughout.

6. Serve with a side of veggies - we usually do broccoli.

That's all there is to it. AND...2 out of three of the little ones in this house L.O.V.E. it. And, their parents do too!

**Special sidenote: I found the cutest kids' casserole dish at Michael's the other day. It's dishwasher and oven safe, too! Little Miss ate her meal all by herself when I served it to her in this!**

Oh, I should mention, I did NOT cook Little Miss's casserole in her dish, that would make the dish too hot to eat out of, defeating the purpose of the dish.

Hamburger Stew - Easy for a Cold Night

Today is a recipe from my mother, the smell of the stew cooking always makes me feel safe and at home. I hope my children will have the same reaction when they get older. It's an easy recipe for a mom (or dad) to prepare, and the kids will actually eat it! (Yea for bonuses!!)

Hamburger Stew

2 cans Veg All

1 small can Tomato paste

1 large can Beef Broth (14 oz or more)

1-2 pounds ground beef (browned and drained)

Mix all the above ingredients together and bring to a slow boil. Turn heat down to simmer and cook 20 minutes more.

Your tastes might call for a more "soupy" stew, so you may add as much beef broth as you would like. With the above mix, it's a thick stew.

**A note for Slow Cookers**

Yes, you can cook this in a slow cooker. Just combine all ingredients (with the meat already cooked and drained) in the crockpot. Cook on Low for 2-3 hours or HIGH for 1-2.

We serve ours with Texas Toast or cheese toast. So yummy!