Quick Down and Dirty

A couple nights ago we were having 2 very special visitors. I wanted to make a nice meal and that all of us would enjoy. SSP enjoyed the broccoli and the mashed potatoes. BAP loved his cheerios (duh!) and lots of broccoli; he even tried the main course (and enjoyed it, weird?!). I like using lots of fresh ingredients, rather than the premixed or soup bases. I found the PERFECT recipe.

Smothered Cowboy Salisbury Steak

adapted from: http://www.onelovelylife.com/?p=2467

Steak

1 pound ground beef

1/2 packet dry onion soup mix (2 1/4 T) - I am going to try the homemade stuff one of these days

1/4 t salt

1/2 t pepper

1/2 t garlic powder

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup bread crumbs (I used panko)

1 egg

1 T Worcestershire sauce

Topping

2-3 T olive oil

2 T butter

1/2 pound mushrooms (quartered/halved) - I think I used closer to 1 pound

1 onion sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 T flour (or 1 T cornstarch mixed with a little cold water; if this is done add with broth)

1 1/2 cup beef broth

In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, soup, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add milk, bread crumbs, egg and Worcestershire sauce and mix with your hands until combined (NOT over-mix). (This mixture seems VERY gooey; don't fret) Divide into 6 equal portions and shape into patties.

In a large saute pan, heat 2 T olive oil and 1 T butter over med-high. Brown patties on both sides and place in a 9x13 grease pan. Set aside. Reduce heat to medium. Add mushrooms to pan and cook 4-5 minutes or until brown and tender. Sprinkle mushrooms evenly over steaks. Return pan to medium heat. Add onions (and more olive oil if necessary); cook until golden. Sprinkle over steak and mushrooms.

Add remaining butter, olive oil and flour to pan. Stir over medium heat 1-2 minutes. Pour in beef broth and 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and stir to dissolve flour mixture. Cook 3-4 minutes over medium until desired thickness is achieved. Pour gravy over meat, mushrooms, and onions.

Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

TO MAKE AHEAD: refrigerate all ingredients in pan (minus gravy). Add gravy before putting in oven. Bake a little longer.

SERVES: 6