Easy "Mock" Stroganoff

As I have said before, I am all about the quick and easy weeknight meals. Especially when I can cheat and still make it taste like I spent real time on it! This recipe came to be because of my fiance's dislike of brown gravy. (Crazy, I know!!) Probably one of my favorite meals since I was a kid is just plain white rice and brown gravy. Overly simple but comforting to me. As I have grown I know you need more than that to make it an actual "meal". So I started making smothered hamburger patties with brown gravy. Which then morphed into adding onions and mushrooms and then the white gravy. Sounds a bit off to add white gravy - or at least it did to me when we first started this... but it has since become one of my staples in our house. This meal takes about 40 minutes to make - as long as you time the rice or noodles right. ;)

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Cutting board / knife

Deep sided skillet (I use my Lodge Casserole pan-see link-not sponsored) https://www.lodgecastiron.com/product/enamel-casserole?sku=EC3CC13

Wooden spoon (or one that will not scratch the pan)

Large measuring cup / whisk

INGREDIENTS:

4 hamburger patties (I use premade to save a step)

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 packet Pioneer Peppered Gravy mix 16 oz sliced mushrooms (can use less or omit - we like mushrooms)

Salt/Pepper to taste

To season hamburger patties: Soy sauce (Great for burgers and meatloaf!!)

Fiesta brand Garlic Pepper (the BEST seasoning to have around)

Onion Powder

Goya Sazonador Total Seasoning

Note: There is a lot of salt between these seasonings - use according to your taste.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Season the hamburger patties and place in heated pan. Cook over med heat, turning occasionally, until temp reaches 150*.

2. Pull patties out of pan and set on paper towel lined plate. Do not remove the grease.

3. Add onion and cook for a few minutes until starting to soften. Add garlic. Continue cooking until fragrant. At this point you will have fond built up on the bottom of pan. Use about 1/4 cup of water to scrape the bottom of pan to release that flavor.

4. Add mushrooms to pan. Sautee over med-low heat for about 8-10 mins, or until the mushrooms reduce in size. (Note: this is when you want to make sure your rice or noodles are started)

5. While mushrooms are cooking - mix the gravy packet in large measuring cup with 3 cups of water. (you are not following the packet directions)

6. Pour the gravy mixture over mushrooms. Stirring constantly. This will thicken up and make a nice gravy quickly. Add salt/pepper to taste.

7. Add the patties back to pan. Cook over med-low heat for about 5 mins to make sure everything is heated through.

8. Serve over rice or egg noodles.

Note: To re-warm leftovers, you might want to add a splash of milk to the gravy to help loosen it.