After hearing over and over, "You should write about your move," I'm finally doing it. I'm new to this whole blog thing so be patient with me please. I never was the most technology savvy chic and now that the most frequented website in our household is pbskids.org, it's even worse. So if you see that I'm missing some important feature of all those really hip blogs out there, or you have any advice for me, feel free to pass it along. I am grateful.
OK, with the preliminaries out of the way, I'll bet you're dying to know WHY I love the mid-west. Well, there are many reasons, but today the #1 reason is that this is the first place I've ever purchased ground beef for $.99/pound. (OK, I mean since adulthood...maybe in like 1989 it was that cheap, but I can't remember ever buying beef for less than a buck--not even at Budweys, fine home of ghetto meat!--I say that affectionately, by the way. I do miss Budweys....) The only catch is that you had to buy it in a Giant 10 pound tube (limit 2). Yes, I did buy the limit. I simply could not help myself. The good news is that while giant tubes of meat are very weaponlike, 10 pounds is too heavy for my boys to actually use as weapons (although they did try). My freezer is now well stocked with meat loaf, meat balls, enchillada pie, hamburger noodle casserole and chili. Phew!
BUT it was suggested to me that a fun way to officially kick-off my blog would be to have a contest to see who can come up with the most (or most creative) uses for a 10 pound tube of $10 meat. Depending on how inspired you are, I may just run out and buy me another tube. I think it would be great fun to send you your own personal 10 pound tube of $10 meat if you win, but that would be gross SO instead I will use this opportunity to shamelessly promote my ecommerce website, www.booksfromsarah.com and offer a FREE card pack called 50 Science things to make and do for the winner of this Kick-Off Contest. In case you didn't know, I sell the most wonderful children's books on the market and for those of you who do not like to stretch your imagination and make up creative uses for meat tubes, we have great activity books and card packs to give you ideas. As of yet, we do not have a card pack called 50 things to make and do with a giant tube of ground beef, BUT we do have a pack of recipe cards called 30 Healthy Things to Make and Eat, which includes several recipes containing ground beef. You do not need a 10 pound tube to make any of them, however, so please don't be scared. I will announce the winner at the end of the week.
In the mean time, I am going to take great delight in mid-western living and enjoy my well-stocked freezer. If you can get over the fact that your meal may have come from a tube, join us for dinner sometime!
7 comments:
Hmmmm, as a vegetarian, I will no doubt come up with an alternate use for a 10 POUND LOG OF MEAT!!! Frankly, it's early and I haven't finished my cup of coffee yet, so I'm not sure how my creative juices are flowing. But, the bambino is sleeping so I'll try to take advantage of the moment. OK - speaking of bambinos - what if you cut it in half and used it as a sleep positioner for an infant? Or, cut in half and frozen solid, it could be used to block the tires of jet airliners when they are parked instead of those brick things. Or, mash it up and let your kids use it as an alternate to play-doh. Just don't let them lick their fingers as we all know the dangers lurking in raw meat. Even meat of such large magnitude. Their sculptures could be put in the yard to feed the wildlife dwelling in the midwest. (other than Bo, of course). It could be rolled out flat, the kids could put their hand prints in it, cook it 'til it's burnt and, VOILA - you've got a clever garden stone.
OK - that's all I cam come up with at this time. Good to hear from you, Sarah!!!!
I love the contest Sarah (& Usborne books)! Besides using it when you run out of playdo, you can make times this recipe by 10! It's a favorite & so easy. My friend, Betsy, in Austin, made it for me last year after she helped us after my surgery. She just found things we had in the house--i was stunned someone could cook that way! (and Betsy IS an original midwesterner BTW, as am I). Here you go, bon appetit! Pakistani Kima (Hamburger Curry): Sautee 3 T butter, 1 c. chopped onion, 1 clove garlic, minced. Add: 1 lb. GROUND BEEF, brown well. Stir in: 1 T curry powder, 1 1/2 tsp salt, dash pepper & cinnamon & ginger & tumeric, also 2 cups cubed potatoes, 2 cups (large cans) cooked tomatoes--diced okay. at end after 20 minutes simmer, add 2 cups peas and/or corn and/or green beans. Serve with noodles or white rice (best). I couldn't believe how good this was! and I've made it once myself--which is saying a LOT those of you who know me!
Hi Sara - just recently my daughter Lizzy asked if we could have Hamburger Stroganoff so tonite's the night. This is a KISS meal (Keep It Simple Stup . . . I mean Sarah!)
