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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

RECIPE WED # 23: Easy FRUGAL Salisbury Steak Patties

I grew up with a working mom who made many delicious dinners from scratch as much as her time budget allowed, however, on rare occasions she  allowed us to pick a "TV Dinner" from the frozen foods aisle. 
We would get the one with brownie and corn!

That would totally make my older sister's and my day~... 
 Our most likely pick? 
The Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and chewy brownie....
  
 We looked at this as treat!!!
  I know I hear you gagging and retching, hey it was the 70's what can I say??

 If you grew up in the 1970's chances are you had those mystery meat patties floating in that tasteless brown goop....


Notice the gravy, that is the texture I CRAVE!
This is my homage to that childhood memory: the gravy is a thinner brown gravy like a thicker glaze, yet not gloopy  and  far from that flavorless goop loaded with preservatives and by-products!

It is flavorful and frugal yet, it has a familiarity to it- so delicious it is a meal  my family requests on a regular basis and is on my monthly meal rotation!




 It is good enough to serve company yet homey enough to soothe the blues away!!

  • 2 & 1/2  Lbs lean ground beef
  • 3 T Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 onion, 1/2 grated & 1/2 sliced thin
  • 1 egg, slightly beat
  • 8 oz button mushrooms sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic smashed or grated
  • 1/3-/2 C-bread crumbs
  • 2T Parsley
  • 1t kosher salt or to taste
  • 1/2t fresh cracked pepper, or to taste
  • 2 C Beef stock
  • Flour
  • Neutral tasting oil, I mostly use EVOO
  • 3-T Water
  • 3-T Cornstarch or Arrowroot
--------------------------------------------------------------
  1. Mix ground beef, 1 T Worcestershire sauce, grated onion and 1/2 of the garlic, bread crumbs, egg, parsley, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Shape into 1/4 Lb oval patties and slightly indent the center. Coat slightly in flour and set a side.
  2. Meanwhile heat oil in large frying pan over med-high heat, once the patties are made and lightly dusted/coated in flour sear in hot oil. Looking to sear not cook all the way through!
  3. Once seared and golden brown crust is on both sides, deglaze the pan with beef broth picking up all the brown flavor bits of deliciousness! Add rest of Worcestershire sauce, garlic, sliced onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste
  4. Stack the gr. beef patties in a slow cooker and pour gravy over meat
  5. Set slow cooker on low for 5-7 hours-I have allowed this to go 8 hours with no ill effect on flavor or texture
  6. Mix Cornstarch and water to make a "slurry" with a fork in a small bowl until smooth
  7. Carefully remove lid away from your arm and face and Skim fat with spoon & gently remove the patties. Mix in cornstarch slurry
  8. Place patties back into slow cooker replace lid and set to high for 30 to thicken gravy to thicker consistency.
  9. Place the patties on serving platter, pour gravy over top and sprinkle w/parsley
  10. Serve with homemade mashed potatoes, hot butter corn, and fresh made bread for a feel good stick to your ribs homey & FRUGAL dinner!
Makes 12 good palm size patties, we eat 1/person so this is enough for 3 meals eat one stack of 4 now and freeze the rest according to directions below:
(for manly appetites 2/person).

To make this freezer dinner there are 2 options I use frequently:

     #1: Shape Patties and place on wax paper lined cookie sheets and "flash Freeze uncooked" Once   
     frozen place into freezer storage container of choice. I ALWAYS chose a gallon freezer bag 6 
     patties will fit one, freezing flat is what I am always looking for so save space in my freezer.

    #2: After step #2 above in cooking directions"Searing and crusting", allow patties to cool to room  
    temp and lay on cookie sheet like above and package as described above.
     ~ Pour Broth in pan like in step #3 above in cooking and deglaze pan adding mushrooms, garlic 
     onions, Worcestershire sauce, S & P to taste. Allow to cool to room temp and package in a freezer
     storage bag. Freeze laying flat and once frozen be sure to freeze and label so you know this stock 
     goes w/Salisbury "steak" Patties. This is what I call a "Crock Pot Meal Kit"    

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