Autumn Whispers

Autumn whispers...

Autumn is my favorite season. Maybe it's because I am a teacher, it signals a new beginning. It's the time of year I can close my eyes and pretend, for just a moment, that I don't really live in, too-hot-for-October, California, but rather somewhere in New England where the leaves have turned and the air is crisp. The air smells different and I love to wake up in the morning to take in a deep breath. I know where all the liquidambar trees in my neighborhood grow and enjoy watching their progress as they change colors and drop their leaves. I love to pull out my autumn clothes, all harvest-y, earthy shades, that somehow don't look quite right in the spring. But I am stubborn, so regardless of what the thermometer reads, as soon as October 1st rolls around, I decorate my front entry with pumpkins, long for cool afternoons so I can light a fire, and begin to cook soups and cozy stews.

 I think if Autumn were a sex, it would be a he, don't you? This Guinness Beef Stew has  just the right feel for autumn, masculine and hearty. 

The original recipe from Cooking Light called for lamb. But since lamb is pretty pricey, I switched it to beef. I also added some frozen peas at the end, because I love extra veg. I was so happy last Saturday when I woke up to a grey, overcast day. A perfect day for cooking stew! Ok, I know I promised "quick" food and this definitely does not fall into the quick category. But the hands on time is really only about a half hour. The rest of the time your house will be filled with the lovely smell of dinner cooking! I am sure you could probably pop it in the crock pot and keep it on low for several hours.  I would do that after you've browned the meat and cooked the onions. Next time I make it, I will try it that way. 

Guinness beef stew

Guinness Beef Stew
Olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/2 lbs. beef, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cups Guinness Stout
1 tablespoons tomato paste*
1 tablespoon Worstershire sauce
3 cups beef broth
1 bay leaf
2 cups peeled, cubed Yukon gold potatoes
2 cups 1 inch thick sliced carrots
8 ounces baby turnips, peeled and quartered (I couldn't find baby turnips...I just used 1 big one)
1/2 cup frozen petite peas
1 tablespoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
fresh chopped parsley

1. Heat  a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over a medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove onions from pan. Season beef chunks with salt and pepper and dredge in flour.
2. Add a little more oil to pot it necessary and saute beef chunks in batches. You don't want to cook it all at once, because if you crowd the pan, the beef won't brown. Add beef to onions as they cook. 
3. Add beer to pot and bring to a boil, scraping or "deglazing" the pan to loosen all the browned bits of flour.
4. Cook until the beer is reduced by about 1/2, about 5 minutes.
5. Add onions, and browned beef.
6. Stir in the tomato paste.
7. Add broth and bay leaf; and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
8. Uncover and stir in potatoes and carrots.
9. Simmer uncovered, for about 1 1/2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Add mustard.
10. Add peas the last 10 minutes of cooking
11. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper.
12. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.

Makes about 6 servings

* Don't you just hate it when a recipe calls for ONE tablespoon of tomato paste? You just spent $0.80 for a little can. What to do with the rest of the can? Measure out 1 tablespoon portions on a sheet of parchment or waxed paper. Freeze until firm. Put the frozen portions in a ziplock bag in the freezer for future use.

1 Tablespoon portions. No waste!