Crock-Pot Meatballs Stroganoff

Dinner doesn't have to be a big production every 

night. Sometimes when I know we'll be having a

  busy day, a little planning ahead assures we'll 

have something good to eat when

 we're tired and the day's work is done.

I usually have all the ingredients in the house, 

so this is a good last minute dinner idea.

 Weighed out 1 lb. of meatballs from a larger bag,

 or just use a 1 lb bag. 

I buy these when they are buy one get one free. 

 Combine soups, vegetables, and seasonings

 in the crock pot bowl.

 Stir until well mixed.

Dump in the frozen meatballs and stir to coat. 

 Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

 Stir in the 1 C sour cream and let it heat while 

you cook the noodles and make a salad.

Dinner is served!

 It's time to relax and enjoy, realizing how little

 work you had to do. Serve over cooked flat 

noodles. Add a salad or green vegetable.

Crock Pot Meatballs Stroganoff

1-lb bag frozen meatballs
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can beef broth
1/2 chopped onion
1/2-1 C mushrooms, big chop - or 1 can
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 t tarragon (if you have it)
1/4 t pepper
1 C sour cream
Combine the soup, onion, mushrooms, tarragon
and pepper in the crock pot. Mix well. Add
the meatballs and stir to coat.Cover and cook
on low for 6 hrs. Stir in the sour cream and
heat for 10-20 minutes while you cook the
noodles.   Serves 4

Enjoy!

My other recipes that use tarragon:
 Bearnaise Sauce,
 Homemade 1000 Island Dressing
Used in: Ruben Sandwiches,
Marshall Field's Special Sandwich
BLT, and BALT Sandwiches.
Wedge Salad

Links: Savvy Southern Style,
Coastal Charm, A Stroll Thru Life

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Million Dollar Meatballs

I clipped this recipe from the Chicago Tribune
many years ago. It's a nice comfort dish
that's a change-up from my usual tomato
sauced Italian meatballs. I think it got it's
name because of the green spinach, or
 because it was the winning recipe.
Either way these are a winner.

I like to serve the meatballs and gravy

over flat noodles or mashed potatoes.

This uses an envelope of brown gravy mix
and lemon juice for great flavor.

 Combine; ground beef, breadcrumbs, parmesan
cheese, spinach, onion, seasonings, and eggs.

I use my hands to mix.

Roll into about 1-1/2" meatballs.

Heat 3T oil in a large skillet and brown the meatballs.

Spoon off any excess fat. 

Add 1-1/4 C water, the envelope of brown gravy 

mix and 2 T lemon juice. Stir to blend well and let

simmer for about 15-20 minutes to finish cooking

 the meatballs. I you like lots of gravy, (and 

who doesn't?), just double the gravy ingredients.

While they were simmering I made parmesan

mashed potatoes. Just add sour cream, garlic

salt, pepper, butter, and parmesan cheese to 

the cooked potatoes. Mash, adding a little milk

if needed. I like to use the the old-fashioned

hand potato masher. It's quicker than getting 

out the mixer and I find I make mashed

potatoes more often. It just seems like less fuss. 

Million Dollar Meatballs

1-1/2 lbs. ground beef

2 medium eggs

1/2 C breadcrumbs

1/4 C Parmesan cheese

1 T minced onion, fresh or dried

1 t salt

1/2 t pepper

1/4 t nutmeg

1 box frozen chopped spinach, 

-thawed and squeezed dry.

Combine all ingredients and mix well; form into 

1-1/2" meatballs and brown in 3 T hot oil in a large 

saucepan, turning to brown sides. Spoon out 

any excess fat. To the pan add:

1-1/4 C water

1 envelope brown gravy mix

 2 T lemon juice

 Stir the three ingredients into the pan; mix well. 

Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes , stirring 

occasionally until the meatballs are cooked 
through. Serve over buttered noodles 
or mashed potatoes. If you like lots of
gravy, double the gravy ingredients.

Serves 4

Enjoy!

Links: Savvy Southern Style,
The Style Sisters, Common Ground,
Between Naps On The Porch,
Designs By Gollum, The Charm Of Home,
One of the most vied recipes on:

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Shepherd's Pie (aka Hamburger Pie)

Are you in the mood for comfort food?
This hamburger pie is an old favorite casserole. 

Saucy ground beef topped with mashed potatoes
and sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese.
What's not to love?

You can even make the beef filling ahead of time.

 Just bring it to room temperature before 

putting it into the oven. 

 

Simple ingredients. It's an old recipe from my
collection. It's from the 'BHG 100 Favorites'
 cookbook form the 70's.
It's retro!

 Brown the hamburger and onions.

 Add the seasonings, beans and tomato soup.

 Put into a greased pie dish. Sometimes I cover it

 at this point and refrigerate to bake later.

 Mash the potatoes while hot with the 1/2 C milk. 

 Whip in the egg.

 Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 Mound onto the hamburger.

Sprinkle with the 1/2 C shredded cheddar.

 Bake for 25-30 minuted.

 Enjoy a 'homey' dinner.

It's always good to have leftovers for lunch too.

