In reply to:

My mother in law made a dish, which my wife copied, consisting of hamburger browned very thoroughly with onion, then water added to the skillet to make a gravy, flavored with salt & pepper only, served over mashed potatoes.


This is a classic Irish dish--and just called boiled beef-- One cousin made it all the time for kids, when hubby was working late-- he hated the name of it-- but when he finally got arround to tasting-- he was surprized-- Not bad
He was italian, cousin, like me irish. He didn't think any irish food was good-- and the name "boiled beef" didn't help.