Ersatz beef stroganoff 1.0

I suggested making beef stroganoff for dinner and got a wide range of responses. The majority favored the notion, with the following comments:

"Don't use onions! I can't stand them!"

"I hate the meat! Can we have it with only noodles and sauce?"

and

"We're out of noodles!"

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Ahhhhh, the sweet inspiration of Ersatz cooking!

Ersatz (German) means a substitute or replacement for the real thing.

Ersatz cooking is to cook your best using strictly what is on hand -- without getting too hemmed-in by the deficiency of ingredients in the pantry.

We speedily composed two recipes on two consecutive nights (see companion recipe- ersatz beef stroganoff 2.0, posted below):

First recipe:

ersatz beef stroganoff 1.0

Ingredients

patties of ground beef (instead of pan-fried strips of steak)
hamburger buns to match (instead of noodles)
onion slices
pickles (ersatz for onions for non-onion-eaters)
mustard (ersatz for sour cream sauce)

Instructions

Cook hamburger patties in skillet
Assemble hamburgers with mustard, pickles, and onions

Serve.

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Maintain a good attitude about aspiring to cook beef stroganoff!

It is the thought that counts!