What's Cookin' -- Potato Casserole

The title of this one is a little deceiving. It's more like a cabbage, potato, ground beef casserole. I probably should think of a better name for it. My mom passed this recipe to me and I'm not sure where she got it from. Really tasty!

Potato Casserole

1 head green cabbage of 15 oz can of saurkraut (I use cabbage)
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 small onion chopped
5 cups potatoes, sliced
1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom
1 (10 oz) can cream celery
1 can of water
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut cabbage and boil for 15 minutes in large pot. (if you use cabbage otherwise start with step 2)
2. Brown ground beef with. Drain.
3. While beef is browning and cabbage boiling, peel and cut potatoes.
4. Lay potatoes on bottom of greased casserole dish.
5. Place ground beef on top of potatoes.
6. Place cabbage on top of beef.
7. Mix soups and water together, then pour on top of everything.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours

** You can use an combination of cream soups. **

$5 Dinner Challenge

You have to check out $5 Dinners for more ideas for cheap meals. I love all the ideas I get from reading this site.

Here's my recipe for the $5 Challenge this week. I always have a hard time figuring exact cost. My prices are estimated. I have posted this recipe before here.

Potato Casserole

1 head green cabbage of 15 oz can of sauerkraut (I use cabbage -- .75)
1 1/2 lb ground beef ($2.25)
1 small onion chopped (.30)
5 cups potatoes, sliced ($.75)
1 (10 oz) can cream of mushroom (.50)
1 (10 oz) can cream celery (.50)
1 can of water
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut cabbage and boil for 15 minutes in large pot. (if you use cabbage otherwise start with step 2)
2. Brown ground beef with. Drain.
3. While beef is browning and cabbage boiling, peel and cut potatoes.
4. Lay potatoes on bottom of greased casserole dish.
5. Place ground beef on top of potatoes.
6. Place cabbage (or sauerkraut) on top of beef.
7. Mix soups and water together, then pour on top of everything.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours

** You can use an combination of cream soups. **

Be sure to check out this week's giveaway -- free box of Kashi Cereal Bars!

$5 Dinner Challenge

This is part of the $5 Dinner Challenge.

This one is a little hard to break down the cost because usually these are products I have on hand except for the ham. If you use leftover ham or ham steak this easily costs around $5. And it is so yummy. Original post of this recipe.


Ham & Cheddar Cheese Casserole

2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1 cup carrots, sliced
2 ribs celery, chopped
3 cups chicken broth to cover veggies (you can use less, dilute with water or use chicken bullion)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 small onion, minced
2 cups fully cooked ham, cubed
7 tbsp butter, divided (I use a lot less)
3 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
salt & pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese


Directions
1.In a sauce pan bring the potatoes, carrot, celery, garlic, onion, broth to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 15 mins. Drain, place back in pot.
2. In a skillet, saute the ham in 3 tablespoons of butter until golden brown. Add to the drained potato mixture.
3. In a sauce pan, melt the remaining butter, stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper.
4. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat and add cheese and stir until melted.
5. Pour over potato & ham mixture.
6. Place mixture in a greased 13 x 9 pan.
7. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 25-30 mins. or until heated through. You can sprinkle the top with some of the cheese or bread crumbs.


Check out some of my other recipes!

What's Cookin' -- Leftover Ham Recipes

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
(I have used this recipe for years, best one out there)

1/2 cup finely chopped onion ( I sprinkle in onion flakes to save time)
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 cups of thinly slice potatoes (I use Russet)
3 tbsp butter
2 cups milk (I use skim)
Paprika (optional)

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees (don't put it any higher or the milk will over flow)
• Combine onion, flour, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Set aside.
• Place 1/3 of potatoes in a greased 2 quart baking dish.
• Sprinkle 1/2 of flour mixture, dot with 1 tbsp of butter.
• Repeat two more times.
• Pour milk to barely cover potatoes.
• Sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake covered for 45 minutes.
• Uncover dish and bake for 30 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender.
• Add cooked ham during the last 15-20 minutes or serve on the side.

Ham & Cheddar Cheese Casserole
(I found this recipe on cafemom.com and it's my new favorite recipe for leftover ham)

2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1 cup carrots, sliced
2 ribs celery, chopped
3 cups chicken broth to cover veggies
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 small onion, minced
2 cups fully cooked ham, cubed
7 tbsp butter, divided
3 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cups milk
salt & pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

• In a sauce pan bring the potatoes, carrot, celery, garlic, onion, broth to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 15 mins. Drain, place back in pot.
• In a skillet, saute the ham in 3 tablespoons of butter until golden brown. Add to the drained potato mixture.
• In a sauce pan, melt the remaining butter, stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat and add cheese and stir until melted.
• Pour over potato & ham mixture. Place mixture in a greased 13 x 9 pan.
• Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 25-30 mins. or until heated through. You can sprinkle the top with some of the cheese or bread crumbs.

Enjoy!

What's Cookin'-- Someone's coming to dinner

Earlier today, when my daughter and I were at the park, my husband called and said he was bring a co-worker to dinner.  I had pork chops planned (and he took out another pack from the freezer -- it's so nice having meat in the freezer), but hadn't really thought ahead from that.  I usually figure out the potato and vegetable an hour before dinner, unless I'm trying a new dish.  I froze rolls yesterday.  But I felt I needed a dessert and I didn't have anything that came to mind.  After a little searching I came up with my menu.

Here was tonight's menu

Pork Chop Casserole

Boiled Red potatoes

Frozen corn

Cheddar Rolls

Coffee Cake (recipe below)

Here's the recipe for the coffee cake.  The original recipe is here, but I adapted some changes after reading the reviews.

Coffee Cake

1 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

3 Tbsp sour cream

Topping

1/4 cup butter, room temperature

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1. Grease 8x8 pan. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl.  Set aside.

3. Beat egg, sugar, butter.  Add milk, vanilla, and sour cream.

4. Mix in flour mixture with wet ingredients.

5. Pour batter in 8x8 pan.

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.

7. Prepare topping.  Mix butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon together until crumbly.

8.  After the cake has baked for 15 minutes, put topping on cake and bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until cake is done.