Cowboy Toast, an Inexpensive, Easy to Make, Kid Friendly Meal.

 This kid friendly and tasty meal was created back when my kids were still small, in todays economy a budget friendlly and filling meal is still a plus and its easy enough for even the beginner cook (or frazzled father) to create. The recipe has had several names like,  yankee chili, cowboy chili, that bean stuff but the one that stuck the best is Cowboy Toast even though its just as good without the toast

Step 1: Pantry Raid

here's what I generally use, this recipe is easy to change ingrediants to fit whats available or family tastes.

 ground meat of choice, Im using beef but turkey will work just fine with some seasoning, your  going to need about 1lb. I freeze my bulk purchases in approx 2lb packs, Im cooking it all up now and will save the leftover for tacos 
 1 onion chopped, worstershire sauce(not shown), garlic (not shown)

canned baked beans, use what your family likes
optional
you COULD use the beans right from the can but I always doctor them up

 brown sugar (not shown)
 honey
 bottled BBQ sauce
 yellow mustard
 spicey mustard

  sorry about the missing ingrediants in the pics, somethings I dont think about until Im actually cooking...

Step 2: Lets Start Cooking

The 1st step is to chop or dice up an onion
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-dice-an-onion-1/  now get it in a frying pan and add the ground meat of your choice, I also added some worcheshire sauce and garlic

Step 3: The Musical Fruit

While the meat is browning lets get started on the beans, empty your cans of beans into a pot, and add your doctoring up fixings if your so inclined, sorry I don't use measurements, there's about a chunk of brown sugar, a 5count of honey, maybe a 2count of BBQ sauce and enough if both mustards to make it look pretty. Get some heat under the pot, stir to mix and slowly bring the bean mix to a slow boil and then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer

Step 4: Combine

Strain any excess grease or juices from the ground meat and add the meat to the beans. How much? Until it looks right to you but a lb of meat works well for a large can of baked beans or a medium and small can, let the mix simmer until some of the juices are absorbed into the meat and the mix is slightly thickened

Step 5: Get Ready to Serve

Make a piece of cheese toast or 2 per person, just put the bread in an 300degree oven for a couple minutes and then top with cheese, heat until the cheese is slightly melted, place the cheese toast on a plate and cover with the meat and bean mix, you can add as many layers as you want or your appetite demands. You can add what ever sides your family enjoys but theres nothing wrong with just potato chips and a tomato and lettuce salad... think cheeseburger, and baked beans...

Comments

[cooldryplace]

Thank you for this. I am definitely in the "kitchen-challenged" category and now I have another dish to add to my repertoire. That makes 3 total woo!

[l8nite]

kitchen skills aren't that hard to acquire, you just have to start simple and be careful with the burner controls and when it doubt, turn it DOWN ! I do a lot of kitchen "experiments" most work out, some are never repeated ! lol... It can be amazing how combining a couple of leftovers with or without a new ingredient can make a family favorite or the night I was going to make spaghetti and realized there was no sauce in the pantry but there was salsa..hhhmmm.. some taco seasoning in the ground meat, add the salsa and mexican sketti was born !

Thank you for commenting..hope you enjoy it

[Retrographic]

Another good thing I remembered while cooking, A little vegimite/marmite adds a lovely richness to it, also a stock cube can be a good addition!

[l8nite]

Thank you for both comments, the rice idea is a good one, I'll have to keep it mind although this has become one of those comfort kind of foods. vegimite/marmite Ive seen on BBC cooking shows but is definately not a staple here in the US and although Im sure its available Ive never seen it. The same with ground lamb, it would be available if I asked but not something generally stocked in the meat section of my local grocery stores. Personally I find stock/bullion cubes to salty but the meat can be flavored in many ways. Like most of my recipes this is more of an idea generator than a written in stone recipe so I appreciate your offering your alternatives.

[Retrographic]

I've been served a similar idea from a young age, but with rice instead of toast. Was always called 'Beefy rice with beans'... until I realised it was just as good with lamb. I find you don't need to use two pots for the concoction (but if you're serving it with rice you do need another one for that) just wait until the mince is nearly done, then add beans, mustard, honey etc.

I think I'm going to go make a load now and have it with a jacket potato! Thanks for reminding me of it!

[killerjackalope]

That's a dirty beast of a snack. I love it.

[l8nite]

Thank you for commenting. It's one of those combos that just go together, it also works as just a side dish for the kitchen challanged to take to a potluck