A Window to my World: Cooking with Carrie Beef Stroganoff

November 12, 2008

Cooking with Carrie Beef Stroganoff

Here's the beef. In times of economic stress, we should always fall back to those good old hamburger recipes. I normally eat red meat once or twice a week for dinner. My husband and I are now blessed with an abundance of natural wild and home grown meats.

My husband and a friend (in blue overalls) went hunting up near Fraser Lake BC. The group they hunted with split the meat up...Who ever needs a whole moose is eating way to much red meat. Half a moose being butchered at our place....In the end we ended up with a 1/4...My small freezer is now packed to the brim...Another year of abundance...I thank the moose for giving up his life so my husband and I can eat a healthy red meat....The men did the cutting and the women did the wrapping...

But I will never forget the lean years when I could not afford to buy meat which more less lead me into preparing more vegetarian meals in which I grew most of my vegetables. It lead to a healthier diet.
There were times in my life and growing up that I learned how a pound of hamburger could be turned into an economical meal feeding 6. Today recipes for hamburger are unlimited. I personally never tire of a good hamburger recipe..
So for anyone that is not so blessed with wild meat, try and buy organic or buy something that was grown locally and butchered locally. Never buy those great big bags of mass produced hamburger. That is where the worst of all health problems arise with contamination. I also would not buy radiated beef. That is why the meat at Costco and many grocery stores looks so pretty and pink...its been radiated..Most meats that maintains that fresh pink colour has been radiated. Non-radiated meat will start to colour darker...You remember the old days when meat use to have a grey brown tinge on the surface after a few days in the fridge. Better safe then sorry...Stay natural, nothing added and nothing enhanced.....What is added to the growth of beef and medication just prior to butchering just turns my stomach as well. If you can get your beef right from the rancher before it goes to a feed lot, you are doing yourself and your family a huge health benefit.
So I try and live my life with balance even in my meals...So here is a very quick and easy economical recipe that has the beef or wild meat...

Beef Stroganoff

Conserve energy if you have a wood stove burning this can be cooked on the stove top.

Cook in skillet till brown

1 1/2 lbs hamburger
2 Tbs. butter or olive oil

You also can make this recipe with round steak or sirloin cut into strips..But remember to simmer for over an 1 1/2 hours instead of 1/2 hour...

Add

1 cup beef bouillon
2 Tbs. catsup
1 clove garlic finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
Heat to boiling then reduce heat and simmer 1/2 hour
I always use fresh garlic to gain all it medicinal properties.

Stir In

8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1 medium onion chopped
Cover and Simmer till onions are tender
I always use fresh mushrooms. Its a brown button looking that is organic.
But you can use canned as well..

Shake in Jar

1/2 cup beef bouillon
3 Tbs. flour
Stir into beef and heat
to boiling and boil 1 minute or until thickened.
I just add the flour to the meat mix and stir good then add the water.
I take every shortcut possible to get less dishes dirty.
I always use whole wheat flour.
There is no white flour in my house for 8 years now.