Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Stew For a Snowy Day

Last Saturday dawned grey and dreary
By mid afternoon it started to rain
By later afternoon it was freezing 
And then snow began to fall

It was a good day to stay inside
To go through kitchen cabinets
for their January clean

I needed an easy
A tasty
A comforting
Dinner

I turned to an old recipe that I've had "forever"
which came from co-worker and friend Jean


Five Hour Oven Stew
Baked in my largest Le Creuset Dutch Oven

It's a very forgiving recipe
For this time I added peas -- but not at the beginning
Frozen peas, added after I took it from the oven
The heat of the stew cooked the peas

To go with the stew


Cornbread
Made with Dexter's Mill Corn Meal

A three ingredient recipe -- the cornmeal, buttermilk and baking powder
Baked in an iron skillet
Cornbread is really better when it's baked in iron!


The stew full of great vegetables


A Saturday night supper in the breakfast room
Big bowls of stew, a skillet of cornbread and a stick of butter for slathering

We turned on the outside lights so we could see the snow while we dined


I used the German silver soup spoons
because they are so large and so perfect for stew!

Individual bread and butter plates with English butter knives


Dolly feels that a nap is in order after a stew and cornbread dinner!

5 HOUR OVEN STEW

The recipe as given to me:

3 pounds stew meat
3 - 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 - 4 ribs celery, sliced
2 large onions, peeled and chopped
              Mix all together in a large lidded oven proof pan (I like my LeCreuset)
1 can tomato soup
1 c. tomato juice
1/2 c. water
3 T. Tapioca
1 can Rotel
              Mix all together and pour over meat and vegetables

Cover pan and put in a 225 to 250 oven for 5 hours.

Note this is a very forgiving stew.    I've used more meat and less vegetables; more vegetables and less meat.   I don't always use stew meat but will use a roast if it's cheaper and cut it into chunks myself.   If you don't like tomatoes, you can used canned onion soup and beef broth and omit the Rotel.    Just make sure that the liquid quantity.    Just make sure the amount of liquid is the same.    This time I added a bay leaf and some thyme.    And this time I added about 1 cup of frozen peas after the stew came out of the oven.    The heat of the stew cooked the peas.

I'm joining Michael at Rattbridge Farm for Foodie Friday.


9 comments:

Pondside said...

We have stew about every other week not because it is the first and only dish The Great Dane makes. After nearly 40 years, he has come to the kitchen! I will print this off and leave it for him - perhaps he'll give it a try.

Bookie said...

I have found a close second for cornbread....I have been using Texas sized silicone muffin pans. The cornbread it huge but it does not crumble so much. One is certainly enough for a meal...just a variation on the old way for a while.

Last Saturday was a good day for big pans of food...today is to be nice but I have a starter mix for pumpkin soup...believe I will try it. Have a nice weekend ahead, Martha.

Decor To Adore said...

What a delicious idea for this cold day!

Have a winter wonderland weekend!

On Crooked Creek said...

Martha,
This is my kinda' cooking, indeed!!!
I looked for "stew meat" at the grocer last trip...none to be found! When I got home, I saw that "Mr. Ed" had purchased a roast at the Butcher last time around. Will make this over the weekend!!!
Fondly,
Pat

Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside said...

Your stew looks delicious! It probably wasn't an hour ago that I mentioned that I've love a bowl of stew! What time shall I be there? LOL! Blessings, Tammy

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Mmm, stew and cornbread. I got a new crock pot for Christmas and stew would simmer very nicely in it. Cornbread I make regularly as I like it in loaf or muffin form.
Judith

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Oh my, what wonderul comfort food! It's all that I've been craving this winter. It looks so good, Martha.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

My gosh that looks good.
I browsed back at your posts. You've been busy. I hope my little hyacinth bulbs does as well as yours. I started it later than 'normal.'
Have a good weekend.

Deb said...

My goodness ...you do eat well; like a queen. hee hee! I love your tables set for dinner. They are always so welcoming and the food always looks delicious. Glad Dolly got to sample the meal. Our Kane also eats our meals. He is healthier for it. Hugs, Deb