My Kind of TV Dinner

Salisbury Steak is one kind of frozen food that I think is actually pretty tasty. Especially, if you get the Stouffer's version. However, if I have more time, I like to make a Rachael Ray version I saw on TV almost a year ago. Since the first time I made it (back when I first saw it), this meal has become almost a "staple" of my repertoire of cuisine choices, but I finally took the dinner up a notch by getting these cute TV trays from Tar-jhay (Target - but you have to say it with an accent to make it sound snooty...lol...not b/c it's snooty...just b/c it's funny). Here's my version of the 30 Minute Meal - Salisbury Steak with Wild Mushroom Gravy, Smashed Potatoes with garlic and Herb Cheese and Chives, Creamed Spinach (except with peas instead of spinach):


Gotta start the potatoes first - they take the longest. Although, if you're doing this recipe, don't underestimate how long those steaks will take to cook. Go ahead and get started on at least forming the steak patties next.



All the steak ingrediants go in one bowl. Mix. Form. Wait to cook.



Just a couple mushrooms. I actually don't like mushrooms - mainly the texture. But the flavor can instantly change a meal, so I always try to add at least a little bit of mushroom when the recipe calls for them. There are two creminis (baby portobellos) and 1 shitake here.



These ingrediants will make my mashed potatoes extra tasty. I used alouette for the soft cheese.



Browning the beef...mmm...lookin good! A little on the well-done side, but like my mom, I like things just a tad burned. That and I get paranoid about undercooking food. I'm working on that one.



Then, like the finale of a great musical, it all comes together. Ok, so not exactly like that, but it does look pretty tempting, no?



I think perhaps one of the best things w/ these nifty little trays is that your food doesn't get all garbled together. I saw this movie once when I was a kid...something to do w/ a kid and their toy house (can't remember the name of it for the life of me), but I'll never forget when one of the characters said, "I'm a military man. I don't like my food to touch." My dad poked fun at me quoting that line for years and years after (read he still does today), but it's true for the most part. I'm not a fan of mixing food unless you're supposed to (think stir fry), so these trays keep all my food nicely separated so my gravy doesn't get all over the peas and so my bread doesn't get soggy from the other foods. It's genius. Hmm...maybe I'll eat all my meals on these now? Prolly not - but I'll def be making this meal again soon.