What’s on the Menu?

One of my resolutions for 2011 is (was) to create a rotating meal plan to simplify shopping and cooking. Um, yes . . . it’s May and this still has not happened. (We won’t mention how I’m doing on those other resolutions . . .)

I would love to be One of Those People Who Have Dinners Planned in Advance, but I’m not. Most days I struggle with what to do when 5:00 rolls around, and I count myself lucky that if nothing else my girls will eat carrots for dinner every day and never complain. (Yes; really.)

So, this is my official Go To Meal When I Don’t Have a Clue What Else To Make . . . and yes; I had to seriously think about it to write everything down.

Breakfast is yummy

Beef and Bean Casserole

(I should start by clarifying this misnomer . . . it’s not a casserole per se but more of a “pot” dish, like chili.)

Start by browning about a pound, maybe a pound and a quarter, of ground beef (or ground turkey). While you work on that, since I *know* you must multitask, grab a big pot and start putting everything else together. 

The “everything else” would be . . .

1 large can of baked beans (28 ounces; yes . . . I checked)

2 small cans of Some Other Kind of Beans, drained (I use one red kidney bean, dark or light) and one whitish bean, like a navy or a pinto.)

1 teaspoon of ground mustard

1 tablespoon of minced onion

a pinch of salt

3 tablespoon of ketchup (Really, don’t measure this part . . . 3 squeezes from the bottle ought to do.)

3 tablespoons of brown sugar (dark or light)

1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

Add the cooked meat to the pot, pop the pot on the burner, and simmer (covered) for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Done!