Recipe: Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast

I had a hankering this week - I'm not proud of it - but I can't help it. My Dad used to make this all the time - and it just popped in my head - so off I went to buy the supplies for...

Actually I never called it that - but my friend told me that's what she heard it referred to as. I always just called it Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast. 

It's easy enough to make - I had to fine the dried beef first. If this conjures up any memories - you can find this brand in the area with the canned tuna and spam - it was on the top shelf. I only used half the container to make this for myself. I diced the meat to prep it.  

In a skillet - I melted a little bit of butter and then added flour. This mixture gets pasty quick - so have everything measured ahead of time. Then you add your milk - be sure it's measured and ready when the butter is melting. If you're having this on toast - have your toast going when you put your milk in - it all goes very quickly.

This will quickly thicken up - you stir stir stir - keep stirring so it doesn't stick. When you see it bubbling like this - it's ready! Some recipes call for you to rinse the beef before you add it in - it's pretty salty - so keep that in mind as you're prepping. If you want to tame the salt - rinse the meat first.

At this point you add the beef to your gravy mixture. Stir Stir Stir. At this point you can add little extras like mustard and/or Worcestershire sauce. As you can see in the next pic - I put a little much mustard in - but it had a good flavor - just changed the color a little too much. I really like Worcestershire - so I always go with that.

Get your toast out - and you're ready to go. Comfort food and super simple! 

Creamed Chipped Beef

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 2.25-oz. jar ARMOUR® STAR SLICED DRIED BEEF, rinsed, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. prepared yellow mustard
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire suace
• 2 slices white bread, toasted

Melt butter in saucepan. Add flour and cook 1 minute. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Add beef, mustard & Worcesterdshire and heat through. Serve over toast.

Makes 3/4 cup

Recipe from Armour-Star.com

Restaurant Review: La Canasta

I've recently been fairly obsessed with taquerias - but the thing is - I've been driving by one for 3 years now and haven't gone inside. Well that was about to change! 

La Canasta is right by our favorite car wash (Royal Car Wash on Colerain) - it's a grocery store and taqueria. I didn't have much going on except grocery shopping - and I had my new authentic Mexican cookbook - so I was a little inspired.

I'm such a nerd when I shop at a Mexican grocery - I don't even know what I'm buying half the time - but I still buy it. These are some of the things I wanted to buy - but refrained from. I mean - I really want to know about the brown sugar in a corn husk. And please someone tell me how to use Exotic Spices from El Salvador! 

This was my haul from the store - rice, beans, sofrito, cheese and tortillas. While I was checking out - I ordered a couple of tacos at the register. They have a full menu - tortas, quesadillas, entrees and more. 

After about 10 minutes - my tacos were ready. they came with this itty bitty teenie weenie cup of red sauce. Little did I know - I was about to burn my tongue off with just a dab of this stuff! You'll see how much I put on - whoooooooooo! Just beware - this stuff is hot!

I got a pork and a steak taco. I love the small tortillas - those are what I really wanted to buy - but the ones I got were a little bigger. They were both good - the meat was tender and flavorful. Although - I realize how American I am - I long for cheese and sour cream. :-)

Why Should You Go? I have to admit - it's a little intimidating. I don't exactly know what I'm looking for but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I wandered a bit and wasn't sure where to order but I asked the cashier and she took my order. I think next time I'll try a torta sandwich. It's right on my way home - so I can grab & go!