Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Thursday, March 31, 2011

Rainy Day Beef Stew

Today was kind of a dreary day. Cloudy....drizzly rain...not too cold, but long sleeves felt nice. Before I ran out to do errands, I set out some stew meat to thaw. All the while I was gone, I kept thinking about that stew meat. I kept thinking how good that stew was going to taste on this dreary, drizzly day. Was I right? Oh yes...I was right. To be perfectly honest, I haven't made stew in for-EV-ah...so maybe that's one reason I was looking forward to it so much. I was glad I made the "executive" (read: chief cook and bottle washer) decision and made stew. I was a happy girl tonight.

Rainy Day Beef Stew



3 tablespoons oil
2 pounds stew meat
3 cups potatoes - 1 inch dice, unpeeled
2 cups carrots - sliced into coins
1 medium onion - large dice
2 32-ounce containers beef broth
1/2 cup flour - divided use
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Kitchen Bouquet
Salt & Pepper to taste
A few shakes of Worcestershire sauce

Heat oil into a large dutch oven over medium high heat.

In a large zip top bag, combine 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add stew meat and shake well until all stew meat is covered. Dump the meat into the hot oil and let it brown on all sides for about 10 minutes.

Add all chopped veggies and beef broth, reserving 1 cup of the broth. Add a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer on low heat for a couple of hours.

Combine reserved beef broth and remaining 1/4 cup flour in a small bowl. Add to stew and let simmer for another 30 minutes or so.

The stuff for the stew.....except the Worcestershire sauce. But I used it. Cross my heart.
The stuff for the stew.....except 
the Worcestershire sauce. But I used it. 
Cross my heart.
 
Shake the meat together with the flour, salt and pepper.
Shake the meat together with 
the flour, salt and pepper.
 
Lightly dusted...you don't want a thick coating.
Lightly dusted...you don't want a thick coating.
 
Add it to the heated oil and let it cook for a few minutes.
Add it to the heated oil and let
 it cook for a few minutes.
 
Then add the diced veggies. Remember...you're only cooking this for a couple of hours so you don't want big chunks of veggies. Small-ish dice + short cooking time = tender veggies.
Then add the diced veggies. 
Remember...you're only cooking 
this for a couple of hours so you 
don't want big chunks of veggies. 
Small-ish dice + short cooking time = tender veggies.
 
Add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste.
Add the beef broth and Worcestershire 
sauce, salt and pepper to taste.
 
Add 1/4 cup flour and the 1 cup of reserved beef broth.
Add 1/4 cup flour and the 1 cup
 of reserved beef broth.
 
Pour it into the stew to thicken it up.
Pour it into the stew to thicken it up.
 
Add the Kitchen Bouquet and allow to cook for another 30 minutes. If you've never used Kitchen Bouquet, you should! It's used to add flavor and to brown gravies and stews. Good stuff!
Add the Kitchen Bouquet and allow 
to cook for another 30 minutes. If you've 
never used Kitchen Bouquet, you should! 
It's used to add flavor and to brown gravies and stews. 
Good stuff!
 
Dee-lish!!
Dee-lish!!