I love any main dish that incorporates beef and tomatoes. There’s just something so magical about the melding of flavors that shouts out “comfort food” to me. Like Best Spaghetti and Awesome Meatballs. Or Chuck Roast with Peppers, Tomatoes and Cheese Grits. My mother used to make a rump roast in an oven bag with only a can of cream of tomato soup, dried basil, salt, and pepper. The gravy was fabulous used to assemble roast beef manhattans and mashed potatoes. Old Fashioned Cube Steak with Tomato Gravy is an old-timey dish inspired by Mom’s roast beef recipe minus the soup. I’m also paying homage to my Midwestern roots where hearty meals are a staple.
I don’t remember when I started to use cube steak. Maybe because I cooked a lot of breaded cubed pork tenderloin over the years. The beef version looked similar so, I think I simply decided to give this meat cut a try.
Cube steak is cut from the beef top round or top sirloin – not normally tender cuts of meat. So butchers run the pieces through an electric meat tenderizer a couple of times that gives the finished steak patty a distinctly dimpled look. The resulting “cubes” running over the surface of the meat patty is how cube steak got its name. Of course, you could “cube” your own steaks using a meat mallet and a strong arm – a great way to relieve situational frustration. I prefer to let the butcher work his magic. Cubing tenderizes and flattens the meat, so it cooks quicker than a chuck roast. Cube steak is pretty lean, so it doesn’t benefit from marbling that would make the cooked steak as tender as real steaks – don’t expect “melt-in-your-mouth” tender. As beef goes, it’s relatively inexpensive. And cube steak is essential for chicken fried steak and cream gravy – YUM!
Let’s see how Old Fashioned Cube Steak and Tomato Gravy comes together, shall we?
First, dry off the meat patties with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and lightly sprinkle the patties with flour. The flour helps to form a nice crusty exterior as the meat browns.
In a heavy 12″ skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the meat patties and brown on both sides. Be sure not to crowd the pan – cook the meat in batches so the patties brown and don’t steam.
This is a picture from another cube steak meal. I like how the browned steak looks in this one. Definitely the desired goal. The meat should not be cooked through – simply nicely golden brown.
As the cube steaks are browned, I put them aside in the inverted pan lid. Meat juices will accumulate and you’ll want to add those back into the pan. Read on . . .
OK – now you have all kinds of tiny brown bits packed full of flavor in your skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and add one large sliced onion and one large sliced yellow, red, or green pepper along with 2-3 cloves of minced garlic. Season with a bit of salt and pepper and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Saute the vegetables for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure they don’t stick and burn.
Add one 15oz can of stewed tomatoes and their juices. Add one beef bouillon cube and one cup of water OR one cup of reduced-sodium beef stock to the pan. And one teaspoon dried basil. Stir to distribute everything. Allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the tomatoes soften.
Return the browned cube steaks to the pan with the tomatoes and vegetables along with the accumulated meat juices. Ladle some of the pan juices and vegetables over the tops of the meat. Bring to a slow simmer. Cover the pan with a lid and continue to simmer for 30 minutes or so. Once cooking is done, I like to remove the meat to a platter and mash the pan juices and vegetables so it looks more like gravy. If the gravy is too thin, bring up the heat and cook a little longer until you get the right consistency. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.
Your reward is revealed! My family loves this dish served with lots of mashed potatoes slathered with tomato gravy. But you could serve cooked rice or egg noodles.
I considered using a slow cooker. With as much prep cooking and only a final 30-minute simmer, I opted for the stovetop. However, you certainly could finish cooking in a slow cooker. I’d advise putting the browned meat patties in the bottom of the slow cooker, and then add the gravy ingredients over the cube steak. Probably 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low would work. Your gravy may be a little thinner, but there’s nothing wrong with that.
Here’s the recipe!
