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SMART IDEAS!
Work Meal-Time Magic with
“Gravels” and Master Mix!
by Alice Osborne
 Wouldn’t you say this time of year seems busier than other months? (You’re thinking, “DUH!”) So I’ve been wondering what ideas I could share with you that would save you some needed time and energy in the kitchen. I looked at how I’m managing with the meal-time chores and realized you might like to know what I’m doing to get dinner on quickly and easily! Let me tell you about “GRAVELS” and “MASTER MIX.”
Gravels:
 I’ve talked about it before, so this could be repetitive for some of you, but gravels are hamburger and sausage that are cooked, drained of fat, and frozen on cookie sheets for an hour or two. When completely frozen, they’re crumbled up, measured into small zippered freezer bags and put back into the freezer (you might want to label and date the bag). Same goes with shredded cheeses, chopped onions, chopped celery, etc.—anything that can be prepped ahead of time, frozen, and crumbled in measured amounts into zippered freezer bags. You see the obvious time-saving benefit here: you always have ingredients for a recipe, ready to go—no cooking or prepping needed (it’s already done!).
Master Mix:
 This is nothing more than a biscuit mix (you can buy Bisquick, but why not make your own—then you know exactly what’s in it and how fresh it all is). I use my Master Mix + gravels all the time in recipes I got years ago from Bisquick—“Impossible Pie” recipes (Impossible Cheeseburger Pie, Impossible Taco Pie, etc.). Because I have most of the recipe already prepped and in my freezer, I can whip up a main course in 10 min. or less. This is true meal-time magic! So read on for my Master Mix recipe and a couple “Impossible Pie” recipes, and here’s to saving time and energy as you work your own meal-time magic!
Alice’s Master Mix
(Makes 11 C)
 8 C flour
1 1/3 C nonfat dry milk (if you have powdered milk in storage, it will work fine)
5 Tbsp baking powder (non-aluminum, such as Rumford, is best)
1 Tbsp salt
1 C butter or shortening
Combine all ingredients except butter in large bowl and mix well. Work in butter until very fine. Store in airtight container in cool dry place.
 Download this recipe.
Impossible Cheeseburger Pie
(Serves 6-8)
 1 lb ground beef (“gravel”, remember “gravel”)
1 ½ C chopped onion (“gravel”, remember “gravel”)
1 ½ C milk
¾ C Master Mix (biscuit mix)
3 eggs
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 C shredded Cheddar cheese (“gravel”, remember “gravel”)
1 C Parmesan cheese (doesn’t have to be fresh, dried is fine), divided
Preheat oven to 400°. Grease 10 x 1 ½ inch pie plate. If you aren’t using “gravels” (shame on you), then cook and stir beef and onion over medium heat until beef is browned; drain fat. Spread in pie plate. Beat milk, Master Mix, eggs, salt and pepper, and ½ C Parmesan cheese until smooth, 15 sec. in blender on high or 1 min. with hand beater. Pour over beef and onion mixture. Bake 25 min. Remove from oven and top with tomatoes; sprinkle Cheddar cheese evenly over surface and finish with remaining ½ C of Parmesan cheese. Bake another 5 min. or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool for about 5 min. before serving. Delicious!
Download this recipe.
Impossible Taco Pie
(Serves 6-8)
 1 lb ground beef (same deal—remember the “gravel”)
½ C chopped onion (again—remember the “gravel”)
1 pkg (1.25 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies, drained
1 ¼ C milk
¾ C Master Mix
3 eggs
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 C shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese (you know the routine—remember the “gravel”)
Preheat oven to 400°. Grease 10-inch quiche dish or 10 x 1 ½ inch pie plate. If you’re not using “gravels” (more shame on you), then cook and stir beef and onion over medium heat until beef is browned; drain fat. Stir in seasoning mix. Spread in plate; sprinkle with chilies. Beat milk, Master Mix and eggs until smooth, 15 sec. in blender on high or 1 min. with hand beater. Pour into plate. Bake 25 min. Remove from oven and top with tomatoes; sprinkle with cheese. Bake another 8 min. or until knife inserted between center and edge comes out clean. Let cool 5 min. before serving. Serve with sour cream, chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce if desired.
Download this recipe.
And here’s a thought: I bet our creative cooks out there could come up with some super variations on these recipes. For instance, how could we work some black beans into this Taco Pie? If you have ideas you’ve tried and they work, please email us and let’s share! We could include them in a follow-up column!
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