Super Salisbury Steak - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs lean ground beef
2 cups soft breadcrumbs (preferably from \"rustic\" type bread or home-made bread, white or wheat)
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
onion powder, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 onion, sliced
8 ounces sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 cup red wine (optional)
32 ounces beef broth
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

Preparation

Mix together the meat, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, onion powder and garlic powder. (I use my hands.).
Form meat into 8 oblong patties.
Heat vegetable oil (medium high heat) in a large dutch-oven type pan.
Fry patties (in batches if necessary) about 4 minutes per side. You just want them to brown nicely - they won't be \"done\". Adjust heat if necessary to prevent over-browning.
Remove patties to a plate.
Pour off all but about 1 T of fat in the pan.
Add sliced onions and break them apart into rings. Also add mushrooms if using.
If pan gets too dry, add a small amount of the wine (if using) and/or the beef broth.
Stir with wooden spoon to get all those delicious browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
Cook, stirring frequently until the onion rings are limp and well browned.
Add the rest of the wine and boil for a few minutes to reduce the liquid.
Add the beef broth and bring to a boil.
In a small container with a tight fitting lid, add water to the cornstarch, attach lid and shake vigorously.
Slowly pour the cornstarch liquid into the boiling broth, while stirring.
When gravy has thickened, gently set the meat patties back into the pan and spoon gravy over the top of any patties needing it.
Lid the pot, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.