Chuck Wagon Stew

Here is a quick and easy one that I am told is a kid pleaser. Super filling and tasty. Serve over rice or by itself.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. ground beef or turkey

1/2 onion, diced

2 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/2 lb. green beans

2 carrots, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

14 oz can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp. onion powder

14 oz can beef or chicken broth

Old Fashioned Beef Stew

While we patiently wait for spring to finally get here, I have been continuing to cook some good winter comfort food in my house. This stew was a staple in my childhood days.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. beef stew meat, cubed

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

3 bay leaves

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

dash nutmeg

4 cups hot water

6 carrots, peeled and sliced

4 potatoes, sliced

3 tbsp. cornstarch

1/3 c cold water

Homemade Meatball Subs

I wasn't planning to post this recipe, because I've been making meatballs since I was seven (I think it may have been the first recipe I ever mastered). I thought it might be too simple for the blog. However, due to requests from my readers who want to know how I make them, I'm posting this recipe. I don't have step by step photos because you basically throw the stuff in a bowl and mash it together with your hands. Pretty easy.

I tend to double or even triple the recipe and freeze a lot of meatballs to use later. Easy to reheat for a quick dinner and you can put them over pasta with sauce, or even make a basic mushroom or beef gravy.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

1 lb ground beef (you could also use a mix of beef, pork and/or veal)

1 clove garlic

1 egg

1/2 cup finely grated parmesan

1/2 tbsp parsley

1/2 onion, finely chopped

3/4 cup bread crumbs

1/4 cup milk

For the sauce*:

1 can diced, roasted tomatoes

8 oz can tomato paste, and equal parts water (use the can)

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp basil

For the sandwiches:

Hoagie rolls

Shredded mozzarella

Parmesan

*You can use a jarred pasta sauce instead of these ingredients, if you want.

Autumn Pot Roast

Ever since I got my crock pot I've really wanted to make a pot roast! I wanted to make one with some seasonal veggies, so I read a bunch of different recipes and came up with this. Originally I wanted to use red potatoes also, but I ended up having too many veggies. Next time instead of 2 sweet potatoes, I'll probably just add one and substitute couple small red potatoes.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. flour

2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp rosemary

3 lbs. beef chuck, fat trimmed

2 tbsp oil

2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

3 carrots, peeled and cut into long pieces

1 butternut squash, seeded, peeled and cubed

1/2 lb. green beans, ends removed, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 onion, cut into chunks

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

28 oz. beef broth (I used a 32 oz. container and ended up with a lot of gravy, you can use a lot less depending on how much gravy you want)

3 tbsp cornstarch

2 tsp cold water