Country Style Hamburger Stew in a Jar and a Cooking Class Tomorrow!

Monday I was doing the segment on NBC 12 Valley Dish Phoenix,  and totally missed my day for my convenient food storage recipe that I usually post! I thought I would make up for it today and share this cool one.  This is a great meal made completely out of food storage. It's amazing for camping or dinner any night of the week. It's perfect for giving to a sick neighbor or to someone you actually...like. I think my family likes it because the folks I cook for include my kids, husband,  Granny and Mr. Putt-Putt who are, let's face it, down-home-raised-on-the-farm kind of people. They don't like a lot of green herbs and junk in their food (ironic isn't it?). Now and then I get "froofie" chef on them and roast some garlic or chop some tarragon, but for the most part it's "regular people" food.  Sometimes we actually use...meat. Dramatic swoon.   As for this meal, the crazy cool part is that it fits in a convenient size quart jar for easy food storage space and planning! 

 Well, when I walked into my favorite  Preparing Wisely store this week, there on the shelf was yet another cool new thing that I wanted to try.

Freeze dried vegetable Mix.

I make a mix that includes equal parts: 
It has freeze-dried corn, freeze-dried peas, dehydrated red peppers, and dehydrated chopped carrots. It's great for adding a lot of flavor in one grab.  I thought to myself, "self...I bet I can make a recipe with *that* in it!" Yes...I'm a food storage dork-fest-in-action. You know you like it. (Secretly.)

 Freeze Dried Ground Beef is probably one of the most interesting things I've ever used as a chef. It has quite literally changed my convenience food world when it comes to having to make dinner. No longer having to cook meat?! Yah. It's shelf stable and totally crazy cool stuff. I love technology...always and forever. (Quick...name that movie.)

So...Here's the next convenience dinner in a jar meal...

I promise they won't all be soup or stew.

Chef Tess Country Style Hamburger Stew

yield 12 one cup servings

in a quart jar:

1 cup THRIVE instant red beans (they cook in 20 minutes)

1 cup  freeze dried mixed vegetables

1 cup  freeze dried hamburger 

1 Cup  dehydrated diced potatoes

¼ cup dehydrated onions

Seasonings I shake down into the jar: ½ cup tomato powder,

1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp garlic, ¼ cup flour, and 1 T beef bullion.

It will fit if you shake it really well.

To prepare Country Style Hamburger Stew:

In a gallon pot, combine stew mix with 6 cups water and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes.

Works great in a solar oven. Bake one hour.

You MUST Put an oxygen absorber in the top of the jar in order for this to be shelf stable with the beef.  Otherwise, use beef TVP.  Seal. Good on your shelf in a cool dark place up to 10 years.  Now, I actually tape the directions onto the jar...(not pictured) or write the cooking directions on the top of the lid in permanent black ink.


Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess