Ingredients

Serves: 4 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil

Half an onion

Two cloves of garlic mined

1½ pounds of ground beef

Two 10 ¾ ounce cans of golden mushroom soup

Recapturing and recycling graywater from sinks and showers for non-potable uses like flushing toilets or watering plants will help preserve fresh water. And, of course, insulate pipes to prevent freezing and minimize heat loss from hot water.

Bright Ideas for Energy Efficient Lighting

Shine smart all year long by replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. They use significantly less energy, last much longer and are usually brighter than old-style bulbs. To reduce waste and brighten winter nights, implement layered lighting strategies— use task lighting to avoid turning on more lights than necessary in larger spaces.

Bonus points for automating lighting systems indoors and out. This will help you cut down on wasted energy by keeping the home lights burning only when you need them and preventing wasted energy if you forget to turn them off.

Year-Round Green Thumbs

Winter might not seem like a great time to garden, but cold frames, heated greenhouses and indoor grow rooms can let you grow hardy greens, herbs and even sensitive plants, depending on your setup. This can mean fresh veggies all winter with fewer trips to the grocery store.

Winter is also the perfect time to start gearing up for next year’ s garden. Store seeds from fall’ s harvest to plant in spring, put together your garden plan and start seeds for transplanting to keep you dreaming of digging in the dirt even though the snow is falling.

Preserve Food Like a Pro

Stage a root-cellar revival. This traditional, low-energy solution for storing winter vegetables like potatoes,

carrots, onions and squash was popular way back when for a reason: it works!

If you grow a garden or have access to plentiful and inexpensive fruits and veggies during harvest time, consider canning, preserving, dehydrating, vacuum sealing and even freezing. You can extend the shelf life of summer’ s bounty by making pickles, jams, stewed tomatoes, applesauce, dried snacks, soup mixes and more.

Waste Not, Want Not

It’ s not winter specific, but thinking about how you buy, use and dispose of household and personal items can help you make little changes that have big impact. Repurpose and upcycle old items by finding new uses for everything from clothing to containers.

Shrink your consumer status by purchasing staples in bulk to minimize packaging waste and save money. As a bonus, you’ ll need to shop less often, which can help you avoid impulse buys and pricey runs to town. Look into products in less waste-heavy forms, too. For example, shampoo bars, laundry detergent sheets and bleach tabs are concentrated products that will keep you from paying for added water and lugging and storing big bottles of heavy liquids.

If you’ re feeling crafty, make your own cleaning products and personal care items from natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. They’ re less expensive, more eco-friendly and— bonus— you’ ll never run out.

Incorporating these strategies can help winter feel less like a challenge and more like a chance to live a sustainable life. You’ ll stay warm, save energy and keep your homestead thriving through the colder months. With the right approach, winter can become a season of capability, coziness and connection to the place you call home.

Half a cup of Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

Dash or two of freshly cracked black pepper

One egg, slightly beaten

Half a cup of water

One container of fresh, sliced button mushrooms( or small portobellos)

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet on a medium-heat stove burner.

Sauté the onion and garlic in hot oil for two minutes or until tender.

Add the ground beef, ½ cup of the soup, breadcrumbs, egg and pepper.

Mix well and shape into six patties, about ¾ inch to 1 inch thick.

Arrange the patties in a two-quart glass baking pan and cook for five minutes in a microwave oven.

Turn over the patties and cook for another five minutes. Drain grease.

Mix the remaining ½ cup of soup with water. Pour over the meat patties.

Add the sliced mushrooms to the gravy.

Cook in the microwave oven on high for three minutes or until the meat is cooked as desired.

Turn the patties over and cook for another three minutes or until the meat is cooked as desired.

With this simple Salisbury steak recipe, you can enjoy a hearty, homemade meal without the hassle. The savory combination of seasoned beef patties and rich mushroom gravy makes it a comforting dish perfect for any night of the week. Whether you ' re short on time or just looking for a no-fuss recipe, this microwave-friendly method delivers delicious results every time.

About the Author:

Roz Corieri Paige is the author of La Bella Vita Cucina, a food and lifestyle blog where she inspires others to live life more deliciously and beautifully, whether in the kitchen or the garden. Find out more Roz at www. italianbellavita. com.