Ice Box Noodle Stroganoff

This one of my camping meals.  You'll see the reason soon.  But it is equally helpful for those special nights when life has been beating you down all day and the kids need to eat.  This is the kind of meal that shuts kids up (and I mean that in the nicest way.)

Ice Box Stroganoff

Brown 1 lb of ground beef or less and drain off the fat.  Season with 1T dried minced onion and 1 t. dried garlic powder.  Add 2 T. Worcestershire Sauce and 3T. Red Wine. 

And a boat load of Crimini Mushrooms.  I love Crimini Mushrooms, the color, the texture.  They are so darn cute. I quarter them.  If I have less than a full lb of hamburger, I add more mushrooms and no one complains.

Now I cut a few more because my audience eats some of them.

Finally,  Mushrooms into the skillet with the meat and add a can of beef broth. 

Here's where it makes a good meal for camping.  Stop now and put the contents of the skillet in a zip lock bag.  Squeeze the air out and pat it into a nice square shape, then put it in the freezer to make a block of stroganoff ice. 

When you get ready to pack the ice box, take out the bag and use it as part of the ice in your ice box.  Pack the remaining ingredients:  1/2 a box of curly pasta and 1/2 c. sour cream.  

When you are ready to finish the dish, everything into the skillet to heat to a simmer and add the 1/2 box of pasta.  Yes, add them uncooked. 

Stir them to get them wet in the canned broth and continue cooking for 5 minutes, stirring fairly regularly.  If you stop stirring, cover the skillet with the lid to help steam the pasta.  Add a little water or broth if it starts to get dry, but I've been making this for years.  The noodles soften quickly. 

Finish the dish with 1/2 c. sour cream, 1/2 t. Salt., 1/4 t. fresh ground pepper.  Turn it with a big spoon to combine and continue cooking until heated through.  I like a little chopped parsley on top, but if you are camping or having a really bad day, that's optional. It's still creamy and bubbly, and makes the house smell good and brings them down to eat. 

Don't even talk to me about that boxed stuff.  Not real food, not less expensive, not more convenient.

Our lesson for today, kids:   This dish has several things in common with the last post:  Hamburger, which is a staple in your freezer.  Seasoning:  Having a well-stocked seasoning cabinet is important for this type of cooking.  Sour Cream, which I consider a necessity to always have in my frig. 
A basic canned good always on hand.  Basic staples from the pantry.  Real food in a hurry.   On to the side dish:  Brocolli cooked in beef broth with melted mozzarella cheese.  Husband and son will eat a pile of that. 

More on side dishes soon.  Now:  Knitting and the news.  Happy and warm family cuddled up together with full bellies.