BEEF AND NOODLES

Discount meal of the week #1:
items purchased outside of cupboard (meat, noodles, onion)
total price for extras: $12.00
BEEF AND NOODLES

2 pounds of beef (can use any kind you want, we purchased at Save-a-lot, 3 large top round steaks for $9)
1 beef bouillon cube: this will be dissolved in 2 cups of water
1 large white onion
ground thyme
salt and pepper
butter
flour (will be mixed with water to form paste for gravy)
1 bay leaf
1Tbs garlic powder
1 large bag of wide egg noodles

beef: if you get steaks that are more than 1" thick, pound out and then place on side dusted with salt and pepper. these will be cut into cubes (you can buy stew beef cubes, but they are more expensive)

large skillet: heat over medium high with olive oil (about 2 tsp..enough to lightly coat the bottom of the pan), add diced onion, about 2 tsp of salt and pepper and 1 tsp of thyme. Cook onions until nice and brown (will take about 20 minutes). If you see the onions sticking, add 1 tsp of butter to the pan and mix in.

saucepan: boil 2 cups of water, when it comes to a boil, remove from heat and add beef cube. use a whisk to stir and dissolve. Once mixed and onion is finished, add to the skillet.

back to the skillet: add the beef broth to the onion. then add the beef cubes. allow this to cook for at least 20-30 minutes on medium to medium high (you need to keep an eye on it and stir the beef around so it cooks evenly). Once meat is cooked through, add bay leaf and put on simmer for 5 minutes.

big pasta pot: cook egg noodles according to package instructions. Once finished drain and add 1/2 stick of butter...allow to melt.

back to the skillet: TIME TO MAKE GRAVY!!! You don't have to drain anything, just take out the bay leaf. Then in a measuring cup put about 1/3 cup of flour and whisk in water until it is a smooth thin paste (a little thinner than the paste from kindergarten art class...but you can eat this!). Bring the beef mixture to a slight boil and begin adding the flour/water mix slowly. Add about half and let it cook down a bit. You will know when it's thick enough. Add garlic powder to the gravy. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for a few minutes, then serve!

Serve the beef over the noodles and there it is!

We served it with a sweet and spicy corn, that recipe to follow!!