Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Lazy Stew...recipe for the busy or weary

Days are often full to the brim with activities and dinner can be problematic...
I am tempted to dine on junk food but that is not what my body needs.
After a night of interrupted slumber... keeping a post-op kitty company...
energy runs low and the thought of preparing dinner flies out the window...

Enter Beef Daube Stew.


It is easy and quick to prepare...
it stews happily bubbling in the oven freeing up the cook to attend to other things.
(like a cat nap...yawn)

Beef Daube
1/4 c. oil
3lbs. chuck roast cubed
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c. flour
750 ml. bottle French Red wine
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1 tbsp. Herbs de Provence
1 bay leaf
4 carrots sliced
12 ozs. package of pitted prunes
onion chopped
parsley as garnish

I use a Le Creuset ovenproof pot, (Humble Bungalow Hostess chartruese green)
brown beef and onion in oil,
add flour stirring for 4 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Cook in oven at 325 degrees covered for 75 minutes.
Garnish with parsley and
Serve with soft bread (for mopping up the rich gravy)



green peas and orange carrots 
remind me of this...
(she says as she shakes her head)

these are
Made in Spain
and such a great idea
they
save messing about with cling film
I am not usually excited about a kitchen product but these really are amazing
(or maybe it's sleep deprivation)
100% platinum silicone
and
cheery colours



Pepper's food
she's got her appetitie back after her spaying
is wearing a Buster collar and is confined to a room that has been "cat proofed"
jumping is strongly discouraged 
I am hunkered down with tea, my book, and laptop
an improvised bed of sorts on the floor...
last night I hardly slept
I cat napped 
but I felt better keeping tabs on Pepper
and
she's doing pretty well all things considered.

I am lusting over the bedrooms and linens
 a


I almost forgot that I had taken this picture
 they look like coloured paper towels but they are much "greener"


Santa popped them in my stocking...
100% cotton cloths/napkins by the roll
you tear them off as you need them...

P.S. Julianne, if you are reading this,
there is no contact email on your Blogger profile...
please email me
you won the giveaway!

21 comments:

Annie ~ Red Roses and Crystal said...

Pleased to hear Pepper is doing well.
xx

LPC said...

There's nothing I like more than beef stew. Nothing!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Anne- Marie- She is sleeping lots and does purr when awake so she mustn't be in too much discomfort.

LPC- Do you have a favourite stew recipe? I'd like to have a few more of these one pot wonders.

Adrienne Shubin said...

Hostess,


The stew looks delish! And I have got to get some of those citrus keepers. What a smart idea.

I'm happy to hear Pepper is recovering. I'm sure you are an excellent kitty nurse.


Adrienne

P.S. I think your new background color on your blog is lovely. Great choice.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Adrienne- I suppose the experience of nursing sick children transfers to pets as well....I am glad that you approve of the new colours.

La Belette Rouge said...

You totally won me over with the prunes. It sounds strangely fantastic. Love it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.xo

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Oh this sounds good, I love the addition of the prunes...yummy. Happy to hear that Pepper is doing well after her surgery. I always think that dealing with medical events with pets is harder on the owner than the animal...it is so stressful!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

La Belette Rouge- The prunes are really delicious...they get all smooshy and sweet.

La Vie Quotidienne- You must have been down this road before...

Reggie Darling said...

One adores a good boeuf daube. I make mine from Patricia Wells' "Bistro Cooking" and it works like a charm every time. The trick is to butcher the beef oneself, taking a roast or chuck and cutting it in to larger (2 inches by 2 inches to 2 1/2 by 2 1/2) pieces than the precut stew beef that comes from one's butcher, which dries out too easily I find.

Karena said...

Mmmm beef stew in the winter, as we have another storm rolling in! Perfect!

Be sure to come and enter my Gorgeous Giveaway from Blydesign......

Xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Reggie Darling- Oh hello and welcome Reggie! I agree about cutting the roast that is what I do, and using a very sharp chef's knife to make the job easier...BTW I am so happy to have found your blog, your home is magnificent.

Karena- I'll pop right over pronto!

materfamilias said...

Yummm! Comfort food!

Judith said...

Have never heard of that beef stew before,sounds delice especially in this cold weather.

I made a beef stew with veg & dumplings yesterday,my hb's favourite.

Must try your recipe,love your photo & hair really suits you Hostess. Ida

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

materfamilias- This time of year I crave comfort...in all things!

ida- Oh thank you ida...dumplings are supreme in stew...your hb is a very lucky man having you to cook his favourite meal :)

Semi Expat said...

Hope Pepper recovers well and quickly. And I love the recipe and the post title really sounds perfect "for the busy or weary" (or both!!) XX

Frugal Scholar said...

I've been meaning for years to do a stew with prunes. Thanks for the inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Yum, yum, that recipe is coming home with me!

Fiona Ferris said...

I'm so happy to hear sweet Pepper is on the mend. And I will be filing away your recipe for winter. I love a good stew in my Le Crueset. The holy grail of one pot meals for me is to have all food groups combined - meat, bright veg and starch. But all perfectly cooked in their own way of course.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Semi Expat- I suppose one is weary because one has been busy :)

Frugal scholar- I hope that you like it, and it's not hard on the budget either :)

Tabitha- Good...hope that you like it too.

Fiona- I keep forgetting that your seasons are different from ours.

Julianne said...

The stew sound divine. Do the prunes cook apart. I am so going to make this! Did this Julianne win the giveaway? QWow I've never won one before! If so my email is milkyway54@aol.com.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Julianne...yes you won! The prunes soften very nicely...make certain that you buy pitted ones! I'll email you for your address.