While, most often than not, when we think of ground meat, it’s mostly an all American ground beef cheeseburger that comes to mind, the truth is that ground meat – and this could be beef, chicken, pork and mutton or veal – is used in many ways  – in quiches, pot pies or a Shepard’s pie to meatballs and even in soups!

Now, break down that all American ground beef burger and you’re left with what you might call a ‘patty’, similar to the cutlet, schnitzel or kofta.

The focus of my post today is the difference between these various forms of ground meat/ mince & their versatility when it comes to cooking. Keep reading to find out how I made my version of this ‘patty’ recently for dinner & why it was a hit with my family!

Patty

A Patty is often described as a small flat cake of minced i.e. ground or finely chopped food, especially meat, typically served in a sort of sandwich called a “burger”, or a hamburger if the patty is made from ground beef. However, patty or Pljeskavica originated and is a national dish of Serbia, also popular in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. It is a traditional meal, normally grilled of spiced meat patty mixture of pork, beef and lamb, which only through American fast food chains became known around the world.

Cutlet

Often confused with a Patty, a Cutlet, is actually not ground or minced but is a  boneless, thin cut of meat, shaped like a croquette i.e. cutlet shaped— from the leg or ribs of veal, pork, chicken, or mutton chicken, veal, pork, or lamb. The Poles say chicken kiev, kotlet kurczeta, originated in the Polish city of Kijow, while the French say it was invented by Nicolas Francois Appert in the 18th century and adopted by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (1741–1762) of Russia who preferred French foods and fashions. Most cutlets are made by pounding the meat until there is an even thinness. Because this thin cut of meat cooks very quickly, it is often dusted with flour or coated in breadcrumbs before being pan-fried.

One form of the cutlet, is a German schnitzel (or Schweineschnitzel). This is traditionally made with pork chops that are also thinly breaded and fried in a tender crisp coating.

Kofta

The Kofta is a family of meatball or meatloaf dishes found in the Indian subcontinent, South Caucasian, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Central Asian cuisines. In the simplest form, koftas consist of balls of minced or ground meat—usually beef, chicken, lamb, or pork—mixed with spices or onions. Patties are often confused with Koftas, since both are made of ground/ minced meat. However, we now know that the origin & shape of the two differ. The kofta can be fried and eaten dry or added to a thick gravy and served on rice or eaten with flatbread. When made from a mix of other finely chopped vegetables, most significantly potatoes – for a vegetarian diet – these koftas are called ‘Tikkis’ in the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions.

Ground chicken is always a part of my family’s grocery list. We have to have it at least once if not twice every week. And while I try switching up the serving format & spices, cooking ground meat is a time consuming, not to mention messy process (it releases a lot of water). With the kids’ soccer season and other changes to our routine, I had to find a less-involved, convenient way to use my ground chicken. I found the solution was Baked Chicken Patty. They taste awesome, don’t require a lot of involvement, left overs last for days & can be used in a variety of ways!

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It’s dinner time. You are starving, your family is starving, and they expect you to whip up something tasty and delicious, and quickly.

Chicken, beef, or another main entree is an easy given, but what else can you throw together with them?

Luckily there is something that will go easily with any meat, something that can be made several different ways that are bound to satisfy all members of your family. And that something is a potato.

Here are five reasons that potatoes are always going to be dinner’s delectable best friend and something you can always count on when it comes to preparing any meal.

1) They are healthy

30 Healthy Ways To Eat Potatoes

Not only are potatoes easy to make and taste really good, they are also very healthy.

There are so many simple healthy potatoes recipes out there that taste good but deliver the nutrients you want your family to get with every meal.

Depending on the type of potato you choose to make, each has its own nutritional value. Sweet potatoes, for example, are jam-packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, Vitamin E, calcium, and Iron.

Red potatoes have a lot of the same nutrients, but their skin is especially nutritious with large amounts of fiber and B Vitamins.

2) The possibilities are endless

The 18 Best Ways To Cook Potatoes, In Order

As was mentioned before, one of the greatest parts of potatoes is their versatility.

You can make them into soup, mash them, bake them, dice them and cover them with cheese. Whatever your heart’s desire, there is probably a simple healthy potato recipe to satisfy it.

3) Solution for picky eaters

Julie’s Potato Salad is my go-to summer side dish! Ever the pickiest eaters love these simple, classic flavors!

Because potatoes are so versatile even your most picky eater will have a version of potatoes that they enjoy eating.

You could say the potatoes are a really great “safe” food because you know when you prepare it everyone is going to be happy and eat and enjoy the food you prepared.

They are the best foods to personalize to your own individual taste, because you can start them off plain but add all the flavors and toppings you want, ensuring it will taste good and be eaten.

4) Easy on the tummy

An Old Palestinian Potato Home Remedy for Tummy Troubles

If you or any of your family are having stomach problems potatoes are a great solution.