Yield: 4
Old Fashioned Beef Cube Steak with Tomato Gravy
Old Fashioned Cube Steak with Tomato Gravy is an old-timey dish inspired by Mom's roast beef recipe. I'm also paying homage to my Midwestern roots where hearty meals are a staple. A family favorite served with lots of mashed potatoes.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Ingredients
2 pounds cube steak, four pieces
1 large onion, cut into slices
1 large yellow, red, or green pepper, cut into strips
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 15oz can stewed tomatoes
1 beef bouillon cube plus one cup water OR 1 cup reduced-sodium beef stock
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon dried basil
Flour
Salt & Pepper
Instructions
Pat dry cube steaks with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt & pepper on both sides. Dust with flour on both sides.
Add 2 Tablespoon olive oil to a 12" heavy-bottomed skillet. Bring to heat over medium-high heat.
Add cube steaks to the skillet, two at a time, and brown. As the meat browns, remove to a plate or to the skillet's inverted lid.
Once all the meat is browned, reduce skillet heat to medium. Add onion, sliced pepper, crushed red pepper and garlic. Stir and saute for 5 minutes.
Add stewed tomatoes, bouillon cube, and water OR beef stock, and dried basil. Bring to simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes until tomatoes are soft.
Return cube steaks to the skillet along with accumulated meat juices. Ladle the tomato/vegetable mixture over the meat. Reduce to slow simmer. Cover with lid. Cook for 30 minutes.
Remove meat to a platter. (Optional: Mash vegetables and gravy.) Pour tomato gravy over cube steak OR plate individually and ladle tomato gravy over meat.
Serve with plenty of mashed potatoes and any green vegetable.
Notes
For Slow Cooker: Place browned cube steaks in bottom. Pour tomatoes, vegetables, and pan juices over the meat. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
Doesn’t this split pea soup look yummy?? Especially when it’s finished off with crunchy cornbread croutons and a healthy dollop of sour cream. Very yummy!
I’ll admit that I didn’t grow up eating split pea soup. My mother and grandmothers never made it in my memory. My first experience with split pea soup was when my college roommates and I went to dinner at The Magic Pan, a restaurant housed inside the Glendale Town Center Mall at 61st and Keystone in Indianapolis. The Magic Pan was a popular creperie and Cindy, Beth and I loved frequent evening meals there. We ate our fair share of creamy chicken & mushroom crepes and their spinach souffle crepes – fabulous! Beth always ordered a bowl of split pea soup topped with either sour cream or sherry to begin her meal. I was curious. Honestly, I thought split pea soup looked rather disgusting, but one evening I gathered up the strength and tried it myself. OMG – my soup world was transformed! After our dinner outings came to an end and after The Magic Pan closed, I made this soup often and still do. It’s a staple on our winter-time menu. Creamy, without any added cream or half-n-half, and steamy, this soup is perfectly flavored with hints of onion, garlic, and carrots. A delightful spoonful with a little silver of sour cream – perfect.
Are Split Peas and Split Pea Soup Healthy to Eat?
Yes! Seriously healthy! Split Peas are gluten-free – you can replace the cornbread croutons in this recipe for gluten-free ones if you like. Split peas are high in fiber, low in fat, and are protein powerhouses! Instead of a dollop of sour cream, how about a heaping tablespoonful of low-fat Greek yogurt? Split pea soup can be made with low-sodium chicken broth (homemade is great, if you have it on hand) or water, and a variety of diced or cubed healthy vegetables. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and/or celery is what I’d recommend. And there’s no need to thicken the soup with flour and butter or with heavy cream. The peas thicken up enough that you may need to add additional broth or water to thin it out. One recipe I came across suggested squeezing a quarter lemon over a bowl and stirring it into the soup before eating. I contemplated that. I think it would brighten the flavors. And you don’t have to use ham, if you prefer a vegetarian version.
According to the website Speedy Remedies: 7 Health Benefits of Split Peas, these sweet little legumes can help regulate blood sugar, lower cholesterol, reduce cancer risks, promote weight control, improve heart health, help to relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and may be helpful in reducing hot flashes.
Get out your soup pot and let’s make up a hearty and healthy batch!
Dice one large yellow onion and mince two cloves garlic. Warm a 5-quart, heavy-bottom dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and bring to temp. Add the onion and garlic and saute until translucent and fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon dried oregano.
