Easy Tomato Chili

• 1 pound ground chuck
• 1 med onion (chopped)
• 2 ribs celery (chopped)
• 1 pepper ribs and seeds removed (optional)
• 1 _8 ounce package mushrooms (sliced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced) or 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Chili Powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoon Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Ancho chili powder (optional)
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
•  1 - 2 cans diced tomatoes in their juice
• 2 cans beans of choice (drained and rinsed well)
• 1_22.8 ounce can Tomato Soup
• 1/2 to 3/4 can water.

Brown meat, drain. Add onion, celery, pepper, mushrooms and saute about 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and saute a minute more. In the mean time drain and rinse beans until foam is gone. Add spices to meat mixture and stir in. Add diced tomatoes, rinsed beans, soup and water. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer for at least 30 minutes, but up to a couple hours, stirring occasionally, before serving.  Top your bowl with your choice of crackers, shredded cheddar, sour cream, green onions, etc. You choose. Will easily make 3 meals worth. Freeze what you don't use within a couple days. Use within 6 months.

To make from frozen: Preferably thaw frozen chili. Place in sauce pan and heat on low for about 20 - 30 min. Stirring occasionally.

Sloppy Joes

• 1 lb. Ground Chuck
• 1/2 small sweet pepper (diced) 

• 1/2 med onion (diced)
• 2 cloves garlic(minced) or 1 teaspoon pre-minced refrigerated garlic
• 3/4 cup ketchup 
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Salt & Pepper to taste

In a 1 cup measure add 1 teaspoon garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, chilli powder, dry mustard, Worcestershire and water. Whisk to combine.Set aside. Add ground chuck to skillet over medium high heat and cook until brown. Drain off fat. Add onions and/or diced pepper a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper, cook until they begin to soften.Turn heat to simmer and add sauce mixture. Stir it in to combine well. Cook 15 minutes more.

1/2 red or green pepper, diced and diced onion are optional.

Meat Loaf

• 1 pound ground chuck
• 1 cup dry filler (oatmeal, rice crispy cereal, bread crumbs, panko crumbs, corn flakes crushed, crushed crackers are a few options)
• 1/4 cup milk
• Seasoning -(a packet of onion soup mix, 1 teaspoon beef bullion or 2 cubes crushed, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, steak seasoning mix, are a few options)
•  1/2 cup Moisture ingredients divided (1/4 cup salsa, ketchup, barbecue sauce, beef gravy) 
• 1 egg
•  1/2 cup optional Fillers (such as 1/2 cup shredded cheese, diced onion, 1/2 cup diced mushrooms)

Combine all ingredients including 1/4 cup of the moisture ingredient reserving the other 1/4 cup for the top of formed loaf. Form into a loaf and place in sprayed pan. Top with reserved 1/4 cup Moisture ingredient. Place in 375ºF oven, uncovered, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving

Tater Tot Casserole

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion
• 1/2 container fresh sliced mushrooms (optional)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 bag mixed vegetables
• 1 can cream of mushroom garlic soup
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 bag tater tots

Brown ground beef with onion. Drain grease into a can. Mix meat with mushrooms, vegetables, soup & milk. Place meat mixture into a sprayed square pan or casserole. Top with tater tots. Bake 1 hour at 375ºF

You can make this a day in advance and bake when ready.

Quick Tomato Chili

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 2 celery ribs chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced (1 teaspoon prepared garlic)
• 1 sweet (green, red, or yellow) pepper chopped
• 1 package mushrooms sliced
• 1 15oz can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
• 1 15oz can white kidney beans drained and rinsed
• 1  16oz can diced tomatoes tomatoes (do not drain)
• 1 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoon cumin
• 1 22.8 oz can tomato soup
• 1 can water

Brown ground beef with onion, celery, garlic, sweet pepper. Drain.  To the beef mixture add mushrooms and beans, cooking another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add diced tomatoes. Add spices. Mix. Add can of tomato soup and full can of warm water.  stir until well combined. Heat to boil then reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.

This will make enough for two meals plus for you kids. Remove half to a freezer container leaving 1/4 inch air space at top. Label and freeze.