I am going to show you how to make a great meal quickly and at a very low cost. I decided to do this topic because I am the person who constantly tells my husband, "That?s why I married an Italian chef" and smile brightly at him. So if I can make this dish which is called a "Hobo Dinner", ANYONE can make a Hobo Dinner.

Let me start by saying that this dish is great for all ages, marital or wealth status. However, there are a few steps that must be taken in advance. One of those steps is to have frozen hamburgers. Now a quick tip: Buy hamburger in bulk say five to ten pounds depending on the size of the family. Five pounds is good for my husband and I. Take roughly half of those five pounds and make hamburger patties. Now you'll be able to have a hamburger whenever you desire without having to get in your car. Also, the patties will be there when you are ready to make Hobo Dinners at any time. Another of those steps is creating your taste in the hamburger patty. Add seasonings to it. I use salt and pepper and a couple more spices.

Now to the meal itself! Be careful to listen closely, because it's just that quick and you don?t want to miss a step. First, place a wide piece of aluminum foil on the countertop. Preheat oven to 350 degrees;. Lay your hamburger patty, frozen or thawed (thawed is better for me), in the center of the aluminum foil. Slice some onions and some potatoes (red works great with this recipe) and place those over the top of the patty. Add more seasoning here if you wish. I like to add A-1 sauce for that extra little kick. Fold the aluminum foil over the entire dish, double folding on top. Place in the oven. Check the potatoes softness every 15 minutes. Once the potatoes begin to soften, you can now place other vegetables in the pouch, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, and so forth. When the potatoes have reached desired softness, pull the pouch out. Place the items on a plate. Throw away the cooking pot. And tada! Dinner is served!

So as we've seen, a Hobo Dinner can make a great quick meal at a low budget price. By taking simple steps with inexpensive food, we are able to create a meal that will satisfy everyone at the dinner table. It's so easy! It is one of the few dishes my husband lets me cook! Chef-Approved!

Hobo Dinner
Serves 1



1 Frozen or thawed hamburger patty (You can also have fresh if you are ready to dive into your first Hobo Dinner!)
1 Small red or white potato (sliced) *
1 Small sliced onion (Vidalias are my favorite!) *
1 Sheet of aluminum foil (enough to fully cover the dish)
Salt and pepper to taste
Mushrooms, Bell peppers, etc.
Sauce (Get crazy with it. Make it a Mexican Hobo Dinner with some salsa and cheese. Or perhaps throw some red sauce on it and go Italian.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place hamburger patty in center of aluminum foil.
3. Place potatoes around the patty by leaning them on it.
4. Scatter your sliced onions over the meat and potatoes.
5. Fold your foil to create a sealed pouch.
6. Place in oven. Times will vary depending on ovens, width of slices of potatoes, and/or thickness of patty.
7. Place on a plate and serve with bread.

* NOTE:

The amount of potatoes and onions you use should be weighed for one person. Usually a third of a small potato and a few slices of onion works for me.

If wanting to make more than three or four dinners at a time, place aluminum foil in a cooking pan. Make sure to seal any breaks in the foil by folding the edges twice. Continue as above. When ready to wrap dinner, make sure entire meal is sealed in the aluminum foil. This aids you from washing a dish that doesn?t need it, plus it keeps all the juices in to help soften the potatoes.



______________________________________
... for he leaned
with the purple wine
stained on his sleeve,
and said this:
"did you ever think
a girl's mouth
caught in a kiss,
is a lily that laughs?"
- H. D. (Hilda Doolittle)