Stir and saute for another minute. At this point, you can add three peeled and diced carrots and/or celery, if using. I’m using sweet potatoes this time (see below).
I used diced ham sold in packages at the grocery. But, this is an excellent time to use up leftover ham or you could substitute smoked ham hocks – one or two hocks or a smoked ham shank. If that’s the route you choose, add them to the broth just before you bring everything up to a boil. I like to put diced ham in with the onions and garlic and saute the ham a bit until the meat becomes slightly caramelized to add flavor. And, for this pot, I cut the russet potatoes into large chunks to give the soup a different texture. You can dice the potatoes into smaller pieces or use a couple of cupsful of frozen diced potatoes.
OK – add the potatoes, stir, and then 1/2 pound split peas. Stir all the ingredients.
Add four cups of low-sodium chicken stock (or homemade) and two cups of water. I had a leftover baked sweet potato so I peeled it and cut it into big chunks. If you’re using ham hocks or a shank instead of diced ham, now is the time to add those to the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cook for 45 minutes. After the initial simmer, stir in the remaining split peas. Stir and continue to simmer for another 45 minutes or until the peas are soft. If using, remove ham hocks or ham shank, remove the meat from the bones, and add it back into the soup.
As the soup cooks, foam will rise to the surface. Just take a large spoon and skim off the foam. I’ve learned that the peas foam because of a water-soluble protein in the peas. It won’t hurt anything of you stir it back into the pot and eliminate the skimming step.
Really, there are no hard and fast rules for split pea soup. Once the cooking is complete, you can make the soup as thick (let it simmer a little longer) or as thin (add more broth/water) as you like. Use potato chunks like I’ve done here, or dice them. If you want a soup that looks homogeneous, mash the vegetables or use an immersion blender to break them down to make the soup smoother. You can add 1/2 – 1 cup of half-n-half to make the soup creamier.
While the soup is cooking, it’s time to make the croutons. Croutons are better made with day-old crusty bread like a baguette. My cornbread was leftover from the day before and is perfect to transform into buttery, crunchy bites. Cut the cornbread into large chunks. In a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 Tablespoons olive oil and 3 Tablespoons butter.
Add the cornbread cubes to the skillet and brown on all sides. Drain on a paper towel to absorb the excess fat.
Voilà! Your beautiful soup is all ready to serve. Top bowlsful with your gorgeous crunchy croutons and a nice dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt and sprinkle with black pepper. Happy, Happy, Happy! Enjoy!
Hearty & Healthy Split Pea Soup with Ham and Cornbread Croutons
Mimi's Split Pea Soup with Cornbread Croutons is an old-timey and satisfying bowl of steamy comfort. This recipe is a good way to use up leftover ham. Add chunks of russet and sweet potatoes and top off the bowl with crunchy cornbread croutons for a filling wintry meal.
Recipe type: Soups & Stews
Cuisine: French American
Serves: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 stalks celery, diced (optional)
3 carrots, peeled & diced OR sweet potatoes peeled & cut into chunks or diced
2 medium to large russet potatoes, cut into chunks or diced
1 lb diced ham OR 2 smoked ham hocks or 1 large smoked ham shank
1 pound green or yellow dried split peas
6 cups any combination low-sodium chicken broth and water
½ - 1 cup half-n-half (optional)
Croutons
Day old cornbread cut into large cubes OR day old bauguette cut into large cubes crust on
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons butter, salted or unsalted
Instructions
Over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot add onions & garlic and celery & carrots (if using). Stir and saute until the onion is translucent. Add oregano. Stir. Add ham, stir, and saute until the meat just begins to brown on the edges.5-7 minutes.
Add potatoes, sweet potatoes (if using) and ½ pound of split peas. If you're using ham hocks or a ham shank in place of diced ham, add to the pot. Cover with chicken stock/water. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cook uncovered for 45 minutes. Skim off the foam that rises to the top of the soup or stir the foam back into the soup Stir the pot every once in a while to prevent vegetables from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
At the end of cooking time, add the remaining split peas. Stir and continue to simmer uncovered for another 45 minutes or until all the vegetables are soft.
