Conversations - Easy Weeknight Dinners from bettycrocker.com

Easy Weeknight Dinners

Discuss your fast favorites and see what others are cooking for those crazy, busy weeknights at the dinner table.

McKittyKey
Posts:

Ground beef and BC Potatoes?

My ground beef is thawing, but I'm bored with the usual weeknight ground beef fares. Has anyone ever used ground beef with BC potatoes? I have a box of the Deluxe Loaded Au Gratin and was thinking that perhaps after browning the beef, I could mix with the potatoes and then bake as a casserole, but I'm not sure if I would need to add more liquid or anything.

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or ideas on how I can make this a really great casserole?

All advice is gratefully received.

McKittyKey

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9/29/2008 4:37 PM

7 Replies to Ground beef and BC Potatoes?

chicagosinger
Debbi Mueller in Chicago
Posts: 425

Hi McKittyKey, welcome to the site! I'm gonna go out on a limb and ask if you're a cat lover (per your nickname)? I have three males plus the other big male, my husband! I'm outnumbered, but I still wear the pants around here! Anyway, yeah I'd go for it. It sounds good, thanks for the idea! I don't think you'll need to add any extra liquid, just take a couple of tablespoons of the juices from the pan you browned the grnd. beef in. That should take care of it, plus if you've put any spices in the meat while you were cooking it, you might want to empty the grnd. bf. Put about 1/4 cup of water in pan and stir and scrape bottom of pan. This'll loosen up that good stuff on the bottom and cook that so your spices are assimilated in the water. Let it reduce a little on simmer, then take your 2 tblspns. of broth to add to your casserole. Also,if you were to add any more liquid it would make your potatoes runny. Hope I helped a little. Good luck!

chicagosinger

"If you don't try, you'll never know."

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9/30/2008 2:25 AM

chicagosinger
Debbi Mueller in Chicago
Posts: 425

Hi McKittyKey! Welcome to the site! Yes. I'd go for it. If you add more liquid it'll make your potatoes runny. You might want to make you au gratin potatoes a little creamier, if your concerned about the potatoes drying out. I hope I was able to help. Good luck!

chicagosinger

"If you don't try, you'll never know."

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9/30/2008 2:31 AM

granna2
Thornville, Ohio 43076
Posts: 1431

Hi McKittyKey, Welcome to the site,:-). I wouldn't add anything to start, but if it's a little dry when done, I'd add some milk to sour cream. Let us know what you tried and how it came out, :-).

May you always have Christ in your Life,Family Close, Love to Share, Health to Spare, Food to eat,Family and Friends that Care! "IN GOD WE TRUST"

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10/1/2008 9:49 PM

McKittyKey
Posts: 3

Thanks for all your replies. And thank you very much for your warm welcomes.

I am a cat lover. Have two rescued from the Humane Shelter, one LH orange and while male and one SH, very beautiful black and gold (lovely gold speckles throughout her coat!) female. Although the female is several years younger than the male, she rules the roost!

My i'net handle is a result of combining my nickname (since birth) Kitten, and my surname, Mc???key. There's lots of "Kitten" monikers on the Web but only one me: McKittyKey!

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try the BC and ground beef potato idea. But I think when I do try it, I will post my results here. Some nights' meals have to be quick'n'easy, don't they?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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10/3/2008 11:59 AM

chicagosinger
Debbi Mueller in Chicago
Posts: 425

Hello Mckittykey, Me personally, if you do try your previous idea, I would go with granna's advice. She's a much, much better cook than me! I just started to really pay attention to cooking a few yrs. ago. So, I'm learning from everyone else here! Not that my idea is bad, but granna's sounds better, at least to me!

It sounds like you LOVE your cats. My 3 are having a power struggle right now because the third, the newest and youngest (Charlie), isn't neutered yet. The oldest (Kit) gets picked on by charlie alot, but has been known to give him a couple good rights to the nose. The middle cat (Buster), is used to being the baby, so right now he barely tolerates charlie. We also rescued are guys from a shelter. It's kind of funny when suddenly you're eating and all 3 of them are standing next to each other, trying to mooch food from one of us. Then they get along fine, thank you very much! Go figure, huh? I love my boys, especially my big one, my hubby! Have a great weekend!

chicagosinger

"If you don't try, you'll never know."

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10/3/2008 7:39 PM

granna2
Thornville, Ohio 43076
Posts: 1431

Thanks chicagosinger, you give me to much credit,:-). McKittenKey, what a neat way to creat a name. Mine came from my first name and that I'am a grandmother and great-granmother. I also work with the babies/toddlers at church, so I told them to call me Granna. I love cats, maybe we should start a tread?!? I have two males: Curly, our baby an indoor cat, he looks like garfield, and has been nutered, then a stray cat, male also adopted us, that is after he bite me, one time when I was petting him after having feed him, He was really trying to play ,but got to rough, I got an infection and had to go to the Dr. and take meds,:-(. But kept on feeding him, now he thinks he lives here,:-( outside,:-).But Curly rules the roast, hahaha. Now: about the recipe, I have been using tuna or hambuger helper and adding other meats to it, what ever I have left over, already cooked, I cut up and add to what ever Helper that I have, so far good results,:-).

May you always have Christ in your Life,Family Close, Love to Share, Health to Spare, Food to eat,Family and Friends that Care! "IN GOD WE TRUST"

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10/4/2008 9:22 AM

wifey3
Posts: 11

Hi McKittykey, I see you've been a member for quite some time and I know it's been awhile since you wrote this message however it sounds delicious I'm sure it'll turn out just fine! It's a good idea for a meal thanks for sharing and hope to hear from you soon.

wifey3

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10/4/2008 5:38 PM