Savory Beef Stew

Hey Girls,

Man, there is nothing like a good soup or stew to warm up with during this season, is there?  This beef stew recipe is one of my favorites, and not just because it's so delicious.  It has just a few ingredients and is simple to put together...which means more time to cozy up with a blanket and a good book!  (My kinda day, my kinda meal!) 

The beef is so tender it falls apart if you just look at it, and practically melts in your mouth.  And the gravy is so thick and savory.  Served with some crusty bread topped with butter, this stew is a very filling meal that tastes a lot more complicated than it really is.

Enjoy!

Love,

Savory Beef Stew

3 T olive oil
2 lb cubed stew meat
1 med onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 oz beer (lager is good)
3 1/2 C beef broth
2 T tomato paste
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 t sugar
1/2 t paprika
8 new potatoes, quartered
4 carrots, sliced diagonally
3 T all-purpose flour
finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)

1.  Heat oil in large pot or Dutch oven over med-high heat.  Season beef with salt and pepper.  Working in two batches, brown meat on all sides.  Remove to plate.

2.  Add onion to pot and reduce heat to low.  Cook, stirring, until softened.  Add garlic and cook, stirring, about one minute.

3.  Pour in beer.  Add broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire, sugar, paprika, about 1/2 t salt, and pepper to taste.

4.  Return beef to pot.  Simmer until meat is tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

5.  Stir in potatoes and carrots.  Simmer until vegetables are tender and meat is very tender, 30 to 40 minutes longer.

6.  Remove 1 C of liquid from pot and slowly whisk in flour.  Stir back into pot and bring to a gentle boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired, just before serving.

So, what about you...what's your favorite warm-me-up soup or stew?

Brownie Mallow Bars

Dear Girls,

Last weekend was busy, but we still managed to have a little fun.  Dad dragged the kitchen table out into the living room and I helped you build the most awesomest fort ever.  Seriously, it was really cool.  It's nice to know my fort-building abilities are still alive and well.  I relish these little opportunities you give me to be a kid again.

Then, once you settled inside, I served what you later called "the BEST brownies ever."

 

I got this recipe back when I was working as a nursing assistant.  One day the family of one my patients brought these in for all the nurses.  They told us these brownies had won best dessert recipe at a country fair.  What country fair, you ask?  I don't know.  But it didn't matter...these things were GOOD.  Because they were so incredible, we all asked for the recipe, and the family graciously faxed it over to us a few days later.

I had this recipe stashed away for years, having never tried it myself.  I'm not awesome at baking, so I tend to shy away from desserts.  But this past weekend when I came across it, I was delighted to find that I actually had all the ingredients on hand, and I was feeling a little froggy in the kitchen, so I figured why not?!  And boy, did I forget how good they are!  Quite the crowd-pleaser!

It packs a powerful chocolatey punch, able to power through your most intense sweet tooth.  The marshmallow and peanut butter break up all that chocolate fudge gooey deliciousness nicely, and the cereal adds a very nice crunch.  Your plain-Jane brownies will never suffice again.   

Enjoy!

Love,

  

Brownie Mallow Bars

(Plan ahead...needs to chill)

1 pkg fudge brownie mix (9 x 13 pan size)
1 pkg mini marshmallows
2 C semisweet chocolate chips
1 C peanut butter
1 T butter or margarine
1 1/2 C crisp rice cereal

1.  Prepare brownie batter according to package directions.  Pour into greased 9 x 13" baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes.

2.  Top with marshmallows; bake 3 minutes longer.  (Marshmallows will not be completely melted.)  Cool on wire rack.

3.  In saucepan, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter.  Cook and stir over low heat until smooth.  Remove from heat; stir in cereal.  Spread over brownies.

4.  Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm before cutting.

Well, what about you?  What's your favorite go-to sweet treat?  Is there a run-of-the-mill dessert that you love to vamp up?  I'd love to hear about it!  Let me know in the comments!

The Easter Bunny Died and Left Us Resurrection Cookies

 Dear Girls,

I've talked before about traditions we've begun to observe as a family.  Easter, for us, was always one of those holidays that was steeped in tradition--but our rituals lacked substance.  Just like during Christmas time, we did a whole lot of celebrating but didn't fully understand what the party was about.

As a little girl, I don't remember ever buying in to the whole "Easter Bunny" thing.  I mean, come on...a giant rabbit who goes around stealing people's eggs only to hide them around their house and yard and leave behind baskets full of treats and toys?  That's just weird.  And have you seen those giant rabbits at the mall?!  CREE--PY.