Remove ham hocks or shank. Stir. If the soup is too thick, add more chicken broth/water. If it's too thin, continue to simmer longer to the desired thickness. Remove meat from the hocks or shank and add back to the soup.
Leave the potatoes in chunks or mash them with a potato masher or use an immersion blender to make a creamy soup. Add half-n-half if using. Stir. Check for seasoning.
Ladle soup into deep bowls. Add croutons, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and sprinkle with ground black pepper.
For Croutons
Heat olive oil and butter in a 10" skillet over medium, medium-high heat. Once the butter begins to brown, add the cornbread cubes and brown on all sides - less than 5 minutes total. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.
I hope all of you enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday! As promised, here’s is a recap of our menu, our results, and a turkey story – everyone has one, I’m sure.
Here’s the appetizer board we put together to get everyone started. No matter how I promise and plan for a 4:00 dinner, something always comes up to delay our meal. It’s nice to have a few things to snack on before the meal is on the table and ready to serve. It’s not a lot. Just a little nosh to keep hungry guests at bay while I’m making gravy and piling food in serving dishes.
The star of the show this year was the Roasted Beet Hummus – a recipe I found at Half Baked Harvest (bowl upper left). Brock, my son-in-law, and I are the only beet lovers in this family, but everyone thought this hummus was outstanding. It’s bright to look at and brightly flavored. I mean, you barely know you’re eating beets. I didn’t follow the recipe to the letter, however. The grocery had small fresh beets in a bundle of three, so instead of two, I used three. I didn’t have almond butter on hand and the recipe calls for only a couple of tablespoonsful – not enough to justify the cost of almond butter. So, I threw in 1/4 cup of roasted pine nuts instead. Also, it calls for two cups of chickpeas. Well, two 15oz. cans of garbanzos drained and rinsed is about 2 1/2 cups so all of them went into the food processor. Tahini is a must for hummus recipes and I keep a small jar in my pantry. Either make a lot of hummus and use up the tahini or try this recipe for Crunchy Asian Noodle Salad or both!
The center bowl is filled with Ham Salad Spread, a recipe I’ve made for ages and is quickly assembled in a food processor with ham chunks, hard-boiled eggs, diced red onion, sweet pickle relish, and then mixed together with mayo – YUM! And the third bowl is filled with Pimento Cheese Spread from The Pioneer Woman.
All three spreads are perfect on crackers or slathered into the hollow of a piece of celery. We had pita chips, Ritz crackers, and these little rice crackers I found at Trader Joe’s. The rice crackers are perfect because they’re small – no heavy loading – light and very crispy. There’s a lot of them in a bag, too.
In all the years I’ve roasted turkeys, I’ve never had one that was completely frozen on Thanksgiving morning – NEVER – until Thursday last week. Yep, woke up, took the bird from the garage refrigerator, and the darn thing was a solid block. How did that happen?? Jessica and I put it in the refrigerator the Friday afternoon before. What on earth??
I started the cool water-bath thaw method until I read on the Butterball website that it would take nine hours to thaw. Oh NO! It’s Thanksgiving morning, for cryin’ out loud! I’m grateful my son, Joseph, was resting on the family room couch after working an overnight shift and overheard my panicked telephone call to my daughter. Jessica said Kroger had fresh turkeys for sale on Wednesday, so she suggested I start there. Joseph rallied and drove me to the grocery where we found fresh Butterballs for 69¢/pound. Hallelujah! There in the cooler was a 19-pounder with my name on it.
I was back in business. All I had to do was heat the oven, slather butter between the skin and flesh. salt & pepper, and off we went. I did stuff the bird’s cavity with a quartered orange, lemon, onion, and garlic cloves. The house smelled phenomenal, just like it should on Thanksgiving. And it was the moistest turkey I’ve ever roasted.
I’ve come to the conclusion that buying a fresh bird a day or two in advance is not such a bad idea. First of all, you don’t have a 20-lb bird taking up precious refrigerator real estate for days and days. And it’s a guarantee that the turkey, while cold, will be thawed and ready to roast Thanksgiving morning. Lesson learned.
