Economy Beef Stroganoff

Beef stroganoff is great comfort food. It is great on a cool day or any day actually.
You don't need to buy expensive beef tenderloin for this meal. Use stew meat or even a roast instead.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds beef roast or stew meat sliced into 1-1/2"x1/2 inch pieces

2 Tablespoons butter

1-1/2 cups beef broth

2 Tablespoons ketchup

1 teaspoon salt

1 small clove garlic, chopped or 1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

1 medium onion, chopped(1/2 cup)

3 Tablespoons flour

1 cup sour cream


16 oz noodles or 1 batch homemade noodles, cooked and drained

Melt the butter in a dutch oven over low heat.
Add the meat and cook and stir until browned.
Set aside 1/3 cup beef broth.
Pour the rest into the pan with the meat.
Add the ketchup, salt, and garlic.
Cover and simmer for an hour.
Stir in mushrooms and onion. Cook for 5 minutes until onion is tender.
Add the flour to the reserved broth and stir til smooth.
Stir into beef mixture and heat to boiling. Stir the whole time.
Boil and stir for 1 minute.
Stir in the sour cream.
Heat through.
Stir in the cooked noodles.

Serves 6-8.

If you want to use a tender cut of meat to save time, use beef tenderloin and simmer it with the broth, ketchup, garlic, and salt for only 10 minutes before finishing the dish.

Making Your Own Broth

Many recipes I have come across for broth mention putting all kinds of vegetables in with the meat and water to make broth.

But, you don't have to do that.

Making your own broth is very simple and can be frozen to use any time you need it.

I love making broth when I have a leftover turkey or chicken carcass.

There is always meat you can not get off the bone.

Once you get all the meat you can off the bones, stick the bones in a large pot.

Usually a 4-5 quart dutch oven is big enough.

Now season it heavily with salt and pepper.

Also any other seasons you may like.

I like to add garlic powder and parsley when I am making chicken or turkey broth.

Season enough that the smell is pretty fragrant.

Now, cover with water and bring to a boil.

Turn the heat down to medium-low and cover.

Let it cook for 2-3 hours.

Strain out the bones, skin, and any meat.

Cool and use or refrigerate/freeze for later use.

For pork or beef, I love making broth when I am going to be cooking the meat for another meal.

Just season with salt and pepper and follow the same method as outlined above.