Meat Pie A La Lu

So, I've been declaring my good intentions for a while now.  I say to people, "I'm going to start posting recipes on the blog because everyone [including me] is always looking for good 'keepers'."  Today I'm actually going to post one!  I remembered to take pics and everything!  I know.  You're pumped, right?  Because what would you do without the pictures?

Here's the thing about me...I make new recipes ALL of the time.  They are almost always easy and cheap.  Because that's how I roll.  I am in no way a chef and I therefore never am sure about how a recipe is going to turn out just from looking at the ingredients.  Sometimes we strike gold.  Sometimes we throw it all away after dinner.  Because it was that bad.  But when we strike gold - like we all really enjoy the meal and look forward to leftovers - I file it away in the "keepers" section.  This one is a new find.  I mean, I've had it in the Craig Family Cookbook all along but there are a lot of recipes in that bad boy!  And I've just now discovered this one.

Meat Pie A La Lu

from my Great Aunt Lula

I don't know the story behind this one but in my mind this is sorta a casserole version of the world renowned Natchitoches Meat Pies.  In my opinion, this casserole is better.  True life.

1 lb. ground beef [I use ground turkey]

2 Tbsp. oil

1 medium onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 large carrot, grated

2/3 cup celery [2 ribs] chopped

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Salt and pepper to taste

Pinch of oregano, cumin, and marjoram [This is TOTALLY the secret ingredient section!  These spices are what make the casserole so unique tasting!]

Refrigerated pie crust

And this is how you make it all happen:

1.  Let your child play with flour on the counter because your dog will lick up what falls on the floor and her [temporary] entertainment is worth  wiping up flour later.  And because for whatever reason she sits very still on the counter.  And your kitchen is small so you feel less nervous about it.

2.  Laugh out loud when she flashes you this look during your picture snapping extravaganza:

3.  Brown your ground meat or turkey.

  

4.  Chop your onions, celery, and garlic.  Grate your carrot.

5.  Add chopped veggies to ground turkey until veggies are softened-ish.  The Hunk is particularly picky about the texture of his onions and celery so I cooked 'em til they were soft.  Add cream of mushroom soup, parmesan, salt, pepper, and other spices.  When she says pinch, I usually just do one shake of the shaker.  That's my definition of pinch and it works pretty well in this particular instance.  

6.  Grease your pan.  I always just use butter.  And I really enjoyed that I had an excuse to show off my bling [the ring AND the watch] - courtesy of The Hunk.  

7.  Look down and enjoy the fun being had by your stinker pot...

...with corn on the cob holders, paper plates, old cookie cutters, and some Valentine's cupcake wrappers.  [Check out the bottom right corner above.  She's getting some serious stretching in.  Poor Beebee.]

8.  Transfer the mixture to the buttered up casserole dish and roll out your pie crust.  I always just approximate how big I think it should be.  

9.  Poke some holes in that baby and pop it in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes - or until your crust is brown-ish.

10.  Pull out those bags of frozen peas and corn that have been in your freezer for...awhile.  Toss 'em in a bowl with some butter and salt and microwave that baby for 8-ish minutes.

11.  Serve it up and enjoy!

And if your Hunk happens to be working late and you happen to be feeling equal parts of tired, fun, and crazy, you could lay out the Dora towel on the living room floor by the folded laundry and serve dinner in front of the TV which COULD be playing The Little Mermaid.

You could do that if you wanted.  I can almost guarantee you that it would be hit.

And you could spend the rest of the night looking forward to the Homemade Vanilla Malt that will be yours after you get the Priss in bed.