Getting the Most Out of Ground Beef

                                                                                    by Beth Rank 

Beef is starting to get very expensive. As I went to buy some hamburger and a roast that my local store advertised on sale, I found it to be full of fat. I am noticing that the more fatty, cheaper hamburger looks a lot like the other hamburger making me wonder if there is really any difference! I opted to buy a smaller amount of the higher quality, better looking, most expensive ground beef. 

It is starting to appear that grilling hamburgers is going to cost much more money than it used to, so I have decided to start stretching it as best I can, yet keeping my meals as healthy as possible. This can be a real challenge! 

I used to make spaghetti sauce with a pound of hamburger, but I am starting to use 1/2 a pound and adding veggies. I brown a whole pound with onions and seasoning and freeze 1/2 for my next batch or I can add a little barbecue sauce to it for a couple of quick sloppy joes for another meal the next day. When making chili, use less meat and increase the much cheaper beans. I stay away from the boxed "Helper" meals and opt for making my own casseroles. This way, I know what is in them. I do still use canned soups, but am working on tweaking my recipes so I can eventually get away from them. 

Here is a casserole that my mother made quite often as we were growing up. It uses things that you should already have on hand. Remember to keep your pantry and fridge stocked with the basics!

7-Layer Dinner

Brown I pound hamburger with some onion if desired (please see *note) 

In greased casserole layer the following and season as desired:

1layer thin sliced potatoes (about 2)
1sliced onion
Sprinkle with 1/2 cup rice
Carrots pealed and sliced (about 2 or can use frozen)
Frozen peas (may used drained, canned peas)
Layer on hamburger mixture
Pour 1 can of tomato soup and 1 can of water over it all.

Cover and bake at 375 for about 1 and 1/2 hours so everything is tender and rice is completely cooked. I use brown rice so it takes this long to get is completely cooked. 

* note ~ You could use 1/2 pound of ground beef and add some beans to the meat mixture in order to stretch your meat a little farther. Freeze the other 1/2 for later.