Rachel Rays Beef Stew With Apples Roasted Garlic Food

GARLICKY BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Bring a saucepot of water to a boil, then boil the onions for 3 to 4 minutes, drain and cool. Squeeze pearl the onions from the skins, pushing with root end facing away from you.
• Pat the meat dry and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Heat the oil, 2 turns of the pan, in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the meat and brown evenly all over, then remove to a plate and lower the heat to medium. Add the butter and melt, then add the garlic and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until lightly brown, a few minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then add the wine to deglaze. Add the beef, stock and tomatoes. Combine and roast, covered, until tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring frequently.
• Serve with the bread for mopping, and garnish with the parsley.

RACHEL RAY'S BEEF STEW WITH APPLES & ROASTED GARLIC

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 400°F. Cut the ends off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves. Drizzle with EVOO, season with salt and pepper, wrap in foil and roast to tender, 40-45 minutes. Remove the garlic and reduce the heat to 350°F. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of EVOO and the bacon. Brown and crisp the bacon, then remove and reserve. Pour some of the fat out of the pan and add a couple of tablespoons of butter. Pat the meat dry and season liberally with salt and pepper. Dredge in the flour and add to the hot pot in batches. Cook to crispy and deep brown. Add more butter as needed, 2 tablespoons at a time. Reserve the browned meat with the bacon. Add the carrots, apples, celery, onion, bay leaves and salt and pepper to the pot and partially cover. Cook to soften the vegetables for a few minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons flour. Stir for a minute, then add the cider, consommé and the roasted garlic cloves and stir to combine. Add the reserved beef and bacon back to the pan, bring to a boil, then cover and transfer to the oven. Braise the meat for 2 hours, until very tender and the sauce has thickened. Let stand for 20 minutes while you cook the potatoes. Boil the potatoes and parsnips in salted water until tender. Drain and return to the hot pot; mash with 2 tablespoons butter, cheese and the milk. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg; stir in the chives. Serve the stew in shallow bowls with the potatoes alongside.

VEGETABLE STEW (GIAMBOTTA) A LA RACHAEL RAY

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Heat a medium soup pot over medium heat.
• Add extra-virgin olive oil, bay, chopped garlic and onions and let them sweat out while you prepare the rest of the veggies.
• Work next to the stove and drop as you chop, in order of longest cooking time: potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper.
• Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Uncover and add tomatoes and stock and cook 5 minutes more, to heat through.
• Turn heat off and stir in basil(we don't use basil here -- instead we add Italian Seasoning and some parsley)
• Char bread under broiler and rub with cracked garlic then drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, top with cheese and pepper and return to the broiler for 30 seconds to brown cheese.
• Serve cheese whole-grain toast with bowls of vegetable stew.