how to make helper kind of sauces?

[kagedgoddess]

to make the hamberger helper stuff? i mean like for example, my family loves creamy broccoli tuna noodle helper... what kind of sauce is that? how do you make it? i know stroganoff helper is just cream of mushroom, but what about the others? my kids love hamberger helper but at $2 a box, plus $3 or so for the pound+ of turkey, Plus i have to make 2 boxes And another side.... we dont have it hardly at all cuz its expensive! plus its better from scratch. i dont want to go but 5 brothers alfredo sauce at $3- $4/jar... i want to Make it from scratch... can you do that?? i figure lots of ya'll have large families, how do you do it? we're adding on to our family again, so i mean... unless i start raising broilers, we got cut costs somewhere! (still it ll probably come to that the way food prices keep rising!)

 

[Rosalind]

Most of the sauces you mention are some variation of bechamel sauce with cheese or fried mushrooms/onions added. Not too difficult, like making gravy.

1/4 c. oil or melted butter
1/4 c. regular flour
1 1/2 c. broth or stock -or- 2 small/1 large bouillon cube dissolved in 1 1/2c. hot water
1 1/2 c. milk

In a saucepan, heat up the oil or melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, and cook for a couple of minutes while stirring until the flour/oil mix is a sort of paste. Gradually, bit by bit, whisk in the broth, allowing the mixture to cook for a half-minute or minute between additions so that it stays creamy-looking. Do the same with the milk. It will be a bit thin-looking at this point, just let it simmer while stirring to thicken up. At this point, you can add salt, seasoning, herbs, sauteed onions & mushrooms, bacon bits, grated cheese, etc. Then just simmer a few more minutes to thicken.

I am normally in a hurry about dinner, you can keep this sauce in bulk in a Tupperware container in the fridge for ~4 days, and pour it over cooked pasta, microwaved veggies, etc. as needed.

For casseroles, layer with veggies, noodles, etc. put cracker crumbs on top, bake 25 minutes at 325F.

edited to add: You can substitute beer or wine for milk if you want it fancy. Purely optional.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Rosalinds advice is absolutely correct. Not only will you be making easy, affordable, healthy meals; this is the base to most gourmet sauces and cooking.
I use gravy flour isnstead of regular as it doesn't lump as much, you can find it in a blue can in the flour section.
You can change the meal with the additions you make to this base for example:
broccoli cheddar
mushroom, bacon and swiss
zuccini, parmesan
asperagus and smoked gouda
the combinations are endless, let me know if you want more!
just add a cup of each (vegetable & shreddded cheese) to the sauce, stir until the cheese is melted and you are ready to pour over pasta or rice.

here is my kids favorite "homade hamburger helper" recipe

1 lb ground beef
1 can cambels italian tomato soup
1 can cambels cheddar cheese soup
1 can sliced black olives
1 can of corn (or green beans)
1 bag of elbow macaroni.

boil the pasta and while boiling;
brown the beef, add the tomoto soup (no water) then the olives and corn. heat through then stir in cheese soup (no water)
then mix in with pasta.
this is way to cheesy and saucy and not enough vegis for me, but the kids love it.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

try going to allrecipes.com I was looking for a chicken alfredo recipe the other day and found plenty. just search for the particular sauce you want to make .

 

[Kim_NC]

Here's a base recipe for Hamburger Helper sauce and variations for 4 meal recipes. The sauce mix makes enough for 7 - 8 meals. You mix it up, store in airtight container, then use 1/2 cup at a time in the various recipes.

Hamburger Helper Knock-off

2 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup beef bouillon powder
2 tablespoons onion flakes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Mix the ingredients together and store in an air-tight container.

Use mix as a base for the following dinners.

Chili Mac:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1 cup water
1/2 cup macaroni noodles (uncooked)
2 cans chopped tomatoes
1 T chili powder
1/2 cup mix

Combine all and simmer 20 minutes or until macaroni is cooked

Stroganoff:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
2 cup water
1/2 cup mix
2 cup uncooked egg noodles
1/2 cup sour cream

Combine all except sour cream. Simmer 20 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir in sour cream and serve.

Potato Beef Casserole:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
3/4 cup water
6 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup frozen mixed veggies
1/2 cup mix

Combine all and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and cook until excess water is evaporated.

Quick Lasagna:
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 c mix
1 onion, chopped
2 c water
16 oz tomato sauce
3 cup lasagna noodles, uncooked, broken in bits
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Combine all except mozzarella in large skillet. Bring to a boil, let simmer for 15 minutes or until noodles are cooked. Top with mozzarella. Turn off heat and let cheese melt.

 

[kagedgoddess]

thanks everyone that is vey helpful! and i am a memeber on allrecipies but your guys advice is EXACTLYwhat i was looking for! we do mix up the combos like chicken/ veggie/ noodles or rice/ soup broth, bake in oven, but i was looking for how to make the sauces, cuz while cream o chicken with rice and veggies is awesome, it gets tiring, and i am hopeing makeing the sauce vs canned soup will be 1 healthier and 2 cheaper, so thank you all!!! and i am a memeber of kraft recipies, anyone else find that sight Way too corporate??? it IS i know, but sometimes i get annoyed with it, like really it seems alot of their recipies are based on their products. i do LOVE their pumpkin cake tho, we have that every thanksgiving instead of pie. yum.

 

[Holly O]

Just a tip!

The secret to the basic White sauce it to make sure the flour gets COOKED through

so once everything is added and combined, continue cooking at a soft boil, stirring for at least 3 min.

Also I have one of those electric whisks. Great for single milkshakes, in a glass. and Superb at removing lumps out of any sauce ...

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Quote:
excellent tip!

 

[oberhaslikid]

Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganof – you can make this at home with our recipe.
18 May, 2009 || Casseroles, CopyKat Recipes, Main dishes You don’t need to buy a box of Hamburger helper for something this easy and the taste is so much better. Quick and easy.

1 lb of ground beef
1 packet of Lipton beefy onion soup mix
4 1/2 cups of water
1 Lb of Bow Tie Pasta
1 can of mushroom soup if wanted
1/2 – 3/4 cups of sour cream

Brown the ground beef and then drain off fat in a large skillet that has a lid. Add the onion soup mix , water and mushroom soup mix if it’s wanted and mix well and bring to a boil. Add the Bow Tie pasta and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium high and cover. cook for 10-12 minutes. Take off heat and gently stir in the sour cream. Enjoy this quick and delicious version and you won’t go back to the box.

If you would like to make more of a meal out of this add some fresh broccoli or other vegetables. If you want a cheesy dish use a cheese instead of the sour cream. Throw in some diced tomatoes and really enjoy something nice.



RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper


It is 2 cups of Egg Noodles
1 cup of Shredded Cheese
1 Can of Cream of Mushroom
4 Cups of Water
2 1/2 Cups of Shredded beef
4 Bullion cubes

Take the beef and bullion cubes cook on High after 20 minutes add noodles. Then take Noodles and Beef and put in square casserole pan. Then miz with cream of mushroom and shredded cheese. Cook for 23 minutes at 350.

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RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper
By Bell (Guest Post)


1-2 lbs. ground beef
salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
1 med. onion, diced
1 can beef stock
1 box Mac & Cheese dinner mix
1/2 cup milk
Cook noodles according to box. Brown seasoned ground beef with onion. Add beef stock and milk; stir in cheese packet from Dinner and cook on med. low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Add the cooked and drained pasta and serve.