Filling
-1 lb ground beef
-10 oz mushrooms
-onion
-1 t. fresh thyme or equivalent dried
-2 medium zucchini (2 c) or other vegetables (green beans)
-1 6oz can tomato paste
-salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
-2 T butter (1 T can be leftover grease from beef)
-2 T flour
-1 T Dijon mustard
-2 c whole milk
-1 c orange cheese
-pinch nutmeg
-1/2 t black pepper
Toppings
-tater tots
-1/2 c cheese
1. Brown ground beef. Add mushrooms and onion (remove some of the grease or add butter, as needed). Cook until soft and tender 5-7 minutes. Add thyme, vegetables, tomato paste, salt and pepper and cook until heated through. Put in a 9x9 pan.
2. Melt butter in the same pan and add flour. Whisk in mustard for a minute and then milk, until mixture is completely blended and hot. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, nutmeg, and pepper. Pour over beef mixture in pan. Some can be reserved to put on top of tater tots.
3. Top with tater tots and extra cheese and sauce if desired. It gets a little mushy with sauce on top. Cook for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Cook some of the tots on a separate cooking sheet if you want some crispy ones.
