Somewhere in the depth of the freezer lurks a package of ground beef or hamburger just waiting to be turned into a tasty meal.
The 1958 cookbook, 365 Ways to Cook Hamburger, offers that many recipes to turn that particular meat into meat balls, loaves, casseroles or barbecue options.
And there’s also an important tip: if stored in a freezer, use within two or three months. Further, hamburger should be handled as little as possible to keep it juicy and tender.
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Sweet Pickle-Stuffed Meat Loaf
- 1 lb. hamburger
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- 4 tbsps chili sauce
- 2 tbsps. chopped green pepper
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp. basil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Stuffing:
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped celery
- 3 tbsps butter
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet pickles or spicy green relish
- 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
- 1/4 tsp. marjoram
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
Mix the first 10 ingredients together and set aside.
To make the stuffing, sauté the chopped onion, celery and butter until vegetables are soft. Combine with the remainder of the stuffing ingredients.
Press half the meat mixture into a large loaf pan. Spread stuffing on the meat then top with the remaining meat mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour. Let sit a few minutes before slicing. Serves 4-6.
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Hamburger Patties in Lemon Sauce
Patties:
- 1 lb. hamburger
- 2 tbsps. minced onion
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 large onion, cut into rings
Sauce:
- 1 can condensed beef bouillon
- 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsps. cornstarch dissolved in 4 tbsps. water
- 1 tsp. dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
For the patties, mix all the ingredients except onion rings. Form into six patties and brown on both sides in a skillet with 3 tbsps. cooking fat. Remove patties from skillet.
Sauté the onion rings until tender and golden in colour. Remove onion rings.
For the sauce, add all the ingredients to the skillet and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened.
Add the hamburger patties and top with the onion rings. Add lemon slices if desired. Cover the skillet and cook the patties and sauce for about 35 minutes.
Makes 6 servings.
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Hamburger Upside Down Pie
- 2 tbsps. cooking fat
- 1 lb. hamburger
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup diced green pepper
- 1-8 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 can ripe olives, chopped
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. chilli powder
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- Biscuit dough for 9 inch pie plate
Brown the hamburger in the cooking fat. Add the onion and pepper and cook until peppers are soft and onion is transparent.
Add all other ingredients and mix well.
Pour into a 9 inch pie pan.
Cover with a biscuit dough prepared according to package directions. Prick the top and bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and invert over a serving dish so crust is on the bottom. Makes 4-6 servings.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
