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Dear Internet,

I would be doing you all a great disservice if I did not tell you to drop what you are doing and make this immediately...IMMEDIATELY!!

Rachel Ray's Braised Beef

It.  Is.  Amazing.

You're welcome.

-Kristy

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Episode 34 - Camp Burritos!

You shouldn't have to eat crappy food just because you're in the wilderness.  These are really tasty, quick and easy to transport!

1 lb lean ground beef
1 red pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 cup minute rice
1 pkg spicy taco seasoning
whole-wheat tortillas
water



Phase 1 - Preparing the beef and veggies! (before you leave!)

Cook up ground beef in a skillet at home.  Transfer to a paper towel using a slotted spoon and get as much of the fat out as possible.  Transfer to a parchment paper-lined food dehydrator tray and set to dry until it resembles gravel or dog food.  (about 4 hours).  Put your newly dried, much less perishable, beef into a ziplock bag.

You could potentially dehydrate the chopped veggies here as well.  We didn't because we didn't plan far enough ahead, but I think we will next time.  Either way, put your fresh or dried veggies in a second zip-lock bag.

Phase 2 - Making the burritos! (at the camp)

Heat the oil in a skillet then saute the veggies until they start to look wimpy and transparent.  If you've dehydrated the veggies you'll have to add water to rehydrate...duh.  Add in your dried beef, rice, taco seasoning and about 1 cup of water.  Bring to a boil then simmer covered until the rice and beef soak up all the water.  You can watch it and add more water little by little if its needed.  Once everything is warm and soft again just scoop some filling into a tortilla, roll it up and done!  Mmmm, Mexican food.  It's Dawson approved!

Phase 3 - EATING!

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Episode 29 - Man Food

a.k.a. chili sloppy joes!  Every man likes sloppy joes.  It's just biology.  Our sloppy man joes came with a side of roasted asparagus...not exactly traditional but very seasonal!  Besides...it's all about balance...right?!  Man food with girl food.

1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 pkg Club House Spicy Chili seasoning (cheating...I know.  We had to work and it was late)
1 cup canned, diced tomatoes
3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
hot sauce and dried chili peppers to taste

For each sandwich - 1 bun and a tbsp of salsa con queso (or more if you feel like it)

Heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high and when its hot and sizzle-y add your onions and garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes.  It should smell garlic-y and delicious.  Add in your beef and brown completely.  Drain some of the beef fat off then add the red pepper, chili seasoning, diced tomatoes, black beans and tomato paste.  Cook for another 5 minutes.  Add the Worcestershire and hot sauce, and heat through.  Voila - sloppy joe filling!  This makes A LOT of filling...probably 5 or 6 joes worth.

Toast your buns then cover 1 side of each with salsa con queso.  Spoon your filling on the other side of the bun.  Close up the sandwich and enjoy!  Be warned, they're sloppy!

P.s. be warned that this was typed while watching Fubar and drinking a glass of wine.  Again...balance!

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