What makes this cheesecake so special? Well, it’s delicious for one thing. It’s so easy and quick to put together, and is a guaranteed “no-brainer” recipe with a satisfying mouthfeel sure to please guests. It’s a great substitute for traditional pumpkin pie.
You can bake it the night before, cool to room temperature, and stash the cheesecake in the refrigerator the night before to chill.
Tieghan Gerard uses dairy-free almond cooking milk. There is no crust and only 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour in the batter which can be switched out with gluten-free flour. So it’s perfect to serve to those with dairy and/or gluten food allergies or sensitivities. If you don’t have to worry about that, you can substitute heavy cream or evaporated milk in equal amounts for the almond cooking milk.
Additions I didn’t mention in my 2019 Thanksgiving menu post:
Here in the Midwest, lots of families serve homemade egg noodles drenched in more turkey gravy as a side dish. This was my first year to try that. Why not? Noodles, mashed potatoes, stuffing, hot homemade rolls – what’s one more carbohydrate? And, yes, we did have the obligatory green vegetable – Brussel sprouts.
I made a cherry pie because my grandsons love cherry pie, and an apple crisp because a local produce market had the largest and most fragrant apples in their shop the day I visited. Yes, we had three desserts.
Any of these recipes would be excellent choices at Christmas, too. The beet hummus would be a cheerful and tasty addition to any appetizer or charcuterie board.
If you’re invited to a holiday party or open house and need a pitch-in item, try the pumpkin cheesecake. You can decorate the top with piped whipped cream. Or try what Teighan did and make little pie crust cookies dusted with cinnamon sugar as cute ornaments on the top.
Tips for a Less Stressful Holiday
Whatever your holiday celebrations – large, small, community configured – remember to have fun. Hosts burden themselves with unrealistic expectations for the “perfect” gathering. I give you permission. Free yourself. Do what you like. Do what you enjoy! After all, I am a Mimi with so much history. Yes, I am an older Mimi so, I’ve learned the hard way. Rely on your family and friends to bring up the rear. Learn to delegate.
Have Tips or Tricks to Share?
I’d love to learn about your Thanksgiving success stories! What tips and tricks do you use for a less hectic holiday?
Here’s another comfort food “oldie-but-goodie.” Hot and bubbly from the oven ground meat and vegetable casserole topped with a classic whipped potato crust that forms a nicely browned top layer. Mimi’s Shepherd’s Pie is made special by adding a can of creamed corn on top of the meat and vegetables and before the potato layer is slathered on. Warm and satisfying, indeed. YUM!
And there’s the bonus of the rich brown gravy that comes together as the casserole bakes. This is one of my son-in-law’s favorite meals, cold day or not. And it’s easy to make – this is a good dish for beginning cooks. It’s a no-brainer.
I learned to add creamed corn from this recipe at Bitchin’ Kitchen – who made her own. You know what else she taught me – make the mashed potatoes with both sweet and russet potatoes. The resulting mashed potatoes are orange – perfect to serve kiddos before a Halloween Night on the Town. And she tops the mashed potato topping with crushed potato chips for a nice crunch. Yes, I’ve made her recipe and it’s fabulous! You can find Nadia G’s recipe HERE. I loved Bitchin’ Kitchen. If you’ve never watched her show, it’s well worth seeking out. Nadia was not only a talented chef, but she also has a twisted sense of humor that I adore. Her show was fun, and she and her support cast of characters always me laugh, and I learned a lot, too. Nadia had an interesting take on some classic recipes like KEY LIME HABENERO CHEESECAKE. Or how about her CREAMY GORGONZOLA AND PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM RISOTTO? I adore her pizza dough recipe found HERE At Mimi’s Table.
I digress . . . I did not make this pie with sweet potatoes. However, just substitute 1/2 sweet potatoes and 1/2 russet potatoes and there you have it.
What makes this recipe soooo easy?
