Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Beef Burgundy

When you find a recipe you like, what do you do with it? Do you bookmark it, print it or use some sort of recipe software to file it? When I first started blogging, I printed the recipes. I’d file them in my accordion files of recipes. That’s really not a good solution. I end up riffling through the folder to find the recipes plus I don’t like printing anymore than I absolutely have to. So I started bookmarking them. The problem with this was, I couldn’t find a anything. Where were the desserts, the main dishes, the salads? They were all mixed together. After feeling so overwhelmed with all of the recipes, I created folders for each category. I bookmark them and file them by category. It’s a pretty good solution. My accordion file is still filled with all of those recipes I printed before I started this process, not to mention the years of clipped and saved recipes. A few months ago I bought a scanner that will scan larger pages, up to 8 ½". My plan is to scan and file the recipes in my computer. My husband just reminded me, I’ve scanned nothing so far. I keep telling him it’s my winter project. Will you guys remind me in December? Thanks!

This recipe is one of the oldest from my bookmarked file. Not sure where I found it or when I saved it. I think it was before I started blogging. This recipe is perfect for fall or better yet a cold winter day. I asked Tim how this recipe compares with my other stew recipes. This recipe is his second favorite. His favorite is this one and his least favorite is this one. I like them all. The Beef Burgundy is a richer, fancier stew. The other two are more traditional, like those mom made.






Beef Burgundy
12/2006
Cooks Country

Make sure to use the low setting on your slow cooker; the stew will burn on the high setting. Serve with boiled potatoes (the traditional accompaniment), mashed potatoes, or buttered egg noodles.

Serves 6 to 8 8 ounces bacon , chopped
4 pounds beef stew meat (preferably chuck)
1 large onion , chopped fine
2 carrots , peeled and chopped fine
8 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
4 tablespoons tomato paste
2 1/2 cups Pinot Noir
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 bay leaves
3 tablespoons Minute Tapioca
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves

1. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and refrigerate. Pour half of bacon fat into small bowl; set skillet with remaining bacon fat aside.

2. Dry beef thoroughly with paper towels. Season beef with salt and pepper; place half of beef in slow cooker insert. Heat skillet containing remaining bacon fat over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook remaining beef in single layer until deep brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer browned beef to slow cooker insert.

3. Add reserved bacon fat to now-empty skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion, carrots, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until vegetables begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomato paste and stir until beginning to brown, about 45 seconds. Transfer mixture to slow cooker insert.

4. Return now-empty skillet to high heat and add 1 1/2 cups wine, chicken broth, and soy sauce. Simmer, scraping up brown bits, until pan bottom is clean, about 1 minute. Transfer wine mixture to slow cooker insert.

5. Stir bay leaves and tapioca into slow cooker insert. Set slow cooker on low, cover, and cook until meat is fork-tender, about 9 hours.

6. When ready to serve, discard bay leaves and stir in reserved bacon. Bring remaining 1 cup wine to boil in large skillet over high heat and simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir reduced wine and parsley into stew and adjust seasonings. Serve.

The final touch, in addition to the rich flavor of the wine, many people consider a garnish of sautéed onions and mushrooms one of the hallmarks of a great beef Burgundy. We think this little bit of last-minute kitchen work is worth the effort.

Instructions for the Garnish: Before reducing wine in step 6, bring 2 cups frozen pearl onions, 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 cup water to boil in large skillet over high heat. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to high, and cook until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add 10 ounces white mushrooms, quartered, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until vegetables are browned and glazed, about 5 minutes. Stir onions and mushrooms into stew and proceed to reduce wine in now-empty skillet as directed in step 6.

I am linking this to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday's, Tasty Tuesday's and Tuesday's at the Table.

13 comments:

  1. I have the same problem with bookmarking my recipes! I've just starting using Delicious.com to organize them all for me online and I love it! I can tag each recipes by ingredients so when I'm looking for a recipe I can type in several tags and see what I have.

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  2. All of them sound great, but this one looks really good!

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  3. I love beef burgundy! It's total comfort food in my house!!
    http://www.inspired2cook.com

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  4. This looks delicioush! I would love a big bowl of Beef Burgundy right now. It's such a cold, damp day, this would defintely warm me up!

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  5. I have a load of to try recipes saved in Word on discs or bookmarked. Gets out of hand when there are so many recipes out there that look so good!

    Your beef burgundy looks fantastic! Saving it to try :)

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  6. Your beef burgundy looks like the ultimate comfort meal for these chilly nights.

    I have no advice to offer regarding the filing of recipes. I have them stuck everywhere. However, I WILL remind you when it's December...LOL

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  7. I have GOT to make this soon...this would be the perfect dish a cool later October dinner. Delicious!

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  8. Haha I have a good mix of bookmarked, written, printed etc. recipes that will probably never get organized. Tragically enough. This stew looks fantastic! Perfect for these chilly fall days that have finally arrived!

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  9. I'm currently searching everywhere for a recipe I need. I'm sure I have it, but where? I think your system sounds great.

    This looks delicious Julie. Perfect for a busy school day. We don't use alcohol, but where this cooks for a long time, I think it would work for me. Thanks so much!

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  10. I will remind you to scan your recipes in December if you will remind me to work on my photo album. Deal??

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  11. This has delicious and comfort written all over it girl. I love it.

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  12. Yum!! Looks and sound delicious! I love that it is done in the crock pot! YAY!!

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  13. I bookmark recipes I like on my computer... I view this as an environmentally-friendly approach as it saves paper. In fact, I bookmarked this! YUM!

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