Western Beef Stew Food

"COWBOY" STEW

Steps:

• Brown bacon in a large (8-quart capacity) pot. Add beef and brown in the bacon fat. Add onions, celery and carrots and saute for about 5 minutes. Add red wine and beef broth, and simmer until reduced by half. In a small bowl, mix flour and oil, then stir this mixture into the stew and let simmer for a few minutes to thicken and integrate flavors. Add potatoes, okra and bay leaves to the stew and let cook until potatoes are fork tender. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

WESTERN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• 1. Combine potatoes and carrots in a large saucepan. Add just enough water to cover vegetables Cook about 12 to 15 minutes, until tender. In a small saucepan, saute onion and celery in melted butter or margarine, until slightly tender. Add mushrooms and saute 2 more minutes. Drain liquid from potatoes and carrots. Add sauteed vegetables to potatoes and carrots. Stir in Braised Beef Cube Mix. Simmer about 15 minutes, until heated through. Serve hot.
• 2. VARIATION: Beef Stew Pie: Put ingredients in a 13x9 baking pan. Top with Pie Crust. Flute Edges. Cut slits in crust. Bake 400F degrees 30-45 minutes, until crust is golden brown.
• 3. **MOIST PIE CRUST MIX Combine flour and salt in a very large bowl. Mix well. With pastry blender, cut in shortening until evenly distributed. Mixture will resemble cornmeal in texture. Add cold water all at once and mix lightly until the flour absorbs all the water and texture resembles putty. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle a little flour over the top and mix until the dough barely clings together in the bowl. Divide dough into 10 oblongs rolls. Wrap each roll well with plastic wrap and heavy foil. Freeze. Use within 12 months. Makes 10 rolls of Moist Pie Crust Mix, enough for 10 double-crust pies or 20 single crust pies.

KELLY'S SOUTHWESTERN BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In large ziplock baggie or large mixing bowl, combine flour, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and salt.
• Add meat and shake/toss til all is coated.
• In large heavy-bottomed pot that has a lid, brown meat over med-high heat in the 4 tbsp Crisco.
• Add next 8 ingredients, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes, stirring only occasionally, til meat is tender.
• Add carrots and potatoes, recover and simmer another 25-30 minutes or til tender.
• Add corn, heat through.
• Remove bay leaf, or, leave it in there and whoever happens to get it has to do the dishes! ;).
• *Can add or sub peas and/or green beans if desired. You can also add 1 rib of celery, sliced, at the same time you add the potatoes and carrots if desired.
• **If you like it on the thick side like we do, just mix 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch with equal amount of cold water (I use 2 tbsp each), stir into pot while simmering to thicken even more. Simmer, stirring, for several minutes. Do this at the very end. Stir gently so you don't wreck the green beans if added.

THE BEST BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a small bowl, toss beef and 1/4 teaspoon salt. In a large bowl, combine 4 tablespoons flour and paprika. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and toss to coat. , In a Dutch oven, brown beef in oil over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste, herbes de Provence and garlic; cook until fragrant and color starts to darken slightly. Add wine; cook until mixture just comes to a boil. Simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, 1 teaspoon rosemary and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until meat is almost tender, about 1-1/2 hours., Add potatoes, onions and carrots. Cover; simmer until meat and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes longer., Discard bay leaves. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 2 tablespoon flour. Add cold water and vinegar; stir until smooth. Stir into stew. Bring to a boil; add peas. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. If desired, top with additional fresh rosemary.

SOUTHWEST BEEF STEW

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, corn, beans, picante sauce, water, cumin, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until corn is tender. Sprinkle with cheese.

THE BEST BROWNED BEEF STEW EVER

Steps:

• Put flour, salt and pepper in a large ziploc bag.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large dutch oven.
• Place meat in bag with the flour and shake until well coated.
• Shake off meat pieces and add them to the oil and stir until slightly browned, Add remaining flour from the bag and the finely chopped onion.
• Stir until well browned.
• Add finely chopped carrot and next 4 ingredients.
• Cover and cook over low heat for 1 1/2 hours (stirring every 15 minutes).
• Add diced potatoes, carrots, and onions, cook for another 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender.