Homemade Ready

A simple combination of ground meat, tomato sauce or ketchup, and some seasonings, this sandwich is a classic that may just remind you of childhood (and for good reason - it seems like almost all kids love it). The Sloppy Joe’s sandwich is also perfect for back-to-school season because it is just so quick and easy to prepare after a long day at work or school, and is also so warm and cozy for the cooler weather. Now, you could buy a jar of premade sauce, but why spend the extra cash when it's so easy to make this from items you already have in your pantry or fridge? It’s a forgiving recipe, too. I prefer a mix of ketchup and plain tomato sauce, but you can easily use all of one or the other, depending on what you have on-hand. Recipe 4-6 Servings Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil 1 ¼ pound lean ground beef or turkey 1 small onion, diced ¼ cup finely diced green bell pepper ¾ cup tomato sauce ¾ cup ketchup ¼ cup water 3 tablespoons...

I find that ground beef recipes are always real time-savers in the kitchen, and frequently turn to them when I need to get something on the table fast. And while ground beef isn't super-cheap the way it has been in days gone by (and this is probably a good thing), when you make it casserole-style, or serve it with a pile of rice and vegetables, it can still be a frugal meal. Ground beef recipes tend to be flexible, too, so if beef isn't your thing, or you don't have any on hand, you can always substitute another ground meat, like turkey or lamb. You can often even make a decent vegetarian meal from a ground beef recipe by substituting cooked lentils, or another meat substitute.  This easy recipe is one of my quick and easy favorites. It's my take on a traditional ground beef and tomato stew that is found in various Latin American countries and Spain. The way I do it is Cuban-style, using raisins for a bit of sweetness, olives for some saltiness, and the cla...

Earlier this week, on our first chilly fall afternoon of the season, I whipped-up this easy beef and macaroni skillet supper.  Not for the first time, I appreciated that this dish is almost magical, with the ability to transport me back to my childhood, and a far simpler time. Back then, we called it goulash (I know, it’s not authentic goulash), or on the days  it was served in our school cafeteria, we called it beef-a-roni. I loved this meal as a kid, but now as an adult, I still love this little one-pan recipe - it is so darn simple to prepare, but still just so comforting and delicious. OK, maybe this dish seems a little old-fashioned, but it can’t be beat on a crisp fall day, when you want to get a hot, comforting meal on the table fast.   Let’s talk about dollars here, too - this recipe is not only simple, but totally easy on the wallet, too. Ground beef, noodles, canned tomatoes, a few vegetables and some spices – what could be simpler? When you look ...

I have a confession to make: right now I am loving my pressure cooker even more than my slow cooker. Don't get me wrong, I still love my slow cooker (actually, I have a new slow cooker recipe coming soon), but these days I use my pressure cooker far more often. I know, it may seem a little retro, and I know that there are lots of scary stories about exploding pressure cookers (yes, this really did happen on occasion with the  older models).