Back Home Again!

After 1,000 miles and 3 states in 4 days, I’m pooped!   Vacations are great!  The new baby is totally adorable, (congrats, Teresa and Michael!), the daughter is graduated with all proper Pomp and Circumstance and an Award of Excellence (congrats, Katt!) and the night in the hotel room with the private pool was… well, this is NOT that sort of blog!  ;-P

So, tonight we have:

Tater Tot Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

½ large onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp flour

1 tsp savory

Salt and pepper

1 can beef broth or 1.5 C water with 2 beef bullion cubes dissolved in it.

2 cups shredded cheddar

Brown beef and onion til cooked through.  Add garlic and cook 1 minute.  Stir in flour and spices.  Add broth and cook til gravy forms.

Spread in 9 x 12 casserole pan well sprayed with Pam.  Cover with tater tots.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Spread on cheese, return to oven and bake til cheese melts.  

This is very simple but quite tasty when you’re too tired for anything more complicated.  And the hubby likes it.   It also makes great leftovers.  Even the picky grandson will eat it! 

It expands easily for a crowd as well.  Double or triple and use a larger pan.  I use the smaller of my rectangular Pyrex pans.  If you use too big a pan, the meat layer would be too thin for all the potatoes and cheese.

You could also add different spicing to suit your taste.  Take the basics of meat, potatoes and cheese and add what ever you little heart desires: spices, veggies, wine, etc.  I’m too sleepy to get really creative tonight so it’s nice and simple for us.  Maybe next time, I’ll get a little crazy.  J

Good eating!!