Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Big Mistake


This morning Ballerina and I went through a box full of old papers that needed to be shredded. Our shredder broke last year and I really wanted to get rid of the pile. So Ballerina and I took care of those papers old school style. We ripped them into little pieces. I could not believe that she had the desire and attention to help me with the whole pile. In the mix of the papers was an old "Better Homes and Garden" magazine. It was from October 2006, so I decided to look through the magazine.



As I looked through the magazine I started to crave Autumn. I was wishing for mums in my front yard. Dreaming of gourds and pumpkins in arrangements on the back deck. I even imagined myself sitting by the outside fire smelling the leaves while eating soup, no wait... chili, even better pot roast stew. Yummo!!!




I had to yell at myself to snap out of it. We still have most of summer. What is my problem? Well I don't have all day to tell you but I think that I want fall so much because it's been so hot. I also think it's because Tommy and I took our vacation early this year. We usually have vacation in August or September. As, I closed the magazine I said enjoy the rest of the summer. I continued going through the pile of papers and found my favorite Beef Stew Recipe. I have made this several times and it is so worth all the work. I thought I would share it with you!!
It's from one of my favorite chefs...Ina aka Barefoot Contessa. She is a goddess is my book.





Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds good quality chuck beef, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 (750-ml bottle) good red wine
3 whole garlic cloves, smashed
3 bay leaves
2 cups all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Good olive oil
2 yellow onions, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut diagonally in 1 1/2-inch chunks
1/2 pound white mushrooms, stems discarded and cut in 1/2
1 pound small potatoes, halved or quartered
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 cups or 1 (14 1/2-ounce can) chicken stock or broth
1 large (or 2 small) branch fresh rosemary
1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas
Directions
Place the beef in a bowl with red wine, garlic, and bay leaves. Place in the refrigerator and marinate overnight.

The next day, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine the flour, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper. Lift the beef out of the marinade with a slotted spoon and discard the bay leaves and garlic, saving the marinade. In batches, dredge the cubes of beef in the flour mixture and then shake off the excess. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot and brown half the beef over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, turning to brown evenly. Place the beef in a large oven-proof Dutch oven and continue to brown the remaining beef, adding oil as necessary. (If the beef is very lean, you'll need more oil.) Place all the beef in the Dutch oven.

Heat another 2 tablespoons of oil to the large pot and add the onions, carrots, mushrooms, and potatoes. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Place all the vegetables in the Dutch oven over the beef. Add 2 1/2 cups of the reserved marinade to the empty pot and cook over high heat to deglaze the bottom of the pan, scraping up all the brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken stock, rosemary, sun-dried tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables in the Dutch oven and bring to a simmer over medium heat on top of the stove. Cover the pot and place it in the oven to bake it for about 2 hours, until the meat and vegetables are all tender, stirring once during cooking. If the stew is boiling rather than simmering, lower the heat to 250 or 275 degrees F.

Before serving, stir in the frozen peas, season to taste, and serve hot.

Doesn't that look so tasty? Don't you want some? Come visit me in the fall and I will make you some!!

Back to the task at hand summer and getting the North Wing finished!! I saw an awesome idea for my little area.



Couldn't you just see me sitting in there with a cup of coffee making you your holiday gift. HAHAH!!!! Someone yell at me for mentioning the holidays!!! I think I should go jump in the pool!!!

Have a great day!!




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