Hello, my fellow food enthusiasts! Today, I want to share with you a recipe that’s close to my heart – Working Mother’s ‘Mess’, which I’ve affectionately renamed as Dad’s Quick Delight. This dish has a special place in my life – it’s a recipe that has been passed down in my family, a symbol of the love and care that working mothers put into feeding their loved ones, even on the busiest of days. Made with the simplest of ingredients – ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and a dash of tamari sauce – it’s a testament to the fact that delicious food doesn’t need to be complicated. The dish is hearty and comforting, perfect for those days when you need a quick yet satisfying meal. And to top it all off, it’s paired with garlic bread and a fresh green salad – what more could you ask for? So why do I love this recipe? It’s simple, quick, and above all, it’s a dish that brings a sense of warmth and comfort. And I’m sure you will love it too!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 c. chopped onions
- 2 to 3 cut-up tomatoes
- 1 to 3 garlic buds (adjust for size and taste)
- 16 oz. chunky spaghetti sauce
- 1 to 3 Tbsp. tamari sauce (use smaller amount for low sodium diet)
- 1 (16 oz.) can cooked beans (navy, pinto, kidney or pork and beans)
Cooking Method
- Brown meat over medium heat in a large skillet.
- Remove meat from pan and drain off fat.
- Stir 1 to 3 tablespoons tamari sauce into meat.
- Saute onion, garlic and tomatoes.
- Add spaghetti sauce and heat.
- Add cooked beans and meat mixture.
- Stir gently to mix; then simmer to blend flavors.
- Serve when blended and heated through.
- Serves 4. Serve with garlic bread and green salad.
Calorie: 400
Total cooking time: 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
A Tale of Ground Beef and Some Other Stuff
There we were, me and my trusty skillet, staring down a pound of ground beef. It was a showdown of the ages. I had my spatula in hand, the beef was looking particularly beefy, and the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Or a very sharp spatula.
The Meatening Begins
With a deep breath, I plunged my spatula into the fray, turning the heat to medium. The sizzle was music to my ears, a symphony of culinary delight. Ground beef, onions, tomatoes, and garlic were all waiting in the wings, ready to jump into action. And the star of the show? A 16 oz. jar of chunky spaghetti sauce, so thick you could stand a spoon in it.
Taming the Tamari
Once the beef was browned—and let me tell you, it put up quite a fight—I scooped it out of the pan, draining off the excess fat. It was time for the tamari sauce to step into the spotlight. How much, you ask? Well, that depends on your sodium tolerance and your love for strong flavors. I opted for 2 tablespoons, just enough to give the beef a punchy flavor without overwhelming my taste buds.
The Saute Saga
Next up, the onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Into the pan they went, sizzling up a storm. The smell was nothing short of heavenly, a mix of sweet onions, tangy tomatoes, and garlic that could ward off a vampire at fifty paces.
A Saucy Interlude
With the saute complete, it was time for that chunky spaghetti sauce to shine. I poured it into the pan, stirring it into the sauteed veggies and letting the heat work its magic. The sauce bubbled away happily, as if it knew it was about to become part of something great.
The Bean Bonanza
Beans. You either love them or you hate them. In this case, they were the final ingredient, the one that would bring everything together. I opted for navy beans, but really, any kind will do. Into the pan they went, followed by the tamari-infused beef. I stirred gently, letting the flavors mingle and get to know each other.
The Final Countdown
Once everything was mixed, it was a waiting game. I let the mixture simmer, the flavors blending together in a hearty, delicious mess. I won’t lie, the waiting was the hardest part. The smell was intoxicating, and I may or may not have ‘tested’ the mixture a few times, just to make sure it was perfect.
The Grand Finale
Finally, it was ready. The ground beef, onions, tomatoes, garlic, chunky spaghetti sauce, tamari sauce, and beans had all come together in a beautiful medley of flavor. I served it up with a side of garlic bread and a green salad, and let me tell you, it was a hit.
In the end, preparing Working Mother’s “Mess” (or as I like to call it, Dad’s Quick Delight) was more than a culinary endeavor. It was a journey, a saga, a tale of ground beef and other stuff. And I can’t wait to do it all over again.
