Meat-Tomato Freezer Mix

Once upon a time, a long time ago, hamburger was the cheapest meat you could buy in the store. Whole cookbooks were devoted to creative things you could do with hamburger. Here is a freezer mix made with hamburger. But you could use chicken and do the same thing. Then freeze the mixture and use it to make a dinner. The Spanish Rice, the Enchiladas, the Goulash, the Lentil Stew, the Tacos--I think that all of these would be good with chicken if you prefer it over the hamburger.

BEEF-TOMATO FREEZER MIX
4 pounds ground beef

2 1/2 large onions, chopped (about 2 1/2 cups

1 cup chopped green pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

1 can (12 ounces) tomato paste

2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon pepper

Cook and stir meet in Dutch oven (i.e., big pot) until brown. Ddrain off fat. Stir in remaining ingredients; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Divide mixture among four 1-quart freezer containers (about 3 cups in each). Cool quickly cover and label; freeze no longer than 3 months. Us freezer mix in the recipes that follow.

(Note: If you prefer, the mixture can be stored in the refrigerator up to 3 days. In that case, decrease the cooking times in the following recipes)

RECIPES FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THE BEEF-TOMATO FREEZER MIX

FREEZER MIX GOULASH

1 Container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup catsup

1 cup sliced celery

1 can (4 oz.) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3 ounces noodles (about 1 1/2 cups) (could use rice instead)

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. Place frozen mix and remaining ingredients except noodles in 2-quart saucepan; heat to boiling;. Reduce heat; cover adn simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is thawed and celery is tender, about 40 minutes.

While meat mixture is simmering, cook noodles or rice as directed on package; drain. Stir noodles into meat mixture and simmer until hot.

FREEZER MIX SPANISH RICE

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

5 slices bacon, crisply fried and crumbled

1 cup uncooked regular rice

2 1/2 cups water

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In large skillet, heat frozen mix and remaining ingredients to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mix is thawed and rice is tender, about 30 minutes. (A small amount of water can be added if necessary.)

FREEZER MIX MEXICAN CASSEROLE

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons chili powder

1/3 cup water

1 can (16 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained (1/2 cup)

1/2 cup biscuit baking mix

1/4 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In 2-quart saucepan, heat frozen mix, chili powder and water to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is partial thawed, about 15 minutes. Stir in corn and olives; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. While meat mixture is simmering, mix remaining ingredients. Pour hot meat mixture into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls about 1/2 inch apart onto meat mixture. (The batter will bake together to form crust.) Bake uncovered 20 minutes.

FREEZER MIX ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

1/4 cup water

1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained (1/2 cup)

1 1/2 to teaspoons chili powder

6 corn tortillas

1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In 2-quart saucepan, heat frozen mix, water, olives and chili powder to boiling. Reduce hat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is thawed, about 20 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Layer half each of the tortillas, meat mixture and cheese  in ungreased baking dish, 11 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches; repeat. Bake uncovered until bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes.

FREEZER MIX LASAGNA

Prepare lasagna except substitute the following mixture for the Meat Sauce:

1 container frozen beef-tomato freezer mix

1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves

1 tablespoon snipped parsley

1/4 cup water

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In 2-quart saucepan, heat frozen mix, oregano leaves, parsley and water to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Uncover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mix is thawed.

FREEZER MIX PIZZA

Use 1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

Dash red pepper sauce

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In 2-quart saucepan, heat frozen mix and remaining ingredients to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is thawed, about 20 minutes.

Makes enough topping for 2 pizzas.

FREEZER MIX ONE-DISH SPAGHETTI

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

3 cups water

1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1 package (7 ounces) thin spaghetti, broken into pieces.

1 teaspoon oregano leaves

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In Dutch oven (big pot), heat frozen mix and remaining ingredients except cheese to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is thawed and spaghetti is tender, about 30 minutes. ( A small amount of water can be added if necessary.) Sprinkle with cheese; cover and heat until cheese is melted.

FREEZER MIX LENTIL STEW

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato freezer Mix

3 cups water

1 cup uncooked lentils

1 sprig parsley

1 bay leaf

1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (optional)

1 large carrot, sliced

1 large stalk celery, sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In Dutch oven, heat frozen mix, water, lentils, parsley and bay leaf to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is thawed, about 20 minutes.

Stir in remaining ingredients; heat to boiling.

Reduce hat; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove bay leaf.

FREEZER MIX TACOS

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne red pepper (optional)

Dash red pepper sauce

1/4 cup water

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In 2-quart saucepan, heat frozen mix and remaining ingredients to boiling. Reduce hat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is partially thawed, about 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is partially thawed, about 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

FREEZER MIX SLOPPY JOES

1 container frozen Beef-Tomato Freezer Mix

1/r cup water

1 cup sliced celery

1 tablespoon catsup

1 teaspoon brown sugar (optional)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

6 to 8 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Dip container of frozen mix into hot water just to loosen. In 2-quart saucepan, heat frozen mix, water, celery, catsup, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until mix is partially thawed, about 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until of desired consistency, about 10 minutes. Spoon onto bottom halves of buns; top with remaining halves.