Yesterday evening, I got the meat for our next few days’ meals from the freezer and put it in the fridge to defrost. Addie wanted to know what I was going to make with each package. I told her I was making meatloaf today using the ground beef. She grimaced a bit and I asked if she didn’t like meatloaf. She said “not too much”. I asked if she liked hamburger steak with gravy? She said “GRAVY! I love gravy!” I told her Then we’ll have hamburger steak with gravy and we will not have meatloaf . . whatever it takes to make Addie happy!” I asked if she wanted rice or mashed potatoes and she wants mashed potatoes and she said “And corn! Corn always goes with mashed potatoes and gravy!”
I make the patties fairly small because (1) no matter how big or how small I make them, Vince will eat two; (2) I like storing leftovers in wide mouth quart jars so the patties need to fit through the opening on the jar.
I made the gravy, then put the patties in the gravy to simmer for a while. I fixed mashed potatoes, corn and rolls.
Addie can be a picky eater and dinner can be a struggle. I’m not going to argue with her about how much or how little she eats when she’s here for a weekend but, if she doesn’t eat a decent amount, I keep it and re-heat it when she comes in an hour later starving and wanting a snack. The one thing that makes me crazy is that if she fills her plate, even with me saying “don’t put more on your plate than you’re going to eat!” but she always does. I’ve told her .. put a little, eat it and get more if you want it.
Today I fixed her plate. I gave her a good scoop of mashed potatoes, a hamburger patty, gravy and corn. She ate it all and wanted more. She ate more potatoes and another whole meat patty. She said “I LOVE hamburger steak and gravy.” Vince asked her if they fix it at home and Addie said “I can’t remember the last time I had hamburger steak and gravy!”
Addie looked at the jars and said “Oh, good . . we have enough for tomorrow.”
The kitchen is clean . . Addie is downstairs with Boots; Vince is downstairs watching football. I think I can stitch for a while without interruption.
Rosalie says
I make the same thing but put chopped onions in with the meat. Real comfort food.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I used freeze dried onions in the meat. In the pan drippings, I sliced three fairly small onions, sauteed them, then sprinkled the flour on top, browned it a bit, added broth, then used the immersion blender to hid all evidence of onions. If Addie saw an onion, that would have been the end of her liking my hamburger steak.
Donna in KS says
Hamburger steak…husband’s 2nd favorite meal! First? meatloaf! I think I’m having hamburger steak tomorrow.
Sherry Bobak says
Judy, do you use regular hamburger meat for your hamburger steak? Do you use any fillers like bread crumbs or egg to hold it together? My mom used to add stuff when she made hamburgers and gravy but I can’t seem to find a recipe that I really like.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’ll write it in a blog post.
Paula Nordt says
My son-in-law does that! Fills his plate to over flowing, then eats a fraction of it. To him, it is exhibiting self control to not eat it all. To me, it is wasteful, when it could have been saved for leftovers for lunch the next day. Not going to save food that has been touched by a fork with mouth bacteria.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Exactly. I have somewhat of the same problem with Vince. He will continue to eat as long as he sees food. I think it’s something about not wanting to waste it. I now will take whatever I think should be leftovers for another meal, put them in the container and stick them out of sight til they cool down to go into the fridge. If he thinks there’s no more food, he’s fine to stop eating but if I left it all in the pot or bowl, he’d continue eating.
It’s one thing for a child to fill their plate and not eat it but another for an adult. Does he do that at home? He has to know that’s wasteful, especially with the cost of food these days. I think I’d be tempted to put a cover on it, stick it in the fridge and microwave it for his next meal. 🙁