Cowboy Stew

One of our new favorites and go to meals is cowboy stew. Why it's called that I don't know it's not stew like at all...giggle but it's my version of something they served the children at school. It's tasty, filling and very quick and easy to make.

In my every continuing need to cut cost, I've gotten into the habit of cooking a pot of beans every week. I like to make my own beans so I can control the amount of salt and flavor them like I like, but you can use canned if you want. You can also use whatever kind of beans you like or have on hand.

Cowboy Stew

• 1/2 lb ground meat
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• green or red onion, chopped
• med can of tomato sauce ( we use salt-free)
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 cup cooked Dreamfields Pasta
• 2 cups or more beans ( I make chili beans from scratch and have on hand)
• Optional: grated cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions and olives.

1. Brown ground meat with onions and peppers and put on pasta to cook
2. Add tomato sauce and season with chili powder and cumin and let simmer a few minutes
3. Mix in beans; drain pasta and add it too
4. Taste for seasoning and serve with cheese, sour cream, green onions and olives or whatever else you might like. I normally just add a little cheese in mine.

Since I keep ground meat with onions and peppers in the freezer and I usually cook a pot of beans at the beginning of each week, I can get this on the table in the amount of time it take to cook the little bit of pasta.

This is a good for those nights when you just don't feel like or don't have time to cook a whole dinner.