Dutch Oven Beef Stew

I got a lot of new kitchen supplies for Christmas and I am looking forward to trying them all out. I decided to test out my new cast iron Dutch oven. I have wanted one of these for a long time, and was so excited to use it.

Here are the ingredients you will need for this aromatic beef stew:

• 2lbs stewing beef (cut into small chunks)
• 1 cup chopped sweet onions
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 3 med. potatoes chopped
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup beer
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup flour for coating beef

Here is how you make it:

Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch Oven over medium heat. Coat your beef chunks in flour and add to the heated oil. Braise the beef for a few minutes.

Add onions, carrots and potatoes.

Pour in Beer and Beef broth.
Add Salt, Pepper, Thyme, and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and summer for 2 hours. Stir occasionally, adding more beef broth and/or beer if necessary.
ENJOY!!

Easy Eye of Round Roast Beef

This is a perfect weeknight roast that you can put on in the morning before you head to work! Come home to a cooked dinner and a house that smells amazing!
Ingredients:

• Eye of round roast beef
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 packages beef bullion
• 1 cup water
• 1-2 tbsp flour

Butterfly the roast by cutting length wise down the roast. Place in the slow cooker that has been coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the entire roast. Stuff the garlic inside the roast where you cut.

In measuring cup mix 1 cup of hot water with the 2 packages of bullion. Pour over the roast. Cook on Low for 6-8 hrs. Baste occasionally if possible.
Remove roast from cooker and let set for 10 minutes. Carve.

Remove the drippings from the bottom of the cooker, add 1-2 tbsp flour and pour into a gravy boat. ENJOY!

Quick Beef Chow Mien

This is a super fast, really flavourful chow mien dish!
Ingredients:

• 1 pkg fast fry beef, cut into thin slices
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 4 tbsp soya sauce
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup matchstick carrots
• 1/2 a yellow pepper, matchstick
• a sprinkle of sesame seeds
• 1 pkg instant chow mien noodles

Boil a package of chow mein noodles as per instruction. (I use the instant ones, boil for 2 minutes)

Heat some sesame oil in a frying pan. Brown the beef, do NOT overcook.
Add 2tbsp soya sauce, lime juice, carrots, peppers and sesame seeds, mix. Cook for 1 minute. Put into a bowl and set aside.

Using the same pan from the beef, place the strained noodles in and add 2 tbsp soya sauce. Cook an additional 1 minute.

Add the meat back into the pan and stir fry for 2 minutes.

Serve and ENJOY!!

Easy Steak Sandwiches

This recipe is perfect for week nights with little time to prepare dinner!!

Ingredients:

• 2 fresh Italian sandwich rolls or Kaiser buns, split in half crosswise
• 1 white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound rib-eye steak, very very thinly shaved or sliced
• 1/3 pound shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• BBQ sauce
• Garlic butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. When hot add the oil and onions, stirring until caramelized, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and salt, stirring for 30 seconds. Put in a bowl.

Add the meat to the hot pan and cook, stirring and breaking up with the back of a spatula, until almost no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Mix in the Sauteed vegetables. Add some BBQ sauce to lightly coat.

Spread buns with garlic butter, place meat on bun, top with cheese and bake until cheese is melted.

Serve warm and ENJOY!!

Prime Rib Roast

Tonight we had a few friends over for dinner... I had no idea what to make so I headed to the grocery store in hopes of some inspiration. I saw some nice Prime Ribs for a decent price- so I decided to grab one and try it out! It was really easy to make!

Ingredients

4 cloves of garlic
2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbs rosemary flakes
1 tbs thyme leaves
1 standing rib roast of beef (about 3 pounds)
3/4 cup red wine, plus 1 more cup if making au jus, optional
1/4 cup beef stock, plus 1 more cups if making au jus, optional

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Place the garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme in a bowl and stir to blend. Pat this mixture evenly over the top and sides of the roast.

Place the roast in a roasting pan and add red wine and beef stock to the bottom of the pan. My roast wouldn't stand properly, so I slid 2 skewers through it that rested on the sides of the pan- this worked great!

Roast for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue to roast to the desired degree of doneness, about 18 minutes per pound for rare and 22 minutes per pound for medium. Let stand at least 15 minutes before carving. Internal temperature should be 150-160 degrees F.

If making au jus, place the roasting pan on the stove burners over medium-high heat. Add red wine and scrape the browned bits on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add beef stock and season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Strain the sauce through a sieve to remove the solids before serving. De-grease, if necessary.

Enjoy!!

"Fall" Beef Stew

After a great day of apple picking and baking with the apples I really wanted a truly "fall" meal to finish off a wonderful fall day.

This stew was super easy to make, and we all really enjoyed it!!

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg stewing beef
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• 3 med potatoes (cubed)
• ¼ of an onion (chopped)
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 packages beef bullion
• Water

First you saute the onion and garlic with some olive oil in a large pot. Once the onions are browned remove them both from the pot.

Braise the stewing beef a bit at a time in the hot oil, add more oil if necessary. Add onions and garlic back into the pot along with the potatoes and carrots.

Pour just enough water into the pot to cover its contents. Add 1-2 packages beef bouillon powder (depending how flavourful you would like it). Simmer on low-med heat for 1 hour.

Serve with some fresh french bread and enjoy!