Not Quite Basic Meat Potatoes Recipes

THE BEST MEAT AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes and 2 tablespoons water in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the top. Microwave until the potatoes are tender and can be easily broken apart with a fork, about 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the plastic (watch out for hot steam) and add the sour cream, horseradish, 4 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt and some black pepper to the bowl and mash until creamy. Fold in the spinach until wilted and well combined.
• Rub both sides of each steak with the garlic clove, then put the clove in a large cast-iron skillet. Season the steaks on both sides with 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of black pepper.
• Add the olive oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high until shimmering. Add the steaks and cook, undisturbed, until deep golden-brown and no longer sticking to the pan, about 5 minutes. Flip the steaks and continue cooking until golden-brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 125 degrees F when inserted into the center for medium-rare. Remove the steaks to a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Discard the garlic clove.
• Meanwhile, turn off the heat and let the pan cool for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat to medium-low and add the shallots. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden-brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the Dijon and thyme leaves until well combined. Pour in the white wine and simmer until thickened and reduced by half, 4 to 5 minutes. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until melted and silky.
• Thinly slice the steaks crosswise and divide among plates. Spoon sauce over the steak and serve with the potatoes.

MEAT AND POTATO SKILLET

Steps:

• Cut beef into thin strips (beef is easier to cut if partially frozen, about 1 1/2 hours). Heat oil and garlic pepper in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook beef in oil, stirring occasionally, until brown.
• Stir in vegetables and gravy; reduce heat to medium. Cover and simmer 7 to 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.

NOT-SO-BASIC MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Place the bacon in a medium sauté pan over medium-low heat. Sauté the bacon for about 5 minutes, or until it has begun to crisp and most of the fat has rendered out. Add the garlic, onion, and carrot and continue to sauté for about 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and the onions are translucent but have not taken on any color. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the vegetables to cool (see Note).
• Place the ground sirloin into a large mixing bowl. Add the eggs and milk and, using your hands, work the liquid into the meat. Add the bread crumbs and continue to work the liquid and crumbs into the meat. Add the cooled vegetables, mustard, barbecue sauce, and horseradish along with 1/4 cup of the parsley, salt, pepper, and thyme. Using your hands, gently work all of the ingredients into the meat until well combined.
• Place one-half of the croutons into a shallow baking dish at least 14 inches long.
• Transfer the meatloaf mixture onto a clean, flat surface and, again, using your hands, shape it into a loaf about 3 1/4 inches wide X 2 1/2 inches high X 12 inches long (or into a round, breadlike form, a letter of the alphabet, an oval, or into several small loaves). Press the remaining croutons into the loaf, making sure that they are partially pressed down into it.
• Gently press the unpeeled garlic cloves into the top of the meatloaf. Carefully lay the loaf on top of the croutons in the baking dish (you might need to use a couple of spatulas to facilitate this), reforming the shape with your hands, if necessary. Pierce the meatloaf with the bay leaves and thyme sprig. Place the meatloaf in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and the top is nicely browned.
• Remove the pan from the oven. Allow the meatloaf to rest for about 5 minutes before transferring it to a serving platter. Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprig and sprinkle the remaining parsley over the top of the loaf and around the platter. Cut crosswise into 1-inch, or thicker, slices and serve.

BASIC MEAT & POTATO DINNER

Steps:

• Combine everything in a bowl.
• Mash.
• Heat and serve.

NOT QUITE BASIC MEAT & POTATOES

Steps:

• Turn oven on to 350, slice potatoes to about 1/4" and layer in baking pan placing butter in the pan as well. Bake potatoes for 30 minutes, while they are cooking brown hamburger, onion and garlic. Once patatoes have baked pour off butter in a skillet and add about 2 tbsp of flour and a cup of milk to make a cream sauce. (I do this visually and never measure, you may needto adjust the amounts!) Once cream sauce is right add the cream & blue cheeses until they are melted then mix in the hambuger meat, onion & garlic to the sauce and pour mixture over the potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle grated colby jack over the top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and serve.
• To reduce fat content use fat free or skim cheese and milk and change butter to margarine.