Save this recipe for a day that has you

craving an old favorite.

Shepherd's Pie
(Hamburger Pie)

1 lb ground beef

1/2 C chopped onion

1t salt

1/2t pepper

1 can 16-oz green beans, drained

1 can tomato soup

Cook the meat with the onion until the meat  

is browned and the onion is tender. Season to 

taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the soup 

and green beans. Pour into a greased 

1-1/2 qt. casserole or deep pie dish. 

Add topping. 

topping:

5 potatoes, cooked

1/2 C milk

1 egg, mixed with fork

1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese

Mash the cooked potatoes while still hot with

 milk. Season with salt and pepper.

Soon in mounds around around casserole. 

Sprinkle the potatoes with cheese. 

Bake @350 for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Designs By Gollum

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Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti

This is one of our comfort food 
family dinners. It's an old standard.
This dinner comes together very quickly.

Make the sauce first and while it simmers 

you can make the meatballs.

I hadn't made it in years. 

Very basic ingredients

 Dump all the sauce ingredients into a saucepan.

In a large bowl combine the meatball ingredients.
You can use either Italian or plain breadcrumbs.
I do think fresh garlic and parsley make a
difference in the taste. I always have a
pot of parsley growing on my patio or
in my garden. Buy yourself a pot and you'll
have fresh parsley for a long time.

 After it's thoroughly mixed, roll into balls.
 You should get about 22-24.

 Saute in oil quickly to brown.

I turn them using two spoons.

 Add the sauce to the meatballs, or add the
meatballs to the sauce. Just be sure to get
all the flavorful browned bits.

 I have also, on occasion, just added the meatballs
right into the sauce without the browning step.
If that's how you like it, do it that way.

 Cover and simmer 30 minutes or a
little longer if you have skipped the
browning step.

Serve over hot spaghetti and
sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
And teach your children the
'Meatball Song'

Turkey Meatballs

Sauce:

1 can diced tomatoes-15 oz

1 can tomato paste- 6 oz

1 can water- 6 oz 

1 can mushrooms- 4 oz

2 T Worcestershire sauce

1 bay leaf

1 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/4 t oregano

Combine in a saucepan and simmer for

 one hour Add the meatballs for the 

last 30 minutes

Meatballs

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 C breadcrumbs

1/4 C parmesan cheese

1 garlic clove, minced

2 T chopped fresh parsley

1 egg

1/2 t salt

1/8 t pepper
1/8 t red pepper flakes (opt.)

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

Shape into meatballs. Heat 3 T

olive oil in a large skillet and saute the 

meatballs until browned but not thoroughly

cooked. Add to the sauce in the pan, 

scraping in all the browned bits. Simmer

 in the sauce another 30 minutes. 

Serve over hot spaghetti.

Enjoy!

tip: I use seasoned breadcrumbs, if I only have
plain I'll add about 1 t Italian herbs.
Use 1 t garlic powder if you don't have fresh.

Links: Six Sister's Stuff,
Stone Gable, Coastal Charm,
Between Naps On The Porch,
A Stroll Thru Life

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A Tale Of Two Dinners-Meatballs & Meatloaf

You will get two good dinners from this one ground

 beef mixture. One for now and 

one for the freezer..... you choose.

Meatballs & Meatloaf

2 lbs. ground chuck
1 small Italian sausage, about 3 oz.
Place the beef in a large mixing bowl. Remove the sausage casing and add to the  bowl.

1/2 onion, cut up
1 stalk celery, cut up
1 small carrot, cut up
1 garlic clove
1/4 C parsley
2 slices white bread, torn up
In a food processor, add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic and parsley.

Chop until small.

 Then add the torn bread pieces. 

Pulse a few times to blend in.

Add to the bowl with the meat.

1/4 C ketchup
1 C bread crumbs
1/2 C Parmesan/Romano cheese
1/2 C milk
1/2 t salt
1 egg
Add these ingredients to the bowl. Using your hands, mix until well combined.

Divide the mixture in half.

 For the meatballs, roll into 12 smooth round balls.

For the meatloaf, shape into a loaf to fit a 9x5 loaf

 pan. Wrap well and freeze.

Date with a label.

Good idea to also tape on the cooking instructions. 

To cook the meatballs: Heat a large frying pan
 until hot. Add 2 T olive oil and heat 30 seconds. 

Add the prepared meatballs and brown.  

Gently turn the meatballs, using two spoons
 until browned on all sides. 

Stir in sauce and let simmer 25-30 minutes.

You can use your favorite spaghetti sauce or 

make my sauce by adding:

 2 cloves minced garlic stirred into the pan.

then add:

1- 28oz can chopped or crushed tomatoes

1 t Italian herbs

1 t sugar

1/2 t salt

1/4 t red pepper flakes.

Tonights dinner.

Another homemade dinner waiting for you 

in the freezer for when you have no time

to cook. You'll like that! 

To cook the meatloaf: 

Place the thawed meatloaf in a 9x5 loaf pan, cover 

the top with 1/4 C ketchup and bake @350 for 1 hour.

Enjoy!

Links: Designs By Golllum,
My 1929 Charmer

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