Jan 7th, 2010 by hotinlittlerock
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Comfort Food
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Burrrrrrrr. This is about as cold as it has gotten in our years in Arkansas, and it reminds us of points much farther north and east. The remedy for cold is comfort food, and nothing is as comforting as a good, old fashioned beef stew (unless you are a vegetarian, of course, but then just leave out the beef and add lots more vegetables).
Sometimes we find meat already cut and labeled “stew meat,” but mostly we get a nice chuck roast (we prefer boneless) weighing about 2 lbs. Cut it into 1 inch square pieces. Place the beef into a plastic bag into which ½ cup of flour, salt and pepper has been mixed. Shake it vigorously so all the beef is well coated.
We prefer a good cast iron Dutch oven for the rest of the recipe. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil plus a tablespoon of butter and brown the meat. Then add two cloves of garlic that have been diced. When the garlic is just beginning to turn golden, add 2 cups of beef stock, two bay leaves, and two dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Put the lid on the pan and place in a 350 degree oven for 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Remove from the oven, and add the following: 1 package of frozen pearl onions, two large potatoes that have been cubed, two large carrots that have been slices into coins, 15 (or so) mushrooms, and two stalks of celery that has been sliced into small pieces. We like to put ¼ tsp of cloves, but this is optional. Add a half cup of red wine, replace the lid, and return to the oven for 45 minutes.
Now everything should be ready for a comforting evening meal. Add some crusty bread (or in a pinch, why not serve biscuits), a salad, and you are ready for an evening in front of the fire (or the television). Let the world outside take care of itself. You have just taken care of yourself and those you love.
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Posted in Food & Dining