We all should have a pound or two of lean ground beef/turkey in the refrigerator/freezer, right? Use your microwave to defrost frozen ground beef/turkey, if that’s what’s happening in your busy world. And all the rest is assembled from frozen vegetables like peas & carrots, chopped onions. And canned creamed corn, if you aren’t into making your own like Nadia G.
Dare I say it? Yes, buy ready-made mashed potatoes, if you must, but you’ll need a couple of packages for adequate top layer cover – that’s expensive but at times necessary. I get it. If you have time, make your own mashed potatoes with russets or russets/sweet potatoes. Your people will love you.
Shall we cook together? I think so.
Start your potatoes
You know the drill. Peel 2-3 pounds of potatoes. I opt for more potatoes – in my family’s world that’s the most important part. Russets are preferred here. Or an equal combination of russets and sweet potatoes. Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, and bring to a boil. Boil potatoes for 10 minutes, turn off the heat, cover with a lid and let sit for another 10 minutes. This is the way I like to prepare potatoes to be mashed. I have an electric stove-top, so when I turn off the heat on the burner, the potatoes benefit from a moving-to-cooler bath. They’re not boiled to death. While the potatoes are processing, I get the meat layer ready.
Get the meat layer ready
Brown 2 pounds of ground beef over medium-high heat. I would recommend using nothing less than 85% fat content beef. Yes, 75-80% ground beef is cheaper, but there’s so much fat drained off after browning that I’m not sure cheaper ground meat is cost-effective. Nadia uses ground sirloin, a great lean choice. Or use ground turkey browned in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, an excellent substitute, leaner, protein-packed, and calorie-friendly. Want to go crazy? Use ground lamb.
Once the meat is browned, drain off fat leaving about 2-3 Tablespoons in the skillet. Add one large chopped onion and saute until translucent. Add 1-2 cloves of crushed garlic and cook for another minute. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper.
Add one cup of beef broth then add 1-2 12oz bags of frozen peas and carrots, stir and cook through until the veggies are thawed and hot. Adding a second bag of frozen vegetables is a fabulous way to extend the recipe – you can serve more people.
Assemble the first layer
Distribute cooked meat layer in the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish.
Drain and mash potatoes
I rarely measure the milk/half ‘n half I use. Usually, I just pour maybe 1/2 cup and mash with 1/4 stick of butter. If the potatoes are too dry, I add a little more milk/half ‘n half and mash again until I get the right consistency. For this recipe, it’s OK if the potatoes are a little wet – they’ll spread easier and liquid will evaporate as the casserole bakes. I added 1 teaspoon of dried chives to this batch. And I either use milk or half ‘n half or a mixture of both depending on my mood. If I want really rich tasting mashed potatoes, like for the holidays, I’ll use only half ‘n half.
Then slather the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat mixture. Proper Shepherd’s Pie has lots of mashed potatoes.
Pop into a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes. Everything is cooked, so you’re basically heating the casserole through. Flip on the broiler and let the mashed potato layer get nicely browned.
I like to serve my Shepherd’s Pie in bowls, like pasta bowls. And serve with warmed, crusty bread with butter. Or serve with a nice green salad.
Yield: 6-8
Mimi's Shepherd Pie
Here's another comfort food "oldie-but-goodie." Hot and bubbly from the oven ground meat and vegetable casserole topped with a classic whipped potato crust that forms a nicely browned top layer. Mimi's Shepherd's Pie is made special by adding a can of creamed corn on top of the meat and vegetables and before the potato layer is slathered on. Warm and satisfying, indeed. YUM!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Ingredients
1-2 lbs lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground lamb
1 large onion, diced
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 12oz bags frozen mixed vegetables without diced potatoes
1 15oz can creamed corn
2-3 pounds potatoes, any combination of russets and sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1/2 - 3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 teaspoon dried chives
Instructions
Heat oven to 350F degrees.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground meat. If you're using very lean meat, add 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil to promote browning.
Add diced onion and minced garlic. Stir and sautee for 3-5 minutes until the onions become translucent.
Add frozen vegetables and stir until heated through.
