Lazy Day Beef Stew

Biscuit-Crusted Beef Stew

Yield: 6

A recipe is merely words on paper; a guideline, a starting point from which to improvise. It cannot pretend to replace the practiced hand and telling glance of a watchful cook. For that reason, this is also an account of what happens when I make this dish, so you?ll understand each step. Of course when you cook it once, it becomes yours, so personalize it a bit. Add more of an ingredient you like or less of something you don?t like. Try substituting one ingredient for another. Remember words have no flavour, you have to add your own!

I love the way stewing transforms inexpensive, tough cuts of beef into tasty, tender stew. The earthy flavours of root vegetables combine with the full body of beef stock and aromatic red wine to form a rich flavour base. The only thing better than a bowlful of hearty stew is the same bowl with a biscuit topping!

Ingredients:

Biscuit-Crusted Beef Stew

• 2 lb. or so of stew beef
• A sprinkle or two of salt and pepper
• A splash of vegetable oil
• A few carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
• A few stalks of celery, roughly chopped
• A few potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
• A few parsnips, peeled and roughly chopped
• A few onions, peeled and roughly chopped
• A turnip, peeled and roughly chopped
• A jar of pickled baby white onions
• One small can of tomato paste
• Half a bottle or so of hearty red wine
• Two or three cups of homemade or canned beef stock
• A few bay leaves
• A few sprigs of fresh rosemary
• Another sprinkle or two of salt and pepper
• A few handfuls of frozen peas

Directions:

Biscuit-Crusted Beef Stew

1. Preheat a large thick-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, pat the beef dry with a clean towel then cut it into large cubes and season it. Add a splash of oil to the pot — covering the bottom in a thin layer — then toss in enough meat to form a single sizzling layer. Sear the meat on every side until it’s evenly browned. As it browns remove it from the pan, adding more oil and meat as needed. Once the meat is done discard the remaining oil — but keep all the browned bits in the pan. They’ll add lots of flavour!
2. Add half of the vegetables — reserving the other half — and all the meat back to the pot. Add the tomato paste, baby onions and enough wine and beef stock to just barely cover the works. Add the bay leaves and rosemary and bring the pot to a simmer. Continue cooking until the meat is almost tender, about an hour, then add the remaining vegetables. I add them in two batches so the first will dissolve into the stew while the second retains its shape, colour and texture. Continue simmering until the meat and veggies are tender, about another thirty minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make a batch of your favourite biscuits. When the stew is tender season it then stir in the peas and ladle it into several ovenproof bowls. Fit a piece of biscuit dough onto each bowl. Place them on a tray to catch any drips then bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven. Cook until the biscuit toppings are nicely browned and the stew is heated through, about thirty minutes.

Coconut Macaroons

Ease of Preparation: Easy
12 Cookies

Here’s a chewy tropical treat that’s so easy to make you’ll think you’re forgetting something! I always make a big batch so there’s a lot to share but it’s just as easy to cut the recipe in half. Your family and friends will love the addictive chewy texture and you’ll love how easy they are to make!

Coconut Macaroons

Two egg whites
A dribble of vanilla extract
One-half cup of brown sugar
A small spoonful of nutmeg
A cup and a half of unsweetened shredded coconut

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk the egg white, vanilla, sugar and nutmeg together. Stir in the coconut and mix until it’s well coated with the egg white mixture.

Moisten your hands. Form a large heaping spoonful of the mixture into a loose stack on a lightly oiled baking sheet. You may leave it craggy and irregular or pat it a bit to even it out. Repeat with the remaining mixture leaving an inch or so between each pile.

Bake until golden brown, about fifteen minutes. When they’re done they’ll be firm to the touch but still a bit soft in the middle. When they first come from the oven they’ll be a bit crumbly but after twenty minutes or so of cooling they’ll firm up nicely. Patience!

Country Inn Pancakes

Ease of Preparation: Easy
4 Servings

This is my gold-standard pancake recipe. When I was a country inn chef I tinkered with it every morning. I tried adding everything under the sun but always come back to this simple base recipe with blueberries. The secret? A preheated skillet.

Country Inn Pancakes

One and a half cups of all-purpose flour
A cup of whole-wheat flour
One-half spoonful of salt
Two spoonfuls of brown sugar
One spoonful of baking powder
Several large pinches of grated nutmeg
Two eggs
Two sticks of melted butter, eight ounces
Two cups of milk
A splash of vanilla extract
A cup of blueberries (optional)

Preheat your griddle or skillet over a medium-low heat while you mix the batter.

Whisk the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and nutmeg together in a large bowl until they’re evenly combined. In a separate bowl use the same whisk to beat the eggs then whisk in the butter, milk and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and switch to a wooden spoon. Combine with a few quick strokes. Leave the batter a bit lumpy so the flour doesn’t over-mix and get tough. Let the batter rest for a few minutes; the flour will absorb the milk and the batter will stiffen.

For each batch add a splash of vegetable oil to the pan then spoon in the batter. Bake until the bottom of each pancake is browned and bubbles break on the top surface. Carefully flip then bake a few moments more. Drench with butter and maple syrup then start your day with a big smile!



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