Lanny's Yummy Brown Gravy

I do my recipes in narrative form, so I hope that doesn't bother anyone. But I like making this easy gravy which is very versatile and can be used alone or with rice, potatoes or with other veggies.

Take an onion, a clove of garlic (garlic optional) and if you have sprouted onions they work well with the greens chopped up for this, or add some green onions. You can add some green peppers if you like. Take a frying pan with some olive oil (or I prefer butter) and brown the onions, garlic and green pepper. Then add about a pound of thawed hamburger. The hamburger doesn't have to be thawed, but it's easier that way. (Otherwise, especially if it's lean, it takes some patience heating it, turning it, scraping thawed burger off until it's all browned equally without burning it.)

Then add a can of mushrooms with the water in the can, and a bit more to make about a cup of water. Add a packet of brown gravy mix and stir it over medium or high heat until it becomes thick. Salt and pepper to taste.

I like this over rice or potatoes, but it's good by itself as well. My cat (Wizard) is jealous and trying to help me type so if there are any mistakes, it's HIS fault.

Shepherd's Pie

I'll post this since we made it for dinner a few weeks ago at Mom & Dad's. Such a good comfort food!

Pre-heat: 350º

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, chopped
1 lb ground beef
2 packets brown gravy
12 oz. mixed vegetables (corn, peas and green beans are good)
2 lbs potatoes

Half fill a large pot with water and set to boil.

On a low to medium heat setting, cook the onions until the onion pieces are soft and translucent. Then brown the ground beef in the same pan at the same heat setting.

While the onions &/or meat are cooking, cut the potatoes into smaller pieces (small enough that they will cook quickly but shouldn't spend a lot of time on this) and dump them in the water.

Make the brown gravy - boil a cup of water and stir in the gravy until it thickens. The ground beef should be done. Pour in the gravy, and add the vegetables. Stir until it's all mixed and the veggies are warm.

Distribute the mixture evenly at the bottom of a casserole dish. Make the mashed potatoes -- drain the potatoes, and mash (with butter and milk, as desired). Layer the potatoes on top of the meat mixture.

Pop uncovered in the oven for about half an hour.