Simple Dinner

The past week was rough week. We worked all week to get ready for a yard sale. There is a mountainous pile of junk still sitting in the back corner of my living room... Because the yard sale didn't happen. Friday while doing laundry I pulled a muscle in my back...one that went from my lower back all the way up to my left shoulder sneaking its way into my neck. I was miserable Friday and all day Saturday... Sunday I was a bit better but still there was a tug in my neck and my lower back is still sore. So today since we are still recovering we are going to stay close to home and try to get our house in order. This pregnancy hasn't been especially kind to me. Last night I crashed about 9:30 only to be woke up a little after midnight sick. I had heartburn... Ever see the commercial where the guy sits up in bed and blows fire..yeah I totally did that my living room was crispy. My stomach rolled and boiled forever so I was awake till about 4 am. I tried my previously never fail trick. I keep the old fashioned glass bottles of coke in my fridge..for moments just like this something about it usually without fail settles my stomach..but not last night.. Chick was partying hard in there. So it was infomercial city till I almost found myself reaching for the phone and ordering something... I did manage to stop myself before I owned something super expensive and worthless.. I am feeling my late night session right now though and my stomach and I still aren't on the best of terms. So for today I feel the need for a homey comfort meal. My husband's is a meat and potatoes man. He isn't much for fancy. When we first got together he didn't eat vegetables...any kind of vegetables period. I have since changed that. His palate is still a work in progress. Most of the time simple is the best with him...and luckily today simple sounds perfect for me. So our  menu today is Tater Tot Casserole, green peas, apple sauce and rolls. I made the applesauce homemade and it is just simply apple slices cooked with a little bit of water till super tender then sugar and cinnamon to taste. We like ours chunky so I give it a few mashes with the potato masher and its done. The rolls are some frozen Parker House rolls that I just put in muffin tins and let rise for about 4 hours. I did whip up some homemade honey butter to go with them. Now for my Tater Tot Casserole. I know there are lots of recipes for this out there..and lots of different ways to prepare it but this is mine and how we like it best. I generally use all reduced fat...as far as cheese and soup in the recipe below. Also even the milk I use is skim.

Tater Tot Casserole

Tater tots (enough to cover the bottom of a 13 by 9)
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 tsp. dried minced onions. (soak in a few Tbsp of hot water for about 5 mins)
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 can of mushroom pieces (drained)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of  cream of chicken soup
1 can of milk
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
2 tsp. Kitchen bouquet
2 cups of shredded cheese (I use cheddar or a combo of what I have on hand)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 13 by 9 pan with cooking spray. Line your tots up in the bottom of the pan neatly. Cover the entire bottom of the pan. Bake that in the oven for 25 mins. While you are baking the tots brown the ground beef in a large skillet or pot. I like to brown it well and get a fine crumble on it. I use an extra lean ground that most of the time doesn't need drained but I do take a couple of paper towels to the meat after it is brown pressing to get any grease that might be hiding in there. Add the remaining ingredients except for the cheese. I heat the combined mixture on low stirring to get it all combined well. When the 25 mins are up on the tots pull them out of the oven carefully pour the beef mixture on top of the tots and spread out evenly. Bake for another 20 minutes. Then top with cheese and bake for another 5 or so till all melted on top. Take out and serve for a really hearty yummy dinner.

*In the picture above my husband helped me make it. After he put the normal layer of tater tots in the bottom he went back and put a ring almost like a crust of tater tots around the side. He then put it in the oven for 30 minutes and when I pulled it out I was surprised to see it like that. He said he did it for me because the potatoes are my favorite and he baked it longer because I like it crispier. Also there is probably extra cheese on top because he also helped put the cheese on it.


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