Aussie Meat Pies

1 T Olive oil
1 large brown onion, finely chopped
500 grams lean beef mince (ground beef) 1 pound = 454 grams
1 T corn flour
3/4 c. beef stock
3/4 c. tomato sauce
2 T Worcestershire Sauce
1 T barbecue sauce
1 tsp Vegemite (haven't found yet, so I use a bit extra beef bullion)
2 sheets frozen ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, thawed
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, beaten

(I just throw this in a regular crust if I don't want to make puff pastry).

Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add onion.  Cook for 3 minutes or until soft.  Add ground beef.  Cook for 4 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon, or until browned.

Mix corn flour and 1 Tablespoon of stock to form a paste.  Add remaining stock.  Add stock, sauces and Vegemite to ground beef.  Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low.  Simmer for 8 minutes or until thick.  Cool.

Preheat oven to 425*F. Place baking tray into oven.  Grease 4 3 in. base measurement pie pans.

Cut 4 6 in circles from shortcrust pastry.  Use to line bases and sides of pans.  Fill with the ground beef.  Brush rims with water.  Cut circles from puff pastry.  Place over meat.  Press to seal.  Trim.  Brush with egg.  Season.

Place pies onto hot tray.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

(from cnn eatocracy)

Old Time Beef Stew (Shtoup)

Old Time Beef Stew               Jaci Kern

2lb beef chuck cut into 1” cubes

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 clove Garlic

1 medium Onion, sliced

1 or 2 Bay Leaves

1 Tbls Salt

½ tsp. Paprika

¼ tsp Pepper

dash Allspice or Cloves

6 carrots, sliced

4 potatoes, quartered

1 lb small white onions

4 stalks celery, sliced

Gravy

In the dutch oven, thoroughly brown meat in 2 Tbl hot shortening, turning often.  Add 4c. hot water and 8 ingredients.  Cover; simmer 1 ½ hours stirring occasionally to keep from sticking. Remove bay leaves.  Add vegetables; cover and cook 30-45 minutes until vegetables are tender.  Add gravy and serve.

Gravy – Combine 1/3 c. water with 3 Tbl cornstarch.  Stir into hot stew.  Cook and stir until bubbly and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.  Serves six.

I add more spices and worcestershire than called for and a bit more cornstarch.

French Dip and French Bread

French Dip

1 rump or round roast

4 cans Campbell’s beef consume (or beef broth)

3 packages Good Seasons Italian dressing mix

4 cans water

French Bread

Swiss Cheese

1. Add all ingredients in a crock pot.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Shred beef after finished cooking and serve on toasted French rolls with Swiss cheese.  Use marinated juice as dipping sauce.

Megan Murdoch

French Bread

½ c. warm water

2 T. yeast

1 tsp sugar

2 cups hot water

3 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp salt (heaping)

1/3 c. shortening

6 c. flour

1. Dissolve warm water and yeast with sugar. In another bowl combine hot water, sugar, salt, shortening and let sit.
2. Cool mixtures and then mix.  Add 3 cups flour.  Beat til smooth  Andd another 3 cups.  Leave spoon in dough and allow to rest/rise for 10 minutes.  Mix 1 minute.  Repeat 5 times. 
3. Put olive oil on hands and divide into 2 loaves.  Shape.  Let rise 30 minutes and bake at 400 for 35 minutes.

Megan Murdoch

Saucy Spiced Shells

Saucy Spiced Shells

12 Jumbo shell macaroni

12 oz. ground meat

1 medium onion, chopped  ½ cup

½ cup chopped green pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1 beaten egg

¼ cup dry bread crumbs

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 15 oz fresh marinara sauce

parmesean cheese

1. Cook pasta according to directions (23 – 25 minutes).  Drain pasta; rinse with cold water.  Drain again.
2. In a large skillet cook ground meat, onion, green pepper, and garlic tilll meat is brown.  Drain fat.
3. In a medium mixing bowl combine egg, bread crumbs, cinnamon, allspice, and pepper.  Add the meat mixture and ¼ cup of the sauce; mix well.  Spoon about 2 Tbsp of the meat mixture into each macaroni shell.  Arrange the filled shells in a 2 quart square baking dish.  Pour the remaining sauce over the iflled shells.  Cover the dish with foil.
4. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or till heated through.  For each serving, arrange 3 of the shells on individual plates. Spoon some of the sauce over the shells.  If desired, sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.  Makes 4 main dish servings.

Better Homes and Gardens PASTA cooking for today

Mexi-Rice

1 lb Hamburger

4 cups cooked rice

1 can Mexican stewed tomatoes

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1pkg taco seasoning

1 can whole kernel corn (drained)

Tortilla or corn chips

Shredded cheese

1. Brown Hamburger and drain grease.  Add taco seasoning, tomato sauce, Mexican tomatoes, and corn to hamburger.  Mix well.
2. Add cooked rice to meat mixture.  Mix well.  Put in 9 x 13 pan.  Top with chips and cheese
3. Bake at 350 degrees until cheese melts (30 minutes)

My roommate Alina Anderson (from her roomie Felicia Hall)

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1.In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.

2.Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.


This recipe is super easy and tastes great!  It's almost as easy as opening a can of sloppy joe mix.  The recipe is originally from AllRecipes.

Empanadas de Picadillo (Dinner Pie)

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ cup finely chopped onion 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2/3 cup 1/8-inch cubes carrots 1 cup peeled 1/8-inch cubes red potatoes ½ lb ground beef ½ cup tomato sauce ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon granules 2 tablespoons slivered almonds 2 tablespoons pitted chopped green olives, drained Raisins, if desired 1 box (15 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box - I just use homemade but I got the recipe on the back of a box of KIX

DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 2 minutes. Stir in carrots and potatoes. Cook 4 minutes. Stir in beef. Cook until beef is brown; drain. Stir in sauce and bouillon granules. Cook until potatoes are tender and mixture thickens. Stir in almonds, green olives and raisins. Remove from heat; cool slightly.

2. On lightly floured surface, roll pie crusts into two 14-inch circles. Using 4 1/2-inch round cutter, cut 10 circles. Spoon 1 rounded tablespoonful filling onto half of each circle. Moisten edge of each with water. Fold in half; press edge with fork to seal. On ungreased cookie sheet, place 2 inches apart. Poke top of each once with fork to vent steam.

3. Bake about 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Store leftovers loosely covered in refrigerator.

Mozarella Steak

2 lbs round steak (cut into small pieces and brown)
1 lg can of tomatoes
1/4 t. basil (or italian seasoning of sorts)
3/4 t. salt
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped

Cook for 5 hours (high) in crockpot. Just before serving add 1 1/2 c. shredded mozarella cheese (we serve the cheese separately). Serve over rice or noodles.

From Kathy Hickman

Brisket

Trim fat from brisket (but leave about 1/2 inch on top). Sprinkle fat side of brisket liberally with garlic salt. Wrap securely in tin foil (so that juices will not leak out). Place into cake pan (fat side up). Cook at 275 for 5 hours.

Taco Soup

1 lb. hamburger browned and drained
1 onion, chopped
1 can stewed tomatoes and juice
1 can kidney beans and juice
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can corn and juice

Brown beef and onions together. Put all items together in a soup pot. Bring to a boil. Simmer for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with grated cheddar cheese.