I'm no Betty Crocker...

...and certainly don't claim to be, that's for sure. I struggle over dinner quite often. The use of a crock-pot seems so 1972, but I tell ya...it works. And is a life saver. Especially with a 12 month old that likes to be right under my feet in the kitchen. Oh, and have I mentioned we STILL DON'T HAVE CABINET LOCKS? That makes for a really fun game when your hands are germ soaked with raw meat and you need to drag your kiddo out of the chemicals cabinet.

(Husband, have I made my case yet??)

I checked out a recipe that I snagged from Pinterest. I didn't have high hopes because again, it was crock pot-ish and seemed far from my mom's original Beef Stroganoff recipe.

As embarrassing as it is, I have two of these big boys. Shhhhh, don't tell.

A little side story...the week after we got home from our honeymoon I was eager beaver to become Julia Childs. What could possibly be so hard about working a full-time job, traveling a good bit and making a delightful dinner to be served with candle light on all of our new dinnerware? Well, a lot actually. I make my trip to the store to whip-up momma love's Beef Stroganoff and serve with an appetizer, salad, dessert and wine. I don't think we ate dinner that night until about 10:30 pm, it wasn't worth a damn and it cost me somewhere around $100 and we didn't so much as get a half gallon of milk within the trip. I decided very quickly that my brother got the cooking knack and I should stick to something else...not sure what, but something.

Back to the crock potter.

Some of the ingredients...add from list below

Crock-Pot Beef Stroganoff

2 lbs. stew meat (salt and pepper it)

1-8oz. cream cheese

2 cans Golden Mushroom Soup

1/2 cup water (don't be so serious, just filled up a soup can 3/4 of the way full)

Garlic Powder (few dashes)

Worcestershire Sauce (Maybe 4-5 tablespoons. I'm not sure you could actually get too much.)

1 large yellow onion diced

Combine all ingredients minus the cream cheese and meat. Stir mixture together in the crock-pot and then add meat. Let cook on low for 6-7 hours (recipe I read said 8 hours, I assume so that if you're leaving for a day at the office it will be ready when you return. My meat was fork tender when I checked it at 5 hours. So make fitting to your schedule). Let cream cheese come to room temperature and cut into cubes and add to crock pot in the last 15 minutes.

Serve with egg noodles.

COST: $7.75 for main course.

We have at least another night's full dinner and probably then some. Add in a salad and/or side veggies and that's a meal under $10 for 2 nights.

My husband will eat anything. I don't think he's ever complained about a single, poorly produced meal I've put out there. But, speaking for myself...I'm a tough critic. My mom ruined me as a child. She's good, real good in the kitchen. I will say, this was pretty darn tasty. It was a legit comfort food meal that didn't cost a ton and didn't take a day of slaving in the kitchen. Check it out.

We even had time for this when dad got home. I would say that's success.