Feeling stressed about weeknight dinners once in a while? procrastination, little time, a budget, boredom?
I’m in the same boat. Despite my planning this month, there have been a few days where the stars don’t line up and I need what I call a “SWF burger rescue”. Where you walk in the door and say, we’re either going out for dinner—or—Burgers!!!! Everyone votes for burger in this household.
So, I’m sharing our top 3 our favorite recipes for those days….and hope you’ll get excited about buying and cooking with SWF ground beef and share some of your own recipes with us!
Just Plain and Simple SWF Burger:
Want to keep your hands clean? No time for making beef patties? Step 1: Open a 1 lb package of SWF ground beef, place on a plate or cutting board and take a large knife and slowly cut it (like you would cheese) into 3 or four squares, sprinkle with salt, round the edges, make a dimple in the middle of your burger. Step 2: Cook uncovered with your your hood or vent on 4 min each side. Top with cheese when you flip to the second side if desired, let rest tented with foil 2-5 min once you’ve transferred them to a serving plate. Step 3: Serve!
Spicy Beef and Bean Burritos:
I can’t say enough for this recipe. It has been a fixture on our menu for so long, like 18 years. I kind of feel guilty, it is so easy, opening jars, throwing them into a pan, stirring and bam, 10 min later a delicious meal and the left overs are so easy to use. We all love it, and it keeps really well. You can even make burritos and pre-wrap them for lunches, they really don’t get soggy. You can make them super healthy by cooking your own beans and salsa from scratch, or do what I do . . .
Step 1: In a dutch oven or large cast iron pan cook 1 lb SWF ground beef on medium, 8 minutes or until golden brown. Step 2: Add to your browned beef: 15 oz of refried black beans and 15 oz of drained whole black beans, 8-10 oz of your favorite salsa, 4 oz chopped green chillies, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese stir together and add the following spices: 1 tsp salt, 1 Tbsp cumin, a dash of cayenne pepper if you like it hot, 1 Tbsp of maple syrup or brown sugar. Step 3: Heat 3-5 min or until bubbling, turn off the stove, fill flour or corn tortilla shells, top with salsa and sour cream and you’re done! Serves 6-8
Spicy Beef and Bean Dip:
Those of you who have ever invited us to dinner have tasted this dip. It is almost always my go to appetizer—I crave it and love to share it!! Take only half of the above beef and bean mixture and spread into a small oven proof dish or pie plate, top with more cheddar and bake or broil until bubbly, serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, veggies and salsa.
Ben’s Beefy Pasta Sauce:
Step 1: Fill your pasta pot with water and bring it to boil before you start the pasta sauce. Step 2: Cook 1 lb SWF ground beef on medium heat 8 min or until golden brown. Step 3: Add 2, 24 oz containers of prepared marinara, mushroom or three cheese pasta sauce to your browned beef. Bring to a slow simmer for a few minutes while you cook the pasta . Voila, you’re done! Serve with Parmesan cheese. Serves 6-8
This sauce too simple for you? Try this Beef and Pork Pasta Sauce. It really makes the flavor in the SWF beef come out. ¼-½ lbe of ground pork, a leftover pork chop or a little bit of sausage all work great.
Step 1: Brown 1 lb SWF ground beef as above, push the beef to the side of the pan when finished and add ½ cup finely diced onion and 1-2 cloves garlic crushed (or prepared-chopped), sauté garlic and onion lightly, mix with beef add 1 cup of red wine, let it deglaze for a minute then add, 1 carrot cut in ¼, and 1-2, 28 oz cans of Muir Glen crushed peeled organic tomatoes. Step 2: Season to taste with Italian seasoning, basil, garlic powder, salt and a dash of maple syrup and red pepper flakes. Step 3: Simmer covered on low for at least 30 minutes, take the top off for the last 15 minutes if you like the sauce thicker. Always milder in flavor on the 2nd day or if it simmers for hours.
Thawing Tutorial:
Afraid of spoiling your beef? Forget to take it out ahead of time? Stop--don´t abandon your beef craving taste buds. Open the freezer and take out that SWF burger!
Water bath thawing method:
1 lb of SWF ground beef (left in it’s tightly sealed package) thaws really well in 8 or more cups of cold water, dumped and refilled every 15 minutes. If you start this the minute you walk in the door, by the time you have your coats off and other ingredients out for dinner, you´ll have fresh ground beef to cook with. I find it takes 30-45 min maximum, depending on how cold your freezer is. If thawing 2 lbs, I get 2 water baths going or a roasting tray and use the same method.
Or, just take it out of the freezer in the morning, or at lunch and place it in the refrigerator as it is on a small plate, it will keep for several days this way---quite a few days….I´ve tried it, trust me.
Thanks for being here! Add comments or share your own 10 minute favorites here or on Facebook. Images are great too. Can´t wait to hear from you
SWF Burger Boxes Coming REALLY Soon
Burger boxes are on there way and will go on sale next week, new sizes and delivery will be available. Stocking up on ground beef just works. It keeps well, stores easily in nooks and cranies in the freezer, is fast, nutritious, need I say more? It can solve almost any week night or week end meal struggle.
Keep your eye out for an email about SWF Burger Boxes and be in touch, Take care, happy cooking! Amy