Mom's Mashed Potato Casserole

My mom used to make this when I was a kid and it was always one of my favorites.  It's super easy and makes great leftovers.  Comfort food that's relatively healthy.  Serve it with a green salad.  Or chocolate.  :)

1/2 to 1 lb ground beef or turkey
12 oz pkg frozen cut green beans
15 oz can tomato sauce or a jar of Prego Traditional spaghetti sauce
Potatoes (3-6, depending on size)

Brown the meat in a skillet.  Place a colander in a bowl in the sink and pour in the cooked meat.  Let it sit there draining.

Place the green beans into your skillet.  You might want to microwave them for a minute first to take off the chill but it's fine if you don't.  Pour the tomato or spaghetti sauce over the top and stir.  Add the meat back to the pan and stir to mix.  Add more sauce if you want it saucier.  I don't usually let it get to saucy but it's a personal preference thing.  Then pour the mixture into a baking dish and spread evenly.

Pour the drained meat fat from the bowl into the empty can or jar & toss in the freezer for a while so it solidifies before you throw it in the garbage.  If you use spaghetti sauce you don't need to do that, just screw on the lid, toss it in the trash & call it good.

Cut your raw potatoes into chunks (smaller cooks faster), place in water & bring to a boil.  Let them cook until they're soft.  Use the colander to drain them, them put them back into the skillet and heat them for several minutes until they're pretty dry.  Use whatever you have (hand mixer, fork, ricer) to mash them up.  They can be smooth or rustic....whatever you prefer.  Spread them on top of the meat mixture.  Bake at 350 for a half hour or until it seems heated all the way through.  If you have a lid or tin foil on the top of the pan, you could leave it in the oven longer....last night I left them in there for an hour and a half and they were just fine.

Note on the tomato sauce -- if you use plain sauce you might need to add seasonings.  I used a can of sauce & about a cup of spaghetti sauce, and seasoned with black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried dill.  You could also always sauté fresh onion and/or garlic in the pan after cooking the meat but adding before the beans & tomatoes.  You could also add other vegetables -- mushrooms, carrots, peppers.

Lentil Soup

1 small sweet onion, chopped
1 small package frozen chopped carrots
1/2 c chopped fresh parsley
1 package pre-cooked, vacuum-packed lentils from Trader Joes
2-3 cans low sodium chicken broth
1/2 T Kitchen Bouquet
1/2 t powdered garlic
1/2 t powdered onion
1 t red chili flakes

Saute onion in a little olive oil until it starts to turn brown, then add carrots, parsley, and spices.  The carrots don't have to be thawed.  Pour in the chicken broth, lentils, and Kitchen Bouquet.  Bring to a boil.  Serve.

Options:
Saute some chopped celery before adding the carrot
Chop up some fresh spinach & throw it in your bowl then ladle soup on top
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese
Add cooked meat (ham, bacon, sausage, etc.)

PS....Kitchen Bouquet is a strange substance that I use in all kinds of things but especially brothy soups.  It can add depth of flavor to the most bland of concoctions.  You can get it at any grocery store, comes in a little dark brown bottle with a yellow label.  Ask the clerk.  I make sure I never run out of it.  Ever.
PSS....you can buy chopped onion in the frozen food section but I don't recommend it.  I'm good with some other vegetables frozen, but I think an onion should be chopped fresh.  Always.

Serve with:
Cornbread -- buy a pkg of Bob's Red Mill cornbread mix.  Fool proof.  Not the best on the planet but I like it well enough when I'm in a pinch.