Cooking

Beef Stew

~ lindy

 

This is a Basic Beef Stew recipe we made at our St.Patrick’s Day Dinner, along with Reuben Sandwich.

 

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*This is partially a Crock-Pot Style Beef Stew.  I like to Braise the beef Stew pieces to bring out more flavor but you can combine all the ingredients in the Crock-Pot and slow cook for easy fixing.

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Beef Stew

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*2 pounds Beef Stew Meat Super Trim or trim off extra fat, braise  for extra flavor
*2 tablespoons extra Light Olive Oil, or Butter, sautéing meat
*1/2 teaspoon fresh ground Black Pepper
*1 teaspoon Sea Salt
*4 large Carrots,Chopped
*4 Celery Sticks, Chopped
*4 Coves Garlic, minced or pressed
*1/2 cup minced onions
*1/3 cup Tomato paste or 1 can 14 ounce Diced Tomatoes, puréed
*2 cans 14.5 ounce Beef Broth (50 percent less sodium), more if needed
*12 ounces Coca Cola
*1/8 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, optional
*1/2 cup Quaker Quick Barley
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In a heated seasoned cast iron skillet with olive oil on medium heat.  Add stew beef seasoned with pepper and salt, braise or brown the stew beef on all sides if possible and add to a crock-pot with liner.  Add the remaining ingredients except for the Quick Barley and add the last 1-2 hours of cooking, cook the beef stew on high for about 4-6 hours or on low for 8 hours or until beef is very tender.
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Optional:  I also boil the potatoes and carrots until barely tender and add the last two hours of cooking.
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Enjoy!

 

Lindy

Jalapeño Orange Lime Soda

~ lindy

 

Jalapeño Orange Lime Soda

 

Flavored Simple Syrup 
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*1/2 cup Water
*1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
*4 Limes, Juiced
*Zest Peel of all 4 Limes
*1 Orange, Juiced
*Zest Peel of 1 Orange
*1-2 Jalapeño, sliced  (use seeds for heat if desired)
*1 Jalapeño, sliced for garnish (optional)
*Chilled Lemon lime Soda
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In a small sauce pan simmer 2-3 minutes on medium heat adding the above ingredients (except for the lime Juice, orange juice and lemon lime soda) until sugar has dissolved.  Remove sauce pan from stove and strain fruit peels and jalapenos and allow flavored simple syrup to cool at room temperature and add lime and orange juice, then refrigerate  until ready to serve with lime soda.
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Note:  We made shoot glass size drinks adding about a teaspoon of the flavored simple syrup or make to your taste.  Fill the rest of the glass with chilled Lemon Lime Soda and garnish with a Jalapeno, Orange or Lime slice and etc…
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Recipe adapted from Keep it Simple Sweetie
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Note:  Your juice will be a little more orange than the drink pictured.
   
 

            

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Lindy