Sweet and Sour Meatballs

I usually make and cook the meatballs then freeze them for future use. After freezing them I put them in a pot and pour the sauce over them. I then let them warm up under low-medium heat. Serve over rice.

For meatballs:
3 pounds ground beef
1/3 cup onion flakes, or minced onion
1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375. Make meatballs by mixing together all ingredients in a large bowl. Shape into 1 inch balls. Cook on a rack placed over a jellyroll pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

For sauce:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons mustard powder
pineapple chunks
bell peppers, diced
1 cup water, divided into 1/2 cups
2 tablespoons cornstarch

In a saucepan over medium heat mix vinegar, sugar, mustard, 1/2 cup water, pineapple, bell peppers, and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Mix cornstarch and 1/2 cup water; add to the saucepan. Boil for 1 minute or until thickened.

Serves 10

Beef Enchilada Casserole

I finally ventured out and tried a new dish! It was very, very easy and was gobbled up. I thought we would have enough for some leftovers, but it was eaten all at dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef (hamburger meat)
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 can of enchilada sauce
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 2 cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
• Dozen corn tortillas

Directions:

Brown hamburger and onion then drain. Add any extra seasonings, garlic, salt, pepper, etc.

In a medium bowl, combine hamburger meat and sauces.

Layer in a 9" X 13" baking dish starting with corn tortillas, next the hamburger meat mixture, and cheese.

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly!

We ate it with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on top. Delicious!

Barbecups

I received this recipe at an enrichment for budget cooking and my husband and I really think they are yummy and inexpensive!

12 refrigerator biscuits or croissant rolls

1 lb ground beef

2 Tbsp minced onion, drain

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1 to 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce

1. Brown ground beef with onion and drain

2. Stir in brown sugar and 3/4 cup BBQ sauce 

3. Place dough in each of the 12 greased muffin tins.  Press dough up the sides of the cups

4. Drop a spoonful of meat in each biscuit cup (distribute evenly)

5. Spoon a little BBQ sauce on top of the meat in each biscuit cup

5. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Beef Taco Bake

1 pound lean ground beef

1 (10 3/4 oz) can tomato soup

1 (16 oz) jar medium or mild salsa

1/2 cup milk

6 to 8 flour or corn tortillas, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Drain. Add soup, salsa, milk, tortillas, and half of the cheese.

3. Put mixture into a 9 inch square or 7x11 inch baking dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Ready in 40 minutes. Serves 4.

Beef Stew

2 pounds stew meat cut into 1 inch cubes

1 onion, chopped

5 carrots, sliced

4 potatoes peeled, cut into bit size pieces

3 ribs celery, chopped

1/4 teaspoon oregano

2 bay leaves

2 beef bouillon cubes

1 cup water

1 large can tomatoes

1. In a large pot cook meat and onion in 2 tablespoons oil until brown. Add tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and celery to meat.

2. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Can also be cooked in a crock-pot.

Can be done the day before, refrigerated overnight and reheated.

Serves 8.

Tacos on chips

“Not a very fancy name, but we loved eating this growing up, and still do.”

tortilla chips

2 large cans Ranch Style beans

1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained

2 cans tomato sauce

1 package taco seasoning

2 pounds ground beef, cooked, drained

1 chopped onion

1. Cook meat and onion together in a large deep pan. Drain. Add the other ingredients.

2. Heat until hot or in a crock-pot for a couple of hours. Serve with chips, sour cream, and cheese.

Serves 12.

Beef & Veggie Quesadillas

“These are packed with meat and vegetables, so they aren’t your typical quesadilla. They are definitely worth a try.”

3/4 pound lean ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

3/4 cup finely chopped fresh mushrooms

1 medium zucchini, shredded

1 medium carrot, shredded

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

2 medium ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

4 whole wheat tortillas, warmed

cooking spray 

1/2 cup shredded park skim mozzarella cheese

1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet , cook and stir the mushrooms, zucchini, carrot, garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper sauce until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomatoes, cilantro and beef mixture. 

2. Spritz one side of each tortilla with cooking spray; place plain side up in a cookie sheet (preferably one with sides) cooked with cooking spray. Spoon beef mixture over half of each tortilla; sprinkle with cheese. Fold tortillas over filling. 

3. Bake at 400° for 5 minutes. Carefully turn over; bake 5-6 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Cut into wedges. 

Ready in 30 minutes. Serves 4.

Quick 'N Easy Stroganoff

1 pound extra lean ground beef

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

1 package noodles

1. Brown ground beef and onion.  Drain grease.

2. Add mushroom soup and worcestershire sauce.  Mix well and let simmer 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Mix in sour cream and stir well.

4. Serve over cooked noodles.  Great with peas.

Mexican Salsa Pizza

“Originally this was an appetizer, but I added ground beef to make it a main dish.”

1 prebaked Italian bread shell crust (14oz)

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided

3/4 cup salsa, I like Southwest with the corn, beans, etc.

1 pound ground beef, cooked an drained

1 package taco seasoning

2 tablespoons minced cilantro

1. Cook beef and taco seasoning according to directions.

2. Place crust on an ungreased baking sheet or pizza pan. 

3. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup cheese, salsa and cilantro. Spread over crust to within 1/2 inches of edges. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. 

4. Bake at 350˚ for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Ready in 30 minutes. Makes 1 pizza.

Sweet Orange Beef with Rice

Sweet Orange Beef with Rice

3 large navel oranges

1 bunch green onions

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 pounds boneless beef, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 tablespoon canola oil

3 cups hot cooked rice

1. Finely grate the peel from two oranges; set aside. Cut thin strips of orange peel from the remaining orange for garnish; set aside. Squeeze juice from all oranges. Cut onions to separate the white and green parts. Thinly slice white parts; cut green parts into 1 inch length for garnish.

2. For sauce, in small bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in orange juice until smooth. Stir in the soy sauce, garlic, grated orange peel, and white parts of onions; set aside. 

3. In a large nonstick skillet or wok coated with cooking spray, stir-fry beef in oil until no       longer pink. Stir the sauce and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Service with rice. Garnish with orange peel strips and remaining onions. 

Ready in 40 minutes. Serves 4.