Very Yummy Beef Stew

Ingredients & Directions:

Season 2 pounds boneless beef stew meat with:

1/2 to 1 tsp dried herbs (thyme, marjoram, savory, oregano, and/or basil)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper.

Dredge in: 1/2 cup all purpose flour. Shake off any excess flour.

Heat in Dutch oven over medium-high heat 2 Tbsp olive oil, vegetable oil, bacon fat or beef drippings

Add the meat in batches and brown all sides, being careful not to crowd the pot or scortch the meat. Remove with slotted spoon. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp of fat from the pot ( or add more if needed). Add:

1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 small rib celery, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped

Cover and cook, stirring often, over medium heat until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add:

2 bay leaves
1/2 to 1 tsp dried herbs, same as above
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Add: 2 to 3 cups beef or chicken stock or broth, dry red wine or white wine, or beer.{enough to cover the meat at least half way}

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently until meat is fork-tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add:

2 to 3 carrots, cut into chunks
3-4 boiling potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
(2 turnips, peeled and cut into chunks)
(2 parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks)

Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, 35 to 40 minutes. remove the pot from the heat, skim off any fat from the surface, and remove the bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning. Thicken the sauce by whisking 1-1 1/2 Tbps Kneaded Butter into the stew:

Kneaded butter:

Work 2 Tbsp softened butter and 2 Tbsp flour together with your fingers, as though you were making pastry. Form into pea sized balls and drop into hot liquid, whisking until the ingredients are well blended an the sauce thickens. This amount is sufficient for 1 cut of liquid.

Simmering until thickened. Garnish with Chopped parsley

Fresh Fruit and Cream Tarts

NOTE: Before you try this recipe, read it through completely. There are many steps and many waiting times. To get your timing right, you must read it through completely first.

Pastry Cream {Chill time: 4 hours}
In a medium heavy saucepan combine:
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
Gradually stir in 2 cups half and half cream or light cream. If desired, add one vanilla bean split lengthwise.
Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir one minute more.
Gradually stir half of the hot mixture into 4 beaten egg yolks.
Return all of egg yolk mixture to sauce pan and bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Remove vanilla bean. strain into a bowl. if not using vanilla bean, stir in 1 Tbsp liquid vanilla.
Place bowl of pastry cream into a bowl of ice water; chill for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Chill in refrigerator for at least four hours before serving. Do not stir.
Makes 2 cups.

Rich Tart Pastry {Chill time: 30 minutes}
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cold butter
2 beaten egg yolks
1 T ice water

1. In a medium bowl, mix together flour and sugar. using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour until pieces are pea size. In a small bowl still together egg yolks and ice water. Gradually stir together egg yolk mixture into flour mixture. using your fingers, gently kneadthe dough just until a ball forms. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 - 60 minutes or until dough is easy to handle.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. On a floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten the dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a circle 12 inches in diameter.
3. Transfer pastry into a 10 inch tart pan with a removable bottom without stretching it(we used a plain pie plate and it still turned out nicely). Press pastry into the sides and trim the edges. Prick the bottom and the sides of the pastry. Line pastry with a double layer of foil. bake for 8 minutes. remove the foil and bake for 5-6 minutes longer or until shell is golden. Cool shell(s) on wire rack.

Cream Pie:
Divide Pastry Cream evenly among the shells. arrange desired fresh fruit on top of each tart. To serve, remove sides of tart pans. Tarts can be assembled and chilled for up to 4 hours before serving.

Spinach & Strawberry Salad

SO FRESH TASTING AND VERY MUCH A SEASONAL DISH. MAKE USE OF THOSE STRAWBERRIES WHILE YOU CAN!

Dressing:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 t paprika
1/4 t worcestershire
1 T minced onion
2 T sesame seeds
1 T poppy seeds

Toss with spinach, chopped strawberries and toasted almond slices.

Cornbread

SO MUCH YUMMIER THAN TRADITIONAL CORNBREAD. THIS STUFF HAS A HINT OF SWEETNESS AND A LOT MORE MOISTURE.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup honey

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix all dry ingredient together.
3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs together. Add whipping ream, butter and honey.
4. Scoop into prepared muffin tins, or 9x9 pan, and bake for 20-25 minutes.