Have you ever looked at your watch and realized it is dinner time? You haven’t started dinner much less decided what you are going to fix and someone walks in and asks “what’s for dinner Mom?” It seems like this happens to me more often than not. I have tried to plan ahead and buy my groceries for the week, but life gets in the way, dinner gets cancelled and the next thing I know the meat has to be thrown out. So I go to the grocery store several times a week to at least purchase meat. These trips usually occur after 3:30 and most days closer to 5. My family is shrinking and planning meals seems to be getting harder instead of easier!
If any of this sounds familiar, you will love this week’s recipe. From start to finish you can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less.
Microwave Beef & Tater Casserole
by Jana Lowry
1 lb Frozen Ground Beef
1lb Frozen Tater Tots
2 T Minced Onions
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
Paprika
Crumble beef in a 2 qt. casserole. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid off the meat and top with onion and tater tots. Mix two soups together and put on top of tater tots. Microwave on high for 15 minutes. Sprinkle paprika on top.
I have to admit that I was hesitant to eat this. I’m not very adventurous when it comes to food. I tend to find something on the menu, at restaurants we frequent, that I like and stick with it. Why? Two reasons, one it irritates everyone that I am always the last one to make up my mind and two I know when I get my food I will like it! Cream of celery soup is not something I keep in my pantry. I did eat the casserole, but only after my husband said he liked it, (of course he eats a lot of things I won’t eat). We even had it again the next day. The next time I make beef & tater casserole I will make some changes. Cream of celery soup is very salty, in my opinion, so I will definitely omit it. I’m sure I could double up on the cream of chicken soup or even use cream of mushroom soup. As I have told you before (in almost EVERY post I write!) my family loves spicy food. My husband requested the next time I make it that I spice it up some. I think I will exchange the paprika with cayenne pepper.
Try the recipe as it is written and if you don’t just LOVE it try the substitutions I mentioned. Either way, let me know what you think.
Happy Cooking,
[jani]