Beef Stew - Oven, Crock Pot, or Other?

 

Beef Stew

One of my earliest food memories and one of very few memories of my paternal grandmother are of beef stew. 

I was sitting at the kitchen table as my grandmother was transferring her beef stew from a large pot into a bowl or other container to store it in the refrigerator. I was coloring and looked up at the wet, suction sound the gravy made as it had become sort of a pudding like consistency. To four/five year old me, the sound was negative and a bit gross.

"Ew," I said.

"Oh, no," said my grandmother, "It's not ew at all. It's delicious."

And the memory fades like a wisp of smoke.

Beef Stew is a classic with as many variations as our grandmothers had for tomato sauce. Not just in ingredients, but in the cooking method as well.

For me, it's all about a ceramic lined cast iron dutch oven placed in the oven with the lid on for hours - slow and low.

I like to coat beef with flour and brown on the stove, then add onions, carrots, potatoes and celery. Season generously with salt and pepper. Then - here is another area of great variability - deglaze the pan and add the cooking liquid. Sometimes beef broth, with and without a generous scoop of tomato sauce, or a bit of red wine in addition to the beef broth. Yesterday, I tried a better than bouillon product with corresponding amount of water. 

Sometimes I leave the potatoes out and serve over mashed potatoes. Sometimes I serve over egg noodles.

Yesterday, I had my 18 month old grandson help me assemble the ingredients to create a beef stew. I thought of my grandmother and how luck I am to be able to see my grandchildren regularly. I felt a surge of memories, thankfulness, and that Fed Well vibe I love. It's not just about the food, is it? That's what I've been trying to say.

What's your beef stew story?

Tik Tok Hacks for the Kitchen

 

Tik Tok. I thought this app was just a world of young 20 somethings dancing their hearts out to music I have never heard.

Nope.

Like all social media platforms before it, Tik Tok is now being overrun with people of all ages and interests (but yes, I do see a lot of dance videos - not that they are bad).

And, the best part?  I am learning Tik Tok hacks, whether they are shortcuts or tricks both passed down through generations or just created by someone with a bit of visualization and ingenuity.

My first? The salami rose in the photo. Perfect for charcuterie boards! You line the salami inside the top of a wine glass or champagne flute, then turn it over to release the rose, and look at that! A pretty way to present salami.

Next up - cookie sheets. Do you have a bit of yuck on the edges of your cookie sheets or underneath that never seems to clean? The answer? Put them in your oven, turn the self-clean feature on and that's it. When you return - sparkling clean cookie sheets.

Another way to peel hard boiled eggs. Place an egg in a glass. Allow the egg to shake back and forth in the glass for a few seconds. Remove egg and when you start to remove the peel, it should come off in a big chunk.

There are a bazillion more but these are the ones I was most excited to share with you right away! This app is perfectly okay for those of us who just want to watch a few videos, a bit of light escape, and then resume our regularly scheduled life. I was/am a bit addicted as a new viewer but for now, I am finding lots of tips for feeling and being Fed Well! Special thanks to Karla for encouraging me to jump into the deep end of the pool.

Chaffles, Kale Chips, & Keto Friendly Snack Recipes

 

Want to know a secret? I am not on a keto diet but I do enjoy a wide variety of foods and snacks so I will often check out styles of eating and see if I find some new recipes. Guess what? Keto friendly does not mean you have to eat a pound of bacon. It's about low carb, low sugar (carb) and I have to say, I love kale chips. I've already written about that in my Cooking with Kids post. (Try swapping out thinly sliced zucchini for the kale).

In my blog post for Zulily (click here), I list 6 easy recipes. The first is for Chaffles.  

CHAFFLES 

Simply combine the words “cheese” and “waffle” – that is the definition of a chaffle. Try this basic 2– or 3–ingredient recipe to begin, or customize it with your own add–ins (bacon? chives? walnuts or pecans?)

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 large egg 
• 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (mozzarella or cheddar are most popular) 
• 1 teaspoon of coconut or almond flour, if desired 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl. 
2. Pour mixture into a greased and warmed waffle maker. 
3. Cook approximately 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown. 
4. Allow to cool before eating. 

And, like all great food ideas, you can build on this idea and create a snack that suits your mood. A dessert version is also available in the link above.

The latest trend I have seen on Tik Tok is to place a layer of cheese in a waffle maker, cook, open the waffle maker and add sliced pickles, then another layer of cheese and cook some more. Hand held, crispy, salty, sour, savory - however you want it and FAST! That's the thing about snacks right? You need it - right now!

That is why these things:

are still around and making money!

What are some of your snack recipes? What keeps you going and feeling Fed Well between meals?

Spaghetti Squash Recipes and Ideas

Can you really substitute spaghetti squash for pasta? Why not? Who rights the rules anyway?

For all the details on how to prep the squash and for three easy recipes including Spaghetti Squash Sausage Boats and Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi, check out my Zulily post here.

Some other ways to work this vegetable into your pre-existing recipes, try:

1. Sub for pasta layers in classic lasagna.

2. Try it with chicken parmesan.

3. Go ahead and work it in to your alfredo, marsala, and carbonara dinners.

4. Top it with chili.

5. Use it as a gluten-free pizza crust.

6. Mix in a casserole with sausage, peppers, and onions.

7. Combine with barbecue sauce and create meatless sliders.

8. Plate as a base for your favorite fish.

9. Toss with roasted kale leaves, olive oil, and garlic and a sprinkle of parmesan.

10. Use in addition to pasta in your favorite dishes.

I wonder if you could use it to make a fritter or pancake in the same way you would use shredded potato? Maybe mix with a little flour and egg and try it in the waffle maker? Hmmmm. 

