I remember my mom making this fairly often when I was younger. It wasn't ever the meal I picked when it was my birthday and I got to choose dinner. BUT, every time she made this I always always wanted more. And it really is the easiest dinner (excluding the really quick stuff like maybe mac and cheese, grilled cheese, smoothies, toast and eggs, etc.. I'm talking about DINNER dinner here.).
For example, I got home a little after 6 today because traffic was awful (THANK YOU, NEVER-ENDING CONSTRUCTION) and I stopped to get gas. This was ready to go by 6:40 - including defrosting the meat - when I went to get David.
[Note: I DID use a rice cooker so that helped cut down time, but I also changed clothes, got on twitter, emptied out some containers from the fridge, unloaded the dishwasher, partially loaded the dishwasher, put makeup on and ate a mini ice cream cone, so I think it all evens out somewhere in there....]
I know you might think it looks like a weird pot of mush, but I PROMISE it is delicious when you put it on rice/mashed potatoes and pair it with green vegetables (namely, broccoli or green beans). Green beans are my favorite, and I actually like to mix them in with the rice/gravy as I eat it. It's just so good.
[Second Note: My mom makes this with mashed potatoes and rice. I've done both and I usually keep the recipe the same(ish); she likes to replace the milk with water if she is having it with rice. I just like creamier stuff I guess...]
Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger (If it's more than 1 lb, just add extra milk/onion/and a little more butter/flour)
half of one onion (Sometimes I just forget about this, so if you don't like them leave them out!)
salt and pepper (to taste)
rice/mashed potatoes (*this is also a good recipe to use leftovers)
2 - 4 Tablespoons butter/margarine
1/4 - 1/3 cup flour
3 cups(?) milk (or chicken broth) - really, there is no set amount on this. You just add until you think you have enough (or if you want it thinner. With more meat, I always add more milk so it is less like stew.)
beef bouillon cubes - I usually put in 1 or 2 depending on how much meat it is. Do one at a time and taste it and then if you think you need the second, put it in! (I have also put in chicken bouillon cubes and there really isn't a noticeable difference.)
Directions:
Brown the hamburger and the onion together over medium heat - add some salt and pepper.
When it is done, add the butter/margarine until melted.
Then add the flour until it makes a mixture that starts sticking together. Then add a little more flour. Mix it in. Then add some milk and stir it until it thickens. This is where you add more milk if you want it thinner. I usually do.
Then add the bouillon cube(s) to taste (and salt and pepper to taste).
Then you are done!
Put on rice or mashed potatoes.
And go with the green beans.
