My Wednesday Pantry-Hamburger Week

     

      I bought 10 pounds of hamburger, but ended up making 8 pounds into Sloppy Joe's. I didn't get the remaining two pounds froze on Friday-just slipped my mind after I put the remainder in a bag into the refrigerator. I would have separated into two seperate pounds. Instead, I cooked it on Monday, 1/2 as just ground beef, and 1/2 into I think 9 meatballs. I froze the meatballs, but need to do something with the hamburger tonight. I brought home about 2 cups of Sloppy Joe meat-DH had for supper on Monday and I finished for lunch yesterday. We may be getting  a little  hamburgered out. 

     It goes so far in a house of only two people. (So why are my grocery bills so high?). I'm glad I froze the meat balls-they will either be used for two meals for DH and I, or pulled out for spaghetti when DD2 is home on fall break in three weeks, one of her favorite meals. I will either make goulash  or a rice hotdish of some sort for dinner tonight, which will yield days of leftovers for lunch. I could finally try the burrito bake, a cottage pie, or make a chili as well. Oh the excitement of having so many options and will decide this afternoon. What are you feeling? have I shared how I make my goulash?

Simmer inot 1 pound ground beef, preferably cooked with onions, 1 large can diced or crushed tomatoes with the following (or more or less to taste-I  use at least 50% more of each, except salt):

• 1 TBLS olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika

Once the sauce has melded a good 1- 15 minutes, add 6-8 ounces cooked pasta of choice, I use whatever I have, but like rotini or penne pasta the best. Stir and simmer another 10 minutes. I like this recipe as I generally always have everything and I could make it with sauce, remove a bowl for my daughter, and add hamburger last. 

     I survived through my Tuesday work week, now the rest of the week is busy, but doesn't seem so looming. DD1 texted me early about Trivia. She is free tonight and hasn't played in a while. We do better when she joins us, and I missed last week as well. It seem like a good way to mark the middle of the week. If  you have any  favorite recipes for ground beef, drop a comment-or comment about anything else you'd like. I hope your day goes well.