What's Cooking? Beef Stew and ohhh does it ever smell good!

We woke this morning to some very cool temperatures (low 50's) and just a perfect day to make soup don't you think?  Let's see what we have in the fridge shall we? 

Hmmm...we have some beef, onion, garlic, carrots, celery and some left over pan drippings from a chicken dish the other night...looks like it will be beef stew.  The children had some assignments to complete in their workbooks which gave me time to prepare the stew.  With aprons on...let's get started! 

I put a few tablespoons of oil in my stock pot, add fresh garlic (I usually always start with 3 cloves sometimes more) and saute...

While the garlic is sautéing I cut up the beef into about 1-inch cubes...

With the amount of beef...I would say about a pound or more depending on your family's preference and for us...what is on sale!  A little can go a very long way! 

I have a very cute little helper...

...and if I am not careful...I might step on her!  Little Miss Muffin is such a people person.  She has to be where we are especially if momma is in the kitchen cooking!  She has learned that sometimes...every once in awhile...but not too often...momma might drop a little scooby snack and she just wants to make sure she doesn't miss it! 

Add the beef to the pot and cook for about 15 minutes giving it an occasional stir to allow the beef to brown on all sides.  At this point I will add a bit of Worcestershire Sauce as a browning sauce.  I'm sorry I don't have measurements...I have made this so much by memory and really by just looking and smelling. 

Add hot water (or soup stock if you have it on hand...here I used pan bits & drippings I cooked from a previous chicken dish...I try not to let anything go to waste!)...and fill to the top allowing room for the vegetables...

Add seasonings (salt, pepper, bay leaves, etc.)...

(Blaine got me to giggling in this picture.  You can't see my shaking my head at him...he is such a hoot and keeps me continually smiling!)

Heat pot to boiling...

...reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until the beef is almost tender.  By now the house is smelling wonderful!  To me...you can't beat the fragrance of a meal cooking in the kitchen and to have everyone in the house say, "Mom!  What is that that smells so good?!"  It is love from kitchen!

Time to check on the children and see what they are up to.  With my coheart (yes I am aware the correct spelling is cohort but Muffin has stolen our hearts...so coheart it is!) we are off to find the munchkins...

David is in the Dining Room (what a silly face!) And where is Miss Sarah?

Muffin?  You know better than to jump on the couch!

Muffin!

You found Sarah!

Ummm...Sarah...what are you doing back there?

She found a quiet little nook to do her spelling and Muffin wants to help I'm sure!

Two Hours later...

It is time to add the veggies to our stew...

I do not have a particular way of cutting up the vegetables but I do try to keep in mind the way Blaine likes its and what he likes in his soup...celery is a must.  I usually use what we have on hand and try to use up any leftovers from the fridge/freezer.

Here is a little tip for those days you find you are out of celery or celery seed for making stock and soups/stews.  I will take off the leaves from the celery and dehyrdrate them by placing them in the oven for a few minutes until they become dried out...

Store in a glass container to save and use for later.

After cutting up the veggies...I add them to the stock pot and bring to another boil...

At this time I take out a cup of the just the liquid and allow to come to room temperature...

To this, I will add flour.  The flour breaks down easier when you use cold liquids and it will also thicken up your soups.  I use a glass jar...

...and give it a good shake.  Be sure that the lid is on tight!

Now you have a thickener to add to your soup without all the lumps.  Stir well and allow to simmer for another 30 minutes.

For specific ingredients or measurements on this, you can use any beef stew recipe as a guideline.  For chicken stew...just replace the beef with cut up chicken.  Beef Burgundy Stew...add 3 1/2 cups of red Burgundy...I use red wine from time to time.  The alcohol cooks out and leaves behind a wonderful flavor!

Around the House...

Carolyn arrived just before noon and we had the nicest visit...we always do and love that she is here most of the day with us on Wednesdays.  We had a nice lunch while Blaine was on the roof (again) fixing an area the birds had been sneaking into the attic and making a nest.  Between teaching lessons and a quick run to the store I did manage to get a few things done around here.  One thing on my list was ironing! 

This used to not be my favorite thing to do but you know what?  I sure do enjoy being able to pick out something to wear and not worrying about having to iron it.  I can just put it on and go.  Actually my least favorite thing to do is dust.  It is not that it is a difficult task...but by the time I get to it...I would rather be doing something...anything else!  Because of my disdain for dusting...I started breaking down each area of my home to include this task.  I used to think and feel that everything had to be done at the same time and all in one shot or it just didn't feel like I had cleaned the house properly.  Wrong!  I would spend 2 - 3 hours cleaning house doing it that way.  I just can't do that with our schedule.  Something had to give and who said it had to be done that way? 

(Note to the woman in California who is so worried about me wearing heels all the time...Look!  I do actually wear tennies!) 

Ironing can be a great time to think, pray and just be.  I love how clothes smell when you steam iron them and I can't wait until we get our clothes line put up!  I remember staying at my grandmother's house and falling asleep between sheets that had been hung on the line...ohhh did they smell so good!  Listening to the radio or music while ironing makes the time pass by and before I know it...I'm finished with my pile.  Tomorrow I will be so glad I took the time to iron!  Normally, I iron our (Master Bedroom) laundry on Tuesdays but I had a luncheon date with a dear friend and sometimes you just have to be willing to sacrifice a few things for your friends!   

I did have time to do some crocheting today.  I love to crochet and I have quite a few projects lined up to do but right now I am making an afghan for my oldest son Christopher.  He needs a soft blanket aside from those rough ones the Navy has provided for him on the ship...carrier...vessel...Chris will correct me I'm sure on that one!  I do hope he likes it and it will be a little piece of home.  It has been hard to get him things for birthdays and Christmas.  With him living on the boat...he does not have a lot of storage.  I have sent him care packages with goodies in it but most of those things are of the edible kind.  When he mentioned me making an afghan for him...I thought where would he put it?!  When I asked Chris that he said very matter of fact like..."Mom?  On my bed?!"    Gee...why didn't I think of that?!  <giggling>  How my children have survived me being their momma is beyond me! 

I'm off to bed...it is supposed to get down in the low 40's tonight!