What's for dinner? Beef recipes are among the most versatile

What's for dinner? Beef recipes are among the most versatile of family pleasers!

When you plan your weekly menus, beef recipes are sure to occupy a couple of spots. While your family surely enjoys beef, the cost is doubtless a concern for your budget. A simple burger meal can put a big dent in the food budget. How many ways can you disguise the illustrious burger? How can you make your beef recipes stretch your food dollar and still satisfy your family's taste? Let's see.

Burgers are the all-American standby. You form the beef into patties, then fry or grill them. Slice a tomato, onion and lay on a slice of cheese for the standard burger. Yep, that's good, but, served too often, it gets old. It's time to think outside the box. Here are some tasty variations on this ho-hum dinner.

Toss a bit of stale beer in to your burger mix. Beer makes for a juicy burger. Add some minced, fresh garlic and some sauteed onions. Make very thin patties and layer thinly sliced mushrooms between the two patties. Top off the mushrooms with grated smoked cheddar. Dress this gourmet burger with a liquid smoke preparation and grill.

Meatloaf is another economical pillar of the American menu. Beef recipes for meatloaf range from layers of pickles to ketchup. Make your meatloaf beef recipe a standout. Do you like teriyaki sauce? Mesquite flavors? Dress your beef recipes with all of the flavors you enjoy.

Pot roast recipes are equally versatile. Here, the slow cooker is your friend! Pile a bunch of veggies, such as potatoes, carrots and peas, into the slow cooker and lay your roast on top. Sprinkle the roast with garlic, thyme and a minced onion. Walk away in the morning and come home to a delicious, ready to eat beef recipe in the evening.

Beef casseroles are yet another way to enjoy beef recipes in an economical way. Marinades infuse the meat with flavor, while stretching the beef in a mix of rice, pasta, veggies and a sauce.

Beef bourguignon, the dish of French renown, is actually an economical beef recipe. The most expensive ingredient in this dish is the Cognac. You don't need to have a whole bottle on hand. Just a few tablespoons, available in the tiny mini-bottles, suffice. Mushrooms are the key ingredient. In a heavy frying pan, over high heat, saute a pound of mushrooms and a large sweet onion. Add the cognac. Layer this into the bottom of the slow cooker. Sear a pound and a half of beef stew meat until the edges are browned. Pile the meat on top of the veggies and walk away. When you return home in the evening, cook a batch of rice. Ladle the meat mixture over the rice and serve.

How about a grilled steak? Less expensive cuts of beef respond well to a marinade. An inexpensive top round steak can become a gourmet treat, when imbued with a good marinade. Marinades tenderize and flavor the meat.

The Hoagie sandwich is an often overlooked beef recipe. Shop the sales and stock up on roast beef when it's on sale. Load that sandwich up with sprouts, onions, Jalapeno peppers and sweet bell peppers. This makes an excellent lunch, for both kids and adults.

So, what's for dinner? Beef recipes are a good choice.




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