As mentioned before, potatoes are filled with many beneficial nutrients and are made up of mostly water, making them very easy to digest. So if there is a stomach bug plaguing your house or if someone always has a sensitive stomach, potatoes are the answer.

5) Easy on the wallet

11 Cheap Meals to Make with Potatoes

One reason that potatoes could be on the dinner menu pretty often is that they are a pretty inexpensive side dish.

It’s easy to buy potatoes in large quantities for a really affordable price. Also, most potatoes are available year round, although they are even cheaper during potato harvesting season, which is usually early fall.

This also means that potatoes are a great option if you have to feed a lot of people but don’t want to spend a ton of money, hence why you see so many potato dishes served around the holidays.

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Potato Pizza Crust

That’s right, you can use potatoes for pizza crust! Need to go gluten free? No problem! This potato pizza crust is healthy and delicious, and it is sure to help satisfy that pizza craving.

This recipe is super simple, and most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen: gluten free flour (or regular flour if you don’t need to be gluten free), potatoes, corn starch, salt, baking powder, and other seasonings.

Find the full recipe at Knead to Cook.

Potato Toast

Sweet potato toast has really been a game changer, but not everyone likes sweet potatoes. So we’ve found a potato toast recipe that uses russet potatoes! (Of course if you are a die hard sweet potato lover, you keep on keepin on with those delicious and healthy sweet potatoes!)

This particular recipe from Spoon University is for Avocado Potato Toast, but once you’ve made your toast, you can add any toppings that your heart desires!

Blooming Sweet Potato

You’ve likely tried bloomin’ onions at your favorite steak restaurant. But have you tried this sweet and delicious twist on the classic? This is a great appetizer for parties and get togethers that your guests will keep coming back to.

You can find the full recipe at The Gunny Sack.

Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

Okay, I know this is along the same lines as the first, but it’s totally different! And who doesn’t love pizza?

This simple three-ingredient crust is for all you sweet potato lovers out there. All you need is sweet potatoes, rolled oats, and an egg.

You can thank Pinch of Yum for this brilliant recipe.

Potato Poppers

These tiny loaded potatoes are the potato dish you never knew you needed. Another great appetizer for parties, these potato poppers will keep your guests coming back for more all night long. So be sure to make plenty!

You can find the full recipe at Passion for Savings.

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We all know what Halloween is about. It’s been widely celebrated (and over- celebrated) in the United States, but other countries are not unaware of it either. That said, while I was ‘aware’ of Halloween, this is the first time I’ve witnessed and celebrated it with family in the U.S. We did the whole traditional ‘Trick-or-Treat’ thing, dressed up in character, watched the 1993 classic- ‘The nightmare before Christmas’–  and opened our home to ghosts and ghouls.

We ain’t afraid of No Ghosts! Celebrating Halloween 2016 with my lil Munsters.

That said, let’s get back to the Pumpkin. I have never carved a Pumpkin before and being my first year celebrating this hallowed ritual, I must shamefully admit, I cheated (sad face). I used eyes, nose and mouth cut-outs to create a face on the two pumpkins my lil pumpkin Sebastian, proudly picked from a pumpkin patch during his school trip to Ikenberry Orchards. He lugged his precious pumpkins all the way back home and excitedly placed them on our Kitchen counter one sunny Friday afternoon, a week before Halloween,  as if to say….’ok now. Do your thing, Mama!’ totally oblivious to the fact that I have never been this up close and personal with a (Halloween) Pumpkin before. Well Sebastian, Mama did ‘do her thing’ and she named the bigger one Kayden (our older son) and the smaller one Sebastian

Pumpkins carved, mission accomplished!

Kayden and Sebastian sat on our counter even after the rest of the Halloween decorations came down. Because I had not desecrated the pumpkins earlier, it meant that I could actually use them now and the possibilities were endless — pumpkin pie, pumpkin cupcakes, cookies, dips, shakes, lattes, smoothies. I researched the options online until pumpkins came out of my ears! I finally narrowed it down to Breakfast Pumpkin Pie Smoothie and Pumpkin Spice Latte because I love challenges, variety and everything caffeine! The results were yummy and my biggest tip here would be to use homemade Pumpkin Puree and a lot of store bought Pumpkin Spice like McCormick’s which is easily available and can be used for practically anything that requires that extra zing of Pumpkin flavoring.

I turned my leftover carved pumpkins into Breakfast Pumpkin Pie Smoothies & Pumpkin Spice Lattes

I have to admit, I’m looking forward to my next Halloween. Maybe I will hide and/or eat all the candy my kids bring home, maybe I won’t cheat next time and carve out a real Jack o’ lantern and maybe just maybe I’ll let evil take over and do the rest. The possibilities, especially when it comes to Pumpkins and spice……are endless!

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