Hamburger Scramble

We make variations on this quick ground beef recipe, adding whatever vegetables and seasonings that we have on hand. It’s not pretty, but it’s perfect for nights when you’re tired, and the cupboards are almost bare.

Keith took this hamburger scramble photo, long ago, with broiled mushrooms on the side. I added sliced potatoes to the recipe that day, but I’m not sure if they were fresh or canned.

As you can see, it’s not the type of “pretty” supper that people post on Instagram!

Hamburger Scramble

Here’s the quick and easy hamburger scramble recipe.  Below the recipe, I’ve added notes on some of the variations that we make.

Serves– 4; Total time – 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups water

Directions

1. Heat oil in frying pan, over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion, celery and carrots, and cook until browned lightly, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add ground beef and seasonings, and cook until brown, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Break up the meat into small pieces as you stir.
5. Stir in the flour, then mix in the water.
6. Reduce head to medium, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until gravy thickens.
7. Serve over mashed or boiled potatoes.

Recipe Notes

This recipe is a good starting point, and you can add more seasonings and vegetables, to suit your own tastes. You can throw in almost anything, and it will probably turn out alright!

• To save time I usually start with 1 cup of frozen chopped onions, celery and carrots, instead of cutting up fresh vegetables.
• If the mixture looks too pale, I add a couple of drops of browning liquid. That makes it look “richer” and more appetizing
• For heat, add hot sauce, or cayenne, to suit your “heat tolerance” level
• Add frozen or fresh chopped vegetables, along with the onion, celery and carrot. Keep the pieces small, to reduce the cooking time needed
• Instead of serving over mashed potatoes, add a can of sliced potatoes, after you add the flour and water

Book Review: Do You Like Slop

When our kids were little, we called this recipe, “Slop”, and there were times when I made it once a week! This supper is quick and easy, and it fills hungry tummies with meat and vegetables.

Did we all love it? No, not really. But the recipe was budget-friendly, and made with healthy ingredients – and love!

A few years ago, my son and granddaughter found a “Do You Like Slop? book. After they read the book, they did a book review on YouTube, which you can watch below. It still cracks me up!

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