Beef Stew

Fall is in the air and I have been craving fall comfort food like it is going out of style. I want pot pie, stew, soup, and pumpkin everything. I have recently discovered food network. I don't know how I have missed it for the 5 years we have had direct TV. It was one of those channels I kept meaning to find and watch while I was doing random things around the house, but I kept forgetting. One day last week, Lexi and I were having a slow day at home and I finally remembered and found it. I am hooked. I have already gotten and tried couple recipes off of it and all were amazing. A few days ago I had it on and the cook was making beef stew. I have never been a huge fan of beef stew, it just seemed to bland to me, but this one looked amazing and  flavorful so I had to try it. Sure enough, it turned out great.

Beef Stew

 

Marinate 2 ½ lbs chuck roast in 1 bottle of red wine, a sprig of fresh rosemary, 2 or 3 bay leaves, and 3 cloves of garlic not chopped for a few hours or overnight. 

 

Drain beef and reserve marinade. Toss beef in seasoned flour (I used seasoning salt) and sauté in olive oil until browned on all sides. Put in dutch oven or crock pot.

 Cut carrots and onion into big chunks. Halve or quarter potatoes. Remove stems from 1 lb mushrooms. Add vegetable to saucepan and a little more olive oil and sauté for 10 min or until brown. When almost done, add 2 cloves minced garlic. Add vegetables to dutch oven or crock pot.

Strain marinade and add to sauce pan and stir to loosen up brown bits. Pour marinade in dutch oven or crock pot. Also add 2 cups chicken broth, 2 T Worcestershire sauce, 2 t salt, 2 t pepper, ½ cup sun dried tomatoes, 1 sprig fresh rosemary. In crock pot, cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. In dutch oven, bake at 350 for 2 to 3 hours.

Material etc.

Fall is in the air and I am starting to panic. I have great ambitions to be a very creative wife. I want to cook wonderful, healthy meals for my family, have an active social life, be a fun and organized mom, and, the reason for my current panic, sew adorable clothes for Lexi. Between the beginning of  fall hustle and bustle of Bible studies starting up, joining the church choir, dealing with a sick child, and trying to make it for a few of my husband's basket ball games, I am afraid that starting up my sewing projects has fallen behind. I looked at the date today and realized that my goal was to have all her clothes sewn by October and I haven't even started one outfit. Not only that, but I haven't even bought material to start. Today, I was going for an early morning errand of picking up a couple of things from the health food store and running by a local sewing shop for some interfacing, where I saw it...



the perfect fall material for one of my sewing projects for Lexi. Buying this material has given me hope that I will actually sew some of her clothes and this isn't just a distant dream of an overly ambitions mom. Finally some of my thoughts came together and I have a clear vision for an outfit. I shall make this adorable dress with it...



I'll probably embellish it a little more. Maybe ribbon or something at the hem. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Now I must go sew!