- In a heavy skillet, break apart 1 lb. of ground beef. Season with any desired seasonings. Brown the beef over medium heat until it's cooked through. Transfer the beef into shallow containers. Cover them loosely and place in the refrigerator to cool completely. Once the beef is cool, cover tightly and use it within three to five days, or freeze the beef for up to three months. When needed for recipes, thaw the frozen ground beef in the refrigerator. Heat through with additional seasoning for tacos, burritos or other dishes that call for ground beef. If you're using the beef in a sauce, chili or stew, simply add the desired amount of ground beef to the dish and cook until it's heated though.
- A steak dinner for four can be prepared in about 20 minutes. Wash four baking potatoes, then use a sharp knife to make a single 1/4-inch slice in each potato. Place the potatoes in the microwave and cook on high for 10 minutes. Rotate the potatoes and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. Place fours steaks (any type that are less than 1 inch thick) on the broiler pan that came with your oven. Season with pepper, garlic or other seasonings. Cook under the broiler of your oven for approximately five minutes per side for rare, six to seven minutes for medium and up to ten minutes per side for well done. Serve the steaks with the baked potatoes and a pre-packaged salad mix of your choice.
- Bake pre-packaged French fries according to package instructions. Mix 1 lb. of browned ground beef with 1 can of sloppy Joe mix. Heat until hot. Serve the sloppy Joes on buns with the French fries and a pre-packaged salad mix.
- Heat 2 tbsp. of cooking oil in the bottom of a large wok. Place stew beef in the wok and brown on all sides. Add 1 cup of water to the wok, cover and let it cook on medium heat for 20 minutes, or until the stew beef is fork tender. Uncover and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, or until the water has evaporated. Add in a 1 lb. package of frozen, mixed vegetables and 1 can of sliced shiitake mushrooms. In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp. of hoisin sauce with 1/4 cup of water. Pour over the vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Serve over instant rice.