While the meat is browning, prepare the potatoes. Put cubed potatoes in a large pan, cover with water, add 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat a bit and allow potatoes to gently boil for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, put on the pan lid, and allow potatoes to steep in the hot water for 10 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to the heat. Add milk or half 'n half and butter, and mash. Add chives and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
Once the meat/vegetable mixture is done, spread evenly in the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish. Add one cup beef broth or reconstituted beef bullion. Evenly spread creamed corn over the meat/vegetable mixture.
Slather the top of the casserole with warm mashed potatoes, and spread evenly. Bake uncovered in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the casserole is heated through.
Turn on the broiler and let the mashed potato layer evenly brown. About 5-10 minutes.
Serve in wide pasta-type bowls with warm crusty bread and butter, or with a nice green salad.
Notes
Mimi's Shepherd's Pie is an excellent recipe for anyone learning to cook. It's simple and straightforward.
Use any lean meat - beef, turkey or lamb. If using lamb, I'd crank up the garlic. And use russet potatoes or a combination of white and sweet potatoes for the mashed layer.
If you love squash and chili, you’re going to love this recipe from the Half Baked Harvest blog. Tieghan Gerard has done it again!
Cincinnati Chili Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is best served on a beautiful fall or winter day, whether it’s cool, downright cold, rainy, or snowy, Tieghan’s dish is only one of her phenomenal comfort food offerings. Sweet and stringy spaghetti squash topped with a mild chili flavored with cinnamon and allspice is a yummy pairing of flavors. Tieghan has several recipes where she uses cooked spaghetti squash as the vessel for a wide variety of cheesy and meaty toppings. Like this one for Spanakopita Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. You must check out her blog.
I started cooking spaghetti squash several years ago. I like that it’s not pasta. It has a slightly sweet flavor with a stringy bite. Most times I baked it, scraped the beautiful flesh into a serving bowl, tossed with butter, salt, pepper, and a little Parmesan cheese, and served it as a side dish. But I like the idea of serving the squash strands in their skins, little boats, topped with great stuff. I’m serving this more and more as I’m looking for lower-calorie meals. Yeah, there’s meat and cheese and stuff, but count the squash as a low-calorie alternative to pasta, and you won’t feel guilty at all about the calorie-filled toppings. And think about carbs – there are practically no carbs! Spaghetti squash is gluten-free! Hail, hail to the lovely spaghetti squash!
Spaghetti squash is the perfect side or main for children and grandchildren. (Heck, I think it’s fun!) Wouldn’t you love to watch them drag their forks across the flesh and watch the magic happen? It’s fun! Besides, spaghetti squash is filled with vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacin, potassium, manganese, and even some calcium. There are only 42 calories per cup. Seriously, spaghetti squash is a nutritional no-brainer!
Spaghetti squash is also very easy to grow. I planted a couple of plants in my Billings garden one year and had wheelbarrows full to share with neighbors. If you have garden space and enthusiastic friends, be sure to include a plant in the spring.
Are you curious? Are you hopeful? Are you HUNGRY??
Make Cincinnati Chili – OH, Yes!
Put together ingredients for Cincinnati chili. Skyline Chili in Cincinnati is a food icon and this chili recipe pays homage to that recipe, perfectly done. Yes, it should simmer for 3 hours, stovetop or CrockPot. I made the full chili recipe, served half, and froze the other half for Coney dogs or traditionally served over spaghetti with lots of cheese on top. I’ve visited Skyline Chili in Cincinnati. Eaten their Coney’s – two of the cutest little hot dogs in buns topped with lots of chili, chopped onion, and tons of finely shredded cheddar cheese. I’ve ordered their chili over spaghetti topped with lots of cheddar cheese. This stuff is addicting. Tieghan’s mother’s recipe is spot on!
Make the chili with ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef. Add a can of drained and rinsed pinto beans or light kidney beans in place of or along with the ground meat, if that’s the way you roll.
When I pick spaghetti squash, I go big or go home. I made this recipe with one large squash. Richard & I ate half for dinner and had leftovers the next night. It’s the perfect dish served for 2 people with enthusiastic appetites.
