Beef and Biscuit Casserole

This is one that I just tried for the first time today.  And I am currently eating it.  It's quite tasty.  This comes from my "Blue Ribbon Country Cook Book."


Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• I use ground turkey, which is $1.60 per pound
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• About $.60 for one onion
• 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
• $.32
• 1/4 cup of ketchup
• 1 bottle is around $1.50
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 4 ounces of Colby Cheese
• 1 package (10 slices) of cheese was $2.  I used 4 slices.
• 1 tube of refrigerated biscuits
• $.50

Dishes and Utensils:

• A 1.5 quart baking dish
• A cutting board
• A knife
• A large skillet

Total Cost: $3.65

People fed: 2 -4

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Then brown your meat.  The recipe calls for half of a cup of onion.  I used half an onion.  Really it's your decision.  Anyhow, chop up as much onion you want to use.

Once the meat is about half browned, add the onion.  Once it is fully browned, turn off the heat and add the tomato sauce, ketchup, salt, pepper, and basil.  When I made this I used exactly zero measuring cups.  I just covered the top with a sparse layer of ketchup and figured that would be close.  Then I added a spice layer* of salt and basil, followed by a sparse layer of pepper.

*I'm coining a new phrase.  A spice layer is an amount of a spice that sufficiently covers a food, but not so well covered that you can't see the underlying substance.  It should be dense enough that you don't think there are spots devoid of spice, but not so much spice that there are areas where it is difficult to see what's underneath.

After you mix everything together, put one layer of your meat/tomato goodness in your cooking dish.  The put a layer of cheese on top.  And another layer of meat/tomato.  Then another of cheese.  Finish my putting the rest of the meat/tomato mix on top and insert your dish into the oven for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, remove from the oven and turn the oven up to 450.  Cover the top of your dish with some of the biscuits.  I used 8.  The key is to cover your dish without the biscuits touching.  Return your dish to the oven for another 10 minutes.  Remove... and you're done!

It should look something like this.

Just out of the oven

One serving of amazingness.

Mom's Pizza Recipe

This is the pizza recipe I got from my mom.  I think it's considered a "hand tossed" crust, where it's in between thin and thick.  Some of the measurements are a bit more precise in this recipe because of the yeast.  Also: the price of spices varies incredibly depending on where you get them and the quality.  So I do not include a price.


Ingredients:

• 6 cups flour
• 19 cups in a bag... is between $1 and $2, I think
• 2 cups water
• 1 package (1 tablespoon) yeast
• $.80 for three packages
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• Around $1 for 20ish ounces
• 4 tablespoons white sugar
• $3 for a 5 pound bag (again, just a guess)
• 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• $1.50 for a large bottle
• 2 tablespoons of oregano
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (or 4 tablespoons if you don't use oregano)
• Spaghetti sauce
• $1.50 for 24 ounces
• 3 - 4 cups of cheese
• $3.50 for 4 cups
• Cooking spray (if using cookie sheets)
• Any other toppings you want (peppers, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, etc)

Dishes and Utensils needed:

• Large Plastic Bowl
• 2 baking stones or cookie sheets
• Microwave safe container (at least 2 cups)
• Thermometer
• Rolling pin (convenient, not necessary)

Cook time: 30 minutes + time need to let dough rise (a couple hours or so?)

People fed: 6 - 8

Total Cost: approximately $5

Directions:
First to make the dough.  In the large plastic bowl combine 3 cups of flour and the yeast.  In the microwave-safe container, combine the water, salt, sugar, and oil.  Microwave the water-solution until it is between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  It is important that the water is in between these temperatures to properly grow the yeast.  Too high and you'll kill the yeast.  Too low and it won't grow.  Add oregano and Italian seasoning to the flour.


After you have your properly heated water, add it to the flour.  Sir.  Add the rest of the flour half a cup at a time, mixing in between additions of the flour.  Then cover the floor with a lid or something and put it someplace where it will not be disturbed (I like to put it in the microwave or oven, but make sure no one tries to use either of those while the dough is in there).


I usually let the dough sit for about 2 hours.  I don't know what the minimum time is, but let the dough double in size.  Once it has, remove the dough from its safe location and punch it down.  Set oven for 400 degrees.  Split the dough in half and spread onto the baking stones or cookie sheets (whichever you are using).  The rolling pin can be used here.  Place the dough in the oven (making sure to place them appropriately for maximum ventilation).  Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the dough and add the sauce (to taste), cheese (most or all of it), and whatever toppings you like.  Return to oven for 7 to 10 minutes.  Remove from oven, cut, let cool, and eat!


Alternatively, one half of the dough can be shaped into breadsticks instead of a pizza.