Kym's Poor Man's Steak

                                                                            
Kym loves home-style foods that are easily prepared, tasty, and sticks to the ribs of those who eat them. This is one of those meals that is perfect for a cold fall day when you want something a little out of the ordinary, but cheap and easy to prepare. Your kids will love this dish as it is warm and comforting. Those of us who are older will recognize this as Salisbury Steak, a dish we all grew up with. I've made this for my family and my kids all loved it, especially Robert. This is started the night before you want to serve it, and it does take some preparation and planning, about 2 1/2 hours before you want to have dinner, but it is worth the effort and time.

Kym's Poor Man's Steak

2 pounds hamburger*
1 egg
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fine bread crumbs*
Flour*
Extra Virgin Olive oil or lard
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup, diluted with 1 can water or milk*

Mix together the first 5 ingredients;  pat in the bottom of a 13"x9" pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Cut into cube steak-sized squares. Pour about 1/4 cup oil in a heavy skillet and warm to medium heat.Dredge each meat square in flour, coating all sides, then place in skillet to lightly brown on all sides. As meat browns, place back in 13"x9" pan. Once all meat is browned and returned to pan, pour the cream of mushroom soup, diluted into the pan, covering the meat. Bake uncovered at 275 degrees for 2 hours.

*Ground chuck or round steak would be a leaner choice.
*Bread crumbs are easily made by placing any bread you'd like in a food processor or blender and then make into crumbs to measure out for this dish. Leftover sourdough would be excellent.
*Unbleached flour would be a better choice.
*It is very easy to make your own mushroom soup base instead of buying canned soups. Here is a link to an easy and quick mushroom soup recipe~
 http://www.professorshouse.com/food-beverage/food/homemade-mushroom-soup.aspx