Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy

When I was growing up I used to cook lunch for my Dad.

I can hear him now calling me, "Bessie Annie come make me a hamburger steak, will you punkin?"

Boy, I remember making these so called Hamburger Steaks often.  Sometimes with onions and beef gravy.  Sometimes plain.  He loved them.  We all did.

Mom would make them ever so often because the use of ground beef was an inexpensive way to feed a family.  Plus...they taste darn good!

I never understand why they called them steaks though.  Technically they were a hamburger pattie, not steak.  But we always formed them a little thicker than your normal pattie, and they were made an oval shape.  I'm sure this was to make it appear more like a steak.  

Regardless of my fascination with the name, I love the flavor all the same.

So craving a Hamburger Steak I decided to make my own with a mushroom gravy.  I'm fond of mushrooms.

MGG is fond of mushrooms.  

Perfect combo.

Break out the ground sirloin for top flavor.  You can't get much easier than this.  Just make the "steaks" and gravy, add some sides and you are set for dinner.  A great hearty meal that's inexpensive, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. 

An ode to my Dad!

Enjoy!

Hamburger Steaks with Mushroom Gravy

serves 4

1 lb of ground sirloin
salt and pepper
8 oz of sliced mushrooms
1 cup beef broth
1 Tablespoon flour

Divide beef into 4 sections.  Form 4 oval patties about 1 inch thick.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add patties and until done.  About 8-9 minutes turning once.

Add mushrooms to the skillet and cook until tender.  Add 1/2 cup of broth to the mushrooms.  Allow to boil.  Add flour to the remaining 1/2 cup beef broth.  Stir to combine.  Add remaining broth to skillet and stir to combine.  Allowing to boil. Cook 1 minute.  Broth will thicken.

Serve hamburger steaks with mushrooms and gravy poured over top.

Holiday Parties: Pear Ginger Cake

We are having our holiday party at work tomorrow and everyone was supposed to bring some side dishes or desserts.  Potluck style, while they furnished the main course.

So I decided to do some baking and make a dessert to take.

This Pear Cake is just perfect to share.  It makes a large one layer cake that I cooked in my cast iron skillet.  Yes, in my cast iron skillet.  A 10" skillet.

This couldn't be easier.  First you saute chopped pears in the skillet with lots of butter and brown sugar until they are caramelized.  The butter helps with greasing the skillet so that the pears don't stick when baked.  You wouldn't want that!  Trust me, I was holding my breath on mine, but it came out perfect.

Next you just pour the cake batter over the fruit that is spread all over the bottom and bake.  It's that simple. Plus I'll let you in on a secret.  You can either make the cake batter using the recipe below, or...you can make a simple quick bread, or even a pound cake and use that.  I've made this before with that uhhhem...boxed pound cake mix (oops!) and some apples and it turned out fabulous.  In this version I took the recipe below and added some candied ginger to the mix.  Ginger and pears are excellent together. 

Trust me when I say this is as easy as cake!  You make it all in a skillet and it will feed a crowd.  Great for taking to holiday parties, potlucks, or serving your family at a holiday dinner.  It's good anytime.

Enjoy!

Pear Ginger Cake

Sauteed Pears:
2 cups of pears peeled and chopped (about 3 pears)
2 Tbs. (1/4 stick) unsalted butter 
2 Tbs. firmly packed light brown sugar 
Juice of 1/2 lemon   
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon  

Vanilla Cake:
1 1/4 cups flour  
1/2 tsp baking powder  
1/4 tsp baking soda  
1/4 tsp salt  
1 egg  
1 cup granulated sugar  
1/2 cup canola oil  
1 tsp. vanilla extract  
1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large 10" cast iron skillet, add butter and melt over medium heat.  Add pears, brown sugar, lemon and cinnamon to the skillet.  Cook, stirring constantly 3-5 minutes or until pears are softened.  Remove from heat and set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the egg and granulated sugar until fluffy and lightened in color, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, slowly add the oil and vanilla and beat until blended. Beat in the sour cream just until no white streaks remain, then beat in the flour mixture until incorporated. Carefully pour the batter over the fruit in the skillet, spreading it evenly with a rubber spatula.

Bake at 350 for 30 min in a 10 inch cast iron skillet.  Allow to cool in skillet for 10-15 min.  Run a knife along the edges of the skillet.  Invert onto a platter.  

Variation:  Fold in 1/3 c of finely chopped candied ginger in the batter.

Holiday Gifts: My Kitchen Must Haves

'Tis the Season of giving.


It's always fun to give but sometimes we get stumped for new ideas.

I thought I'd share with you a list of my favorite 'must haves' for the kitchen.
They would make perfect gifts for newlyweds, beginning cooks, wanna be chefs, and even as house warming presents.

Knives - The workhorse in my kitchen

Can't live without my knives, and I own quite a few different types.  Here are a couple of my favorites.






Wusthof Classic 8" Chef's Knife
 

Wusthof Classic 7" Hollow Ground Santoku Knife


Wusthof Classic Panini Knife


A good knife needs a great cutting board.  This one is "green" and is the perfect board!



Bamboo Cutting Board


Everyone needs pretty measuring cups.  These are pretty enough to keep on the counter!





White Ceramic Measuring Cups - Pear


Who can live without a coffee maker?  Not my love...MGG.  
This is his new favorite, and mine too!  It makes so much more than coffee.





Keurig K65 Special Edition Gourmet Single Cup Home Brewing System


Skillets - a must have for everyday cooking, you can't beat the heat distribution and retention of cast iron.




Lodge 10" cast iron skillet

Wooden Spoons - I wouldn't know what to do without my wooden spoons.  I use them daily!




Wooden Spoons

Now this is just my short list!  I probably have another dozen items I used consistently but this is a great starter set.  I hope that you find the perfect gift for that special person!