when i was making my grocery list yesterday, i checked the freezer to see what meats we had and needed for our weekly menu. i was looking for ground turkey, the extra lean kind that i buy every week at Target. there was none. but i saw something else, and i tried to avoid it. i tried ignoring it. but it's been there for a week and i know i have to do something with it.
there are four butcher-paper wrapped packages of ground elk in my freezer.
our neighbor, bless his heart, is a hunter and a good one, apparently. he came home from his most recent hunting excursion bearing this lovely gift for us.
and i, the vegetarian at heart and meat-phobe, have to do something with it. four pounds of it! [hold me.]
if you have any suggestions for cooking or serving ground elk meat please let me know. this is all new to me and i'm a little bit scared. i planned my menu as if everything is just normal because hubby promised me "elk tastes like everything else." and it's wild!
monday: Baked Ziti & steamed veggies
tuesday: Enchiladas & rice
wednesday: Cheeseburger Potato Pie
thursday: family night, dining out1lb ground beef (elk)
1 cup onion (chopped)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 (32 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon oregano
1 (16 oz) package ziti pasta (cooked and drained)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet add ground beef, onions and garlic. Cook over medium high heat stirring frequently until the beef is browned. Stir in spaghetti sauce, chicken broth and oregano. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Stir in 1 cup of sauce into the cooked ziti noodles. Spoon ½ of the ziti mixture into a 13×9” baking dish. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese and ½ cup parmesan cheese over the top of the ziti mixture. Top with 2 cups of the sauce, then add remaining ziti mixture and top that with the remaining sauce.
3. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Return to over and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted
Cheeseburger Potato Pie hold the bacon recipe from What's For Dinner at The Matzats
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef (or elk, in my case)
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups water
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
3/4 cup milk
2 cups mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided in half
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 green onions, sliced if desired (not)
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, onion, ketchup, mustard and salt and mix well.
3. Press hamburger mixture in bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9 inch pie pan to cover completely. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
5. Drain on paper towel, cool, and crumble.
6. Discard bacon drippings or save for another recipe.
7. In a medium sauce pan, combine water, margarine and garlic salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add milk. With a fork, stir in potatos.
8. Then stir in 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.
9. Remove partially baked beef crust from oven; pour off any fat.
10. Spoon potato mixture into crust evenly.
11. Return to oven for another 10-15 minutes or until meat is thoroughly cooked, and potatoes are heated through.
12. Remove pie from oven. Top with tomato, remaining cheese and
13. Return to oven, and bake for 5 minutes longer, until cheese is melted.
14. Remove from oven, top with green onions. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
it's Menu Planning Monday @ OrgJunkie.com. check it out for more recipes and menus.