Bake Your Spaghetti Squash
Cut the squash in half and remove seeds. Place the halves on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the inside lightly with olive and sprinkle salt and pepper. Turn the halves over and repeat. Bake skin side up in a 350°F oven for 45-50 minutes. Remove and allow to slightly cool.
OK – I hear you. “Mimi, 3 hours for chili and 1 hour to bake the squash? Are you nuts?” Yes, I am but it’s so worth it!
Return to oven/broiler to melt the cheese. I chose the broiler.
I need to pay more attention to showing my dishes at serving. I’m just so excited about eating that I don’t pay too much attention to photography once dinner is ready and I’m hungry! HA! You can serve with sour cream, extra cheese, mashed avocado, salsa.
Cincinnati Chili Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is best served on a beautiful fall or winter day, whether it's cool, downright cold, rainy, or snowy, Tieghan's dish is only one of her phenomenal comfort food offerings. Sweet and stringy spaghetti squash topped with a mild chili flavored with cinnamon is a yummy pairing of flavors. Tieghan has several recipes where she uses cooked spaghetti squash as the vessel for a wide variety of cheesy and meaty toppings. Like this one for Spanakopita Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. You must check out her blog.
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, dark or regular
2 teaspoons cumin
1½ teaspoon allspice
1½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon garlic powder, not garlic salt
2 cups chicken broth
1-28oz can crushed tomatoes
2-8oz cans tomato paste
1½ teaspoons vinegar (I used cider vinegar)
1 Tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
2 small or 4 large spaghetti squash
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
2-3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
Set a large heavy bottom soup pot over medium heat. Add olive oil then onion and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the ground meat to the pot, breaking it up with a spatula as it browns.
Add the next nine ingredients. Stir and briefly cook until the spices become fragrant.
Add chicken broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, Worchestershire sauce and bay leaves.
Stir and simmer over low heat or in a CrockPot for at least 3 hours.
About an hour before you're ready to eat, heat the oven to 350F.
Cut the squash in half, remove the seeds, and set the ovals flesh side up on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Brush the inside with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Turn the halves over, skin side up, and repeat.
Bake for 45-50 minutes. If your squash is small, 30-40 minutes.
When done, flip the squash over into a shallow bowl and begin to scrap the insides with a fork to reveal the lovely squash strands.
Ladle chili over the squash inside the cavity. Liberally sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
Place under the broiler for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
Notes
Cincinnati-Style chili is mild and has a slightly sweet flavor from the cinnamon and allspice in the recipe. Feel free to serve with your favorite chili toppings - sour cream, mashed avocado, extra cheese, crackers, hot sauce. You can use cans of drained and rinsed pinto or light red kidney beans in addition to or to replace part or all the ground meat.
Cube steak is cut from the beef top round or top sirloin – not normally tender cuts of meat. So butchers run the pieces through an electric meat tenderizer a couple of times that gives the finished steak patty a distinctly dimpled look. The resulting “cubes” running over the surface of the meat patty is how cube steak got its name. Of course, you could “cube” your own steaks using a meat mallet and a strong arm – a great way to relieve situational frustration. I prefer to let the butcher work his magic. Cubing tenderizes and flattens the meat, so it cooks quicker than a chuck roast. Cube steak is pretty lean, so it doesn’t benefit from marbling that would make the cooked steak as tender as real steaks – don’t expect “melt-in-your-mouth” tender. As beef goes, it’s relatively inexpensive. And cube steak is essential for chicken fried steak and cream gravy – YUM!
Are Split Peas and Split Pea Soup Healthy to Eat?
In all the years I’ve roasted turkeys, I’ve never had one that was completely frozen on Thanksgiving morning – NEVER – until Thursday last week. Yep, woke up, took the bird from the garage refrigerator, and the darn thing was a solid block. How did that happen?? Jessica and I put it in the refrigerator the Friday afternoon before. What on earth??
This cheesecake was another lovely surprise.
Spaghetti squash is the perfect side or main for children and grandchildren. (Heck, I think it’s fun!) Wouldn’t you love to watch them drag their forks across the flesh and watch the magic happen? It’s fun! Besides, spaghetti squash is filled with 