Saute 1 1/2 # ground chuck (your hamburger meat will do just fine.)
Remove meat from drippings.
Saute 1 onion (chopped) and 1 clove garlic (minced)until soft.
Drain if desired.
Combine meat with 1 can cream of CHICKEN soup, 1 large can sliced mushrooms (drained)and pour into pan with onions.
Stir in 1 cup Sour Cream and 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley. Salt and pepper as desired.
Heat until cooked through hot - simmer only - and serve over cooked wide noodles.
Now for the alternative use of that 10# tube. I bet it would make a great rolling pin for crusts that do best when chilled. (Rolling pins have other uses too btw!)
Love, trish
Hey Sara, What a great idea to get people to read your stuff. I have a recipe that is sure to put meat on your bones.
Beef Cobbler
Brown 1 lb of beef. Drain well. Add your favorite can of ready to eat soup or 1 can of condensed soup with 2/3's cup water. Depending on the thickness, you may want to add two cans of soup. Play with it a little. It could be vegetable beef, beef pot roast, cream of potato, tomato, whatever tickles your taste buds. Mix well.
You can add whatever you want to - great for leftovers like potatoes, green beans, corn, mushrooms (if you like them - some people don't know what's good!!) and whatever healthy things your kids will eat if camoflauged in a casserole.
Pour into greased casserole dish. Top with cobbler topping below and then bake at 350 for 45 minutes until browned.
Cobbler topping.
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 TB fresh orange zest (optional)
Combine sugar and flour. Add eggs and butter and zest. Blend well and pour over meat mixture. Spread with knife because it's thick. It actually glops on rather than pours.
ENJOY! It's like a dessert and dinner all in one. (No, not really)
Now for the confession. I just made this up as I read the other recipes. The cobbler topping is authentic - one I use for peach or apple cobbler - but the rest is made up but I'm sure would make a really fast and delicious meal. So try it and let me know how it tasted. I imagine the cream of potato soup would be very good.
I guess you have to try each recipe if you are having a contest so let me know if it is good. If it is I'll send it in to meal in minutes contest. ENJOY! Cheryl
Hi Sarah,
I've got two recipes for you, so here goes..
American Chop Suey
8 oz. elbow macaroni
3 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
0ne 16 oz can tomato sauce
Grated cheddar or mozzarella
Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain well.
Heat oil in skillet and saute onions and pepper for 10 minutes. Crumble ground beef into the skillet and cook until brown. Add tomato sauce and cook for 5 more minutes. Combine the macaroni and beef mixture, top with cheese and serve.
Chili (a good base recipe, but always room for creativity with chili)
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 large onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large green pepper, chopped
2 lbs. ground beef
3 1 lb cans of tomatoes,, including juice
2 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 1 lb cans of red kidney beans, drained
2 cups water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3-4 Tbs. chili powder
Tobasco or other hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Saute peppers, onion, garlic in oil in large pot. Add ground beef and salt and cook until meat is well browned.
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, beans, water and 2 Tbs. chili powder. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook, uncovered, at least an hour, the longer the better. Stir occaisionally to make sure it doesn't burn.
Season with additional chili powder, hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste.
If you get really good with this one and come up with a great chili, enter yourself into one of the midwestern chili cookoff contests. That way you can use a 10 lb tube of beef in one shot, maybe even two.
If you want a really good beef cobbler recipe go to epicurious.com and recipe search "spiced beef cobbler"
Sarah - glad to hear that you're settling into the Mid-West without a hitch. I'm trying to settle into the Middle East, but being a chubby white guy from Corfu means that I sweat a lot and that's about it. BUT - since I'm in the Middle East and don't have some of the luxuries of the states, like ten-pounds tubes of beef, your contest lets me wonder "what if..." SO, if I had a ten-pound tube of beef and kids, I think I would make a giant ten-pound meatloaf volcano with ketchup for lava and mashed potatoes around the sides to look like snow. Then I would put gravy on the mashed potatoes to make it look like the snow is melting. Granted, a ten-pound meatloaf volcano probably requires a big oven, I still think it would be fun. And I'd let the boys help make the volcano - ahhhh, science lessons with food... Why didn't people like Mr. Will ever combine science with food? Maybe I'd actually have liked science more and become a doctor like I originally thought... Anyway, time to go make my grilled cheese sandwich and french fries (being in my thirties is great - I've had this for dinner almost every night for the last week and a half...). Cheers!
By the way - I don't actually know how to cook meatloaf (I always cheat and use the McCormick's packets), so that's why there's no recipe from me. Sorry!
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