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Guinness Beef Stew

Ingredients:

-2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
-3 pounds beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat and cut into bite-sized pieces
-1 large white or yellow onion, peeled and diced
-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
-1/3 cup flour
-1 (12 ounce) bottle Guinness beer
-4 cups beef stock
-3 large carrots, peeled and diagonally sliced into bite-sized pieces
-1.5 lbs. Yukon gold potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
-3 tablespoons tomato paste
-1 bay leaf
-1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
-Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Season beef with a few generous pinches of salt and pepper.  Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat.  Add half of beef to pan.  Cook until seared, turning the beef every 30-45 seconds or so until all sides are browned.  Remove beef from pan with a slotted spoon, and transfer to a clean plate.  Add an additional 1 tablespoon oil to the stockpot, and repeat this process with the remaining half of the beef, transferring it afterwards to the plate as well.
  2. Add the onion to the stockpot (adding extra oil if needed, but usually there is leftover drippings/oil from the beef) and saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.  Then stir in the flour until it has evenly coated the onions, and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.  Gradually stir in the Guinness, and use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any of those yummy brown bits. Stir in the beef stock, carrots, potatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, thyme, and the cooked beef (along with any of its accumulated juices). Continue cooking until the stew reaches a simmer.  Then cover and reduce heat to medium-low.  Simmer over low for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and the potatoes are soft.
  3. Remove bay leaf and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  4. Serve warm garnished with chopped parsley if desired.

Vegetable Warrior Soup

Start the New Year with a healthy soup filled with vegetables rich in fiber, Vitamins A & K and improved digestion.

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 medium chopped leeks
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 2 cups peeled, diced carrots
  • 2 cups peeled, diced sweet potatoes
  • 2 cups fresh green bean, bit size pieces
  • 2 quarts organic sugar-free vegetable stock
  • 4 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley leaves
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt

Directions

  1. In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Next, add celery, leeks, garlic and salt and pepper. Cook for about seven minutes.
  2. Add carrots, sweet potatoes and green beans and cook for another seven minutes.
  3. Add the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add the cabbage. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and lemon juice.