Have you ever heard someone describe themselves as a meat and potatoes kind of person?  That always struck me as odd, but it is true that meat and potatoes are a traditional type of meal, and it indicates a person who is down to earth and back to basics.  In our house, we eat meat and potatoes fairly frequently – perhaps once a week.

Meat and potatoes are so versatile.  You can prepare the potatoes in many different ways to complement all kinds of meat.  In fact, I don’t think I have tried a meat that potatoes wouldn’t taste well with.

As many of us are finding our budgets reduced, potatoes make an excellent filler food for an astoundingly low price.

For grilled steaks, baked potatoes are almost essential.  Pork chops and mashed potatoes go hand in hand, and chicken with au gratin potatoes simply cannot be beat.

The other night, we fried up steak strips and ate them with mashed potatoes that had a dash of wasabi paste mixed in.  Those, along with some stir fry cabbage, made for an excellent meal filled with vitamins and protein.

You can mix up a hamburger soup with already cooked hamburger, a can or two of tomato sauce, and a mixture of veggies including potatoes, carrots, celery, onions and parsnips.  Sprinkle in some Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and serve with some fresh-baked rolls for a perfect cold weather comfort dinner.

Do you have some tried and true meat and potato dishes that frequently make it to your dinner table?