So, Dad and I made the decision to kill the Easter Bunny.  As fairly young Christians ourselves, we only just learned that Easter is truly the cornerstone of our faith.  Because yeah, Jesus was a man who lived, taught, and was crucified, but if we don't believe in the resurrection, our faith is nothing.  When we made that realization, we knew we didn't want anything overshadowing the reason we celebrate this holiday.  Especially not a huge, creepy bunny.

We've kept some traditions.  We still paint eggs, though now we talk about the stories behind the eggs.  You guys still enjoy the baskets full of cool stuff, because Dad and I can't resist the opportunity to celebrate with you in that way.

It's just now we have new traditions.  Sunrise service at church is so beautiful.  And I absolutely love doing Resurrection Cookies.  I love how it employs all of our senses to more fully understand the events surrounding the arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.


I hope you feel the same way, and I hope that this continues to be a tradition that we enjoy for years to come.  Enjoy.


Love,

Resurrection Cookies

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

What You'll Do:

These are to be made the evening before Easter.  Preheat oven to 300F.
(This is important to do first!)

::
Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon
to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He
was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  

Read: John 19:1-3

::

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that while on the cross, Jesus was given vinegar to drink. 

Read: John 19:28-30 

:: 
Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life
so that we would have life. 

Read: John 10:10-11

 ::

Sprinkle a pinch of salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest
into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,
and the bitterness of our own sin. 

Read: Luke 23:27 

::

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us!  He wants us to
know Him and belong to Him. 

Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16 

::

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents our purity in God's eyes because of Jesus' sacrifice. 

Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

::

Fold in the nuts.  Drop the mixture by teaspoon onto parchment paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read: Matthew 27:57-60 

::

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.  

::

Give each child a piece of tape to "seal" the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. 

Read: Matthew 27:65-66 

::

Go to bed!  They'll probably be sad about this--they were expecting to eat cookies!  

Explain that Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. 

Read: John 16:20 & 22

 ::

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Point out the cracked
surface and take a bite.  The cookies should be hollow!  Explain that Jesus' followers were amazed
to find the tomb open and empty. 

Read: Matthew 28:1-9

He is Risen--He is Risen Indeed!

Spaghetti Pie

Dear Girls,

One of the first things I ever thought about doing for you was to create a "Hope Chest."  Basically, it's a collection of things that you'll need when you venture out on your own.  You know, like pots and pans, towels, a toilet brush.  (Toilet-scrubbing mom not included!)  Both Grandma Melanie and Grandma Bonnie made one up for me when I was first married.  It was awesome.

For yours though, I want to make sure you also have all the recipes you loved growing up.  I think fondly about cooking with you girls over the years and sharing what I've learned about knowing your way around the kitchen.  You know, no matter where life takes you, one thing is for certain:  you will need to eat.  And believe me, when you start out knowing how to cook, you're already way ahead of the game.  (You're welcome.)

So anyway, I think it's high time I started sharing some recipes with you.  I'm going to start with Spaghetti Pie.  This one's from Nana.  She made it for Dad growing up, so he was excited when I got the recipe and added it to our regular supper rotation.

Do you remember that first Sweetheart Dinner we had?  I made Spaghetti Pie, much to your dismay, apparently.  Jyll, you suddenly suffered from an aversion to mushrooms, and I had added them to the sauce, which caused you to push your food around on your plate and turn up your nose and whine a bunch in disgust.  Katie, you denied the fact that you liked any of the ingredients even though you've always been the best, most non-pickiest eater ever.  You both ended up being sent to bed early without enjoying any of the after-dinner festivities.  (I don't think it was the Spaghetti Pie that caused all the mayhem, but you never know.)  I chuckle when I think about that now, though at the time I was probably just as upset as you were...I had spent a lot of time and effort on that night, eager to start a new tradition for our family!

You've since learned to pick out the mushrooms or onions or cooked tomatoes or any other unsavory whatevers you aren't liking that particular week.  Why?  Because if you don't eat what Mom cooks, you go hungry.  Right?  Right.  So...here's to carrying on traditions no matter how crappy the first time turns out and to the day when you finally become a grown-up who can cook a recipe and leave out all the gross veggies that you hate.  Enjoy!

Love,

    
   

Spaghetti Pie

4 oz dried spaghetti

1 T butter

1 egg beaten
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 C shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz ground beef
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 C chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 t ground basil
12 oz spaghetti sauce

1. Cook spaghetti, al dente.  Drain well.  Return pasta to saucepan and stir in butter until melted.  Stir in egg and Parmesan.
2. Cook beef, onion, green pepper, garlic, and basil.  Drain fat.  Stir in spaghetti sauce and heat through.
3. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray.  Press spaghetti mixture into pie plate forming a "crust."  Spread sour cream on bottom and up sides of crust.  Spread meat mixture over sour cream.  Top with mozzarella.  
4. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.  Let stand for a few minutes before serving.