It's nice to have choices and variety and spaghetti squash can certainly be worked in to your regularly plated meals. AND, when you belong to the clean plate club like I do, you will have absolutely no guilt while feeling Fed Well!

Brunch - Family and Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes

 

I am a very lucky woman and I know it. I have been able to see my family, with only a brief interruption, during most of the Covid-19 pandemic. We live very close to each other, have meals together throughout the week, and talk frequently.

I wouldn't trade it for the world!

I'm not here to brag, the issue is, since we see each often and two of us work from home, conversation is focused on the family and a smattering of current events. That's also lovely but I am uncomfortable with too much quiet - my mind races and anxiety starts to creep in. So, when we gathered for brunch recently, somehow we came across a great topic everyone could contribute to and I think it is good for sharing.

Where would you like to visit in the United States?

The answers often included explanations and specifics and sparked some great ideas as well as shared stories from those who may have already visited the dream destination. Fun!

Maybe you're here because you just want to know about the pancakes? Well, have you ever added ricotta to your pancake batter? Or, to your pancake batter pre-made mix?

This is not a sponsored post but I am linking it to the Krusteaz recipe because it is the easiest one I can find (click here). My grandson happens to love blueberries, and they were mixed in the batter as well as sprinkled on his plate and even though I spied his parents helping by tasting a bite or two, the pancakes were eaten to the last bite. Add a bit of luxurious creaminess to your pancakes and try adding ricotta.

Be grateful for the times you share with family and leave the table feeling Fed Well! I am.

Recipes or Guidelines?

 

Have you ever watched Good Eats? Host Alton Brown explains the science behind various cooking techniques and breaks down the reasons for performing particular steps in cooking. 

Have you ever watched Chopped or Beat Bobby Flay? Cooks are asked to highlight a particular ingredient(s) or create a specific dish and the meals are compared and judged.

Have you ever planned on cooking dinner, with a particular recipe in mind, only to find you are missing an ingredient?

What do you do? Do you scrap the entire idea of cooking? Switch to a completely different meal? Order pizza? Many times, I try to work through and around it.

Also, when I see a recipe, I often consider it a list of suggestions. Frequently, I have to adjust ingredients to find a combination of gluten-free and dairy-free, or simply omit items I know my family is unwilling to eat. (Took 30 years to find out my son doesn't care for baked potatoes - ah, but that's a story for another day.)

If I wrote you a list of ingredients, I bet you could figure out a way to make a spectacular dish. And maybe it would or wouldn't match the end result I had in mind. Have you ever cooked this way? Or do you need to know the details and measure precisely?  I understand the need for this behavior with baking and maybe that's part of the reason why I chose not to bake very much but for cooking - ah, I go by instinct.

So, this weekend, I will probably create one dish out of ingredients on hand and see what I come up with - fingers crossed it's delicious and leaves me feeling Fed Well.

Plate Dinner like a Pro (10 tips for meal plating)

 

Most of us have been doing more cooking at home than ever before and some are feeling the fatigue. Whether you mix in to-go orders from restaurants or do head out once in awhile, during the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more people are preparing their own meals. One way to keep things interesting is to learn how to plate food like a professional - or at least make your own food dressed up for a close-up on social media.

1.  Start with a visually pleasing menu

Choose foods with different textures and colors. Combine salty, sweet, crunchy, soft, and an array of colors whenever possible.

2.  Pick one of the professional plating methods

• Classic - 11:00 carbs, 2:00 vegetables, 6:00 protein
• Landscape - long and low plating design
• Free Form - abstract with dots and curlicues of colorful sauce.

3.  Choose the right dish

A classic white plate can go a long way in making the food "pop." Also make sure you use bowls or plates with an edge when needed.

4. Control portion size

Recommendations vary according to the dish, but for the most part aim for half the plate to be vegetable, one quarter carbohydrate and one quarter protein. 

5.  Create Height

• Begin with a sauce or broth.

• The next layer is most likely going to be a carbohydrate but any  component that would taste great with the base is best.

• Finish with a protein either directly on to or leaning over the middle layer. If the protein is steak, consider placing horizontally cut slices as the last step.

6.  Garnish with purpose

Avoid simply sprinkling parsley or other herbs around the dish like edible confetti. Consider not only visual interest but how the food will taste and if your garnish makes sense with the recipe.

7.  Odd numbers are even better

When plating foods that may either be counted or noticed by their amount, choose an odd number of items.

8.  Hot should be hot and cold should be cold

Keep the temperature of the dish appropriate for the meal being served. Warm plates in a low oven or cool plates by storing in the refrigerator prior to plating.

9. Tools for food plating and presentation

For the most part, the utensils you have in the kitchen right now are great basic tools to begin carefully arranged food plating and presentation for dinner at home. To really raise your game, consider adding the following items:

·       Squeeze bottles for sauces, condiments, and olive oil

·       Pastry brush to spread sauces on the plate

·       Various sized tongs for careful placement of foods

·       A ring mold to be used for plating rice or other carbohydrates

·       A grater or microplane

·       Vegetable peelers can be used to create edible vegetable ribbons or chocolate shavings

10.  Is it practical for eating?

If the plated food needs to be cut make sure it is on a flat surface. If the food has been layered, do all of the components make sense to eat together or in simple terms, will the combination be delicious when eaten together?

For the full Fed Well blog on The Find by Zulily about food plating click here. Enjoy elevating the look of your dinner and I invite you to post your results on social media and tag #FedWell.