Archive for the Category » big family meal «

14
Jul

meatloaf for a crowd

My Georgia makes incredible meatloaf. It is one of those things of mine that she has taken and greatly improved upon. We like it best with thickly sliced homemade bread. preheat your oven to 350

you will need

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 diced bell pepper
  • 1 diced onion
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 2 Cups uncooked oatmeal, we use thick sliced non- instant
  • 1 T Cajun seasoning
  • 1 large 1 lb can tomatoes sauce

Add everything except the tomato sauce to a large mixing bowl and get your hands in it and mix well. Then put it all in a baking dish and pat down smooth like a loaf. pour the tomato sauce on top and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. It will be done when bubbly and you can insert a knife into center and it comes out clean like when you test a cake, leaving a slice in the top. We like to serve ours as sandwiches, but it is also great alongside cooked pasta.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, southern cooking  Tags: , , , , ,  9 Comments
12
Jul

stir fry squash and rice

This is one of those throw it in the pan recipes so there are no amounts. It is more a recipe idea. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

  • diced yellow squash or zucchini
  • diced red peppers
  • sliced mushrooms
  • diced fresh garlic
  • chopped green onions
  • about 2 T. olive oil
  • cooked rice
  • optional ~ pita pockets
  • salt and pepper to taste or a little Cajun seasoning

Sauté all of the vegetables in the olive oil in a med hot skillet until the veggies are soft but not mushy. Serve over a bed of rice, or with rice in pita pocket. Really easy and very yummy.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, side dish or snack, vegetable, vegetarian  Tags: , , ,  3 Comments
28
Jun

chicken pasta salad

This is one of our favorite summer dishes and a hit at every pot luck or covered dish supper. You can make it with or without the chicken.

  • 1 box colored spiral pasta and one box macaroni, or two bags of wacky pasta
  • 2 bottles of ranch dressing
  • 1 diced onion
  • diced peppers, any kind you like
  • diced tomatoes, 2 or 3 or how ever much you want
  • 2 chicken leg quarters, boiled or baked and meat taken off bone and diced

Cook your pasta according to the directions. Drain and put in fridge to cool. When cool, in large pot, add all ingredients and stir well.  That is it! Keep cool till you serve. Easy stuff.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish, salads, side dish or snack  Tags: , , , , ,  8 Comments
28
Jun

ground beef gravy

Since we have all the milk a family could ever use, we do a lot of creamed dishes and gravies. Fresh raw milk is wonderful.

You will need,

  • 1 pounds ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • diced peppers, bell, or whatever you like, as much as you like
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • milk, about 1/2  gallon

Add your ground beef, onion, and peppers to a skillet and cook on med high until done, stirring often. When done keep over heat and add flour while stirring constantly. when the meat is well coated slowly begin to add milk. Add enough until it is pretty soupy, keep stirring until gravy gets as thick as you desire. You can add more milk if it gets too thick. This can be varied. Add season to taste, we usually add some Cajun spice.

Ground beef gravy is great over boiled potatoes and carrots, or baked potatoes, or thick sliced bread, or rice or even pasta. It is a great frugal meal.

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish  Tags: , , , ,  One Comment
14
Jun

budget ground beef stroganoff

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 sweet red pepper diced
  • 1T chili powder
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 6 cups milk
  • 3   8 oz packages macaroni noodles
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Cook and drain the noodles. While they are cooking, in a skillet on med heat cook ground beef, pepper, and onion, stirring occasionally until well cooked. When the meat is cooked add flour and continue stirring, when meat is well coated with flour, slowly pour in milk while still stirring. Continue on med heat until mixture thickens. About 5-10 minutes, still stirring. It should be like gravy. Then add thickened meat sauce to the noodles. Add sour cream and stir well. It should be slightly soupy. Cover dish and let sit for 15 minutes then serve. The pasta will absorb some of the gravy so it ends up more like a casserole.

serves 8-10

Category: big family meal, frugal meal, main dish  Tags: , , , ,  2 Comments
Next Entries »