Easy Weeknight Dinner Series: Potato & Beef Skillet with Simple Salad

Using 2 bags of the frozen cut-up potatoes (as per my previous article), I was able to relax in the kitchen and prepare something quick for dinner. I have not posted my dinners lately because they are not really anything that I feel would are really article worthy. However, I realized that some of these dinner ideas might be valuable for that are just now embarking on an ingredient-restricted diet. I sometimes forget how reliant I once was on wheat and how I was not used to making meals without wheat or dairy or other ingredients. So, I hope these ideas help. Recipes like this are straightforward, nutritionally balanced, taste good and accomplishes the goal of being both budget-friendly and top-8 allergen free.

I will refrain from adding exact measurements of ingredients in this article because I think it is important to learn the art of seasoning your food to your individual tastes. However, I will add measurements for known quantities (such as 1 lb. of beef, 1 onion, etc.). Also remember that a good cook taste tests their creations often. There is a reason that top chefs insists on this practice. If you don’t know what it tastes like, you don’t know how to adjust the seasoning.

A good cook is constantly tasting.

That said, seasoning things directly from the spice rack can be overwhelming. Indeed, it is not terribly intuitive the first year (or few years) of cooking to know exactly how spices complement foods and other spices. So, don’t fret, you will get there and will be cooking like an old pro in  no time. I will give measurements when I know what they are, but as for other items, definitely taste to determine your preference for how much garlic powder, salt, pepper, etc. that you’d like. Or maybe you want to try a new spice or spice combination? That’s always fun. And you’d be surprised at how hard it is to mess things up with different kinds of spices.

You can do this.

Potato & Beef Skillet with Simple Salad

4 cups frozen cut-up potatoes, boil for 10 minutes, drain and set aside

1 lb. ground beef (if you can, try to get grass-fed / humanely-raised beef) or use another protein

1 yellow onion, diced

1 large cloves of garlic, minced

salt, pepper, garlic powder and italian seasoning to taste

Saute’ onions and beef in a skillet, then add potatoes and seasoning. Add garlic at the end and turn the heat low to keep warm while you make the salad.

Simple Salad

Baby spinach or other lettuce of choice

Other veggies that you like.

Toss with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, cracked sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.

That’s it. Dinner is finished. My son likes ketchup on this. Enjoy!