Simple Beef Stroganoff with Spaetzle

If you're tired of eating Thanksgiving leftovers and need an alternative simple, inexpensive, and quick meal how about hamburger stroganoff? In this case, with spaetzle noodles for something a little different? The hamburger stroganoff is pure comfort food--warm, full of earthy mushrooms, and with plenty of sauce to dress the noodles. Even better, the stroganoff--noodles and all--cooks in one pan for easy cleanup. Because Thanksgiving often features rich food from which you might need a break, this version of stroganoff is made with reduced fat ground beef and low-fat sour cream. You won't have to do extra time on the elliptical if you eat it (in moderation). Try the stroganoff with a green vegetable and salad on the side.

Beef Stroganoff with Spaetzle -- Serve 4+

1- 1 1/4 pounds of lean ground beef (93 percent)

1/2 cup of chopped onion

8 ounces of sliced button mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of pepper

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

2 teaspoons of dried parsley flakes

1 teaspoon of paprika (sweet)

1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons of ketchup (yes, ketchup)

3 1/2 cups of water

2 teaspoon of reduced sodium beef "Better Than Bullion"

8-9 ounces of dried packaged spaetzle noodles (about 1/2 of a 17-18-ounce

package -- I use the Aldi brand)

3/4 - 1 cup of low-fat sour cream

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef and onion and saute them for 10-15 minutes or until the meat has browned and the onion has softened. Stir in the mushrooms and cook them with the meat/onion mixture for another 5 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, parsley flakes, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup and stir to combine everything. Stir in the water and "Better Than Bullion." Bring the mixture to a boil and add the noodles. Stir everything well, partially cover the pan, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the stroganoff cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring it every so often, until the noodles have softened and about 2/3 of the liquid has been absorbed. Turn off the heat and stir in the sour cream. Yum, yum.

#beef #spaetzle #groundbeef #mushrooms