Hamburger Casserole

Hamburger Casserole / Poor Man’s Casserole

Ingredients (serves 4-5)

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 large onion, sliced

• 5-6 medium potatoes, thinly sliced

• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (or homemade white sauce; see note)

• 1 cup milk

• Salt and pepper

Homemade “cream soup” substitute (if canned soup was unavailable, and this also tastes very good):

Melt 2 Tbsp fat, stir in 1/2 cup flour, slowly add 1¾ cups milk or water + mushroom soup packet (if available), cook until thickened.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375 °F.

2. Brown ground beef and onion; season well and drain fat.

3. In a greased 2-quart casserole, layer the potatoes and meat mixture.

4. Mix soup (or white sauce) with milk; pour over the top.

5. Cover and bake 1 hour; uncover last 15 minutes to brown.

Hoover Stew (aka Hobo Stew or Depression Stew)

Hoover Stew (aka Hobo Stew or Depression Stew)

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 large onion, diced

• 4–5 medium potatoes, diced

• 1 can (15–16 oz) diced tomatoes or 2 cups fresh chopped tomatoes

• 1 can (15 oz) corn or mixed vegetables 

• 1 can (15 oz) green beans, undrained

• 6-8 cups water or broth

•Knorr Leek soup mix (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot; drain excess fat if desired.

2. Add all remaining ingredients.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30–45 minutes until potatoes are tender.

4. Adjust seasoning and serve with cornbread or crackers.  (Serves 6-8)

November 2025

 

Homemade Persimmon Cookies

• • I always thought persimmon cookies were one of those “advanced” baking recipes — the kind you admire but never actually try. But this year, we let our persimmons ripen until they were perfectly soft, blended them into a silky purée, and decided to give it a go. And wow… I wish I had tried them sooner!

    These homemade persimmon cookies are soft, cakey, full of warm fall flavor, and unbelievably easy to make. No tricky steps, no fancy equipment — just ripe persimmons, a quick purée, and a simple dough that bakes into little clouds of deliciousness.

    My son, Moose, and I made a batch together, and not only did we end up with a kitchen that smelled amazing, but we had such a fun time baking together. And the cookies? Let’s just say they disappeared fast.

    If you’ve never made persimmon cookies before, give it a try — they might become a new favorite on your fall baking list!

  • 

  • Homemade Persimmon Cookies

  • ½ cup butter, room temperature

• • 1 cup white sugar

• • 2 ripe persimmons, pureed

  • 1 large egg

• • 2 cups all-purpose flour

• • 1 teaspoon baking soda

• • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • Optional add-ins, any combination to equal 1 cup: chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, dried cranberries, raisins

• 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  3. Cream butter with sugar. Beat in persimmons and egg. Add flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice, and salt.  Mix until combined. Stir in add ins if desired.

  4. Drop by spoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheet.  Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes.