Hamster Pie or Lester's Ham Pie

This is a work in progress, an inspiration at this point

Shepherd's Pie with Ham

1 16 oz. Ham Steak
2 C mashed potatoes
8 oz Mushrooms + 1/2 bag peas (optional)
4 oz or 1/4 cup grated cheese (cheddar?)
1 Med onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Pepper (paprika)
6 TBS sour cream
1-2  TBS butter
1 TBS Dijon mustard
1 tsp stone ground mustard
Pepper to taste
(thyme?)

preheat ove to 325

Saute the onions in butter 1-2 min
add mushrooms 1-2 min
add garlic 1 min
add ham 3-5 min
In a bowl whisk sour cream and mustard together (worcestershire?)
add sour cream sauce to veg and heat 5 minutes until bubbly
pour into baking dish
cover with mashed potatoes
sprinkle grated cheese over mash
bake 30 min at 325 until cheese is melted
serve with side of vegetables.

Beefaroni or Beef a roni

I gave the boys (young men) three dinner options tonight, based on what I bought. They have to cook it. I thought I had published the beefaroni recipe, but maybe it is hiding in the draft folder which I cannot find. Meatloaf and Cajun Jambalaya are published. I like giving them level challenges., just like video games.

Tonights Dinner Options are:

1) Meatloaf (moderate)  2) Beefaroni (easy)  3) Cajun Dirty Jambalaya with chicken (expert:  ambitious level)

There is a 2+ LB package of Beef, a 1 LB package of Veal and a 1 LB package of pork  divide the beef in half.  

Meatloaf gets 1 LB of each, Beefaroni gets 1 LB of Beef.

You must also have a vegetable and a starch.  There is broccoli in the fridge that needs to be cooked (steamed) or frozen beans / peas.

The Russet Potatoes are for baking.  Scrub them and put them in the oven on the rack, no dish needed, while the meatloaf cooks.  Check doneness by forking them after 40 minutes.

Or you can up the level up the meatloaf by adding home-made mashed potatoes using the red potatoes.

Beefaroni (easy level)

1 LB Ground Beef (½ the package)

1 + Cup grated Cheese (Mozzeralla or cheddar) - cheeses are labeled - please grate fresh cheese we need to use these up.

1 LB / 16 OZ Pasta Shells/ Elbows

1 Jar 24 Oz Pasta Sauce + 1 splash red wine to rinse jar.

1 diced medium onion

2 sliced garlic cloves

1 TBS italian seasoning (optional)

½ tsp pepper

½ tsp salt

2-3 TBS olive oil

Preheat oven to 325

Boil 1 box 16 oz = 1 LB pasta to al dente - it will cook more in the oven so cook shortest time.

Brown 1 LB beef in a skillet over medium/low heat with onion, garlic cloves, pepper + salt 1 italian seasoning (optional)

Once browned, add 1 jar of  pasta sauce to skillet.

Drain the pasta coat lightly with olive oil and pour into a 9x13 pyrex baking dish (the blue dish is 9x13)

Pour the meat sauce combo over the pasta and mix in.

Top with a layer of grated cheese.

Cover the casserole with tin foil.  Bake for 45 minutes.  Remove foil after 30 minutes.