Monday, February 15, 2010

Time for stew!

Last week, my goddaughter and I cooked a beef stew together. We used this recipe for a basic beef stew with carrots and mushrooms. Karen introduced me to it and it's become one of my staples.


The goddaughter showed impressive culinary skills for a 9-year-old. She peeled the carrots, browned the meat, prepared the stock and even offered to chop the potatoes, but I thought she was too young to play with knives.


Over the last year or so, I've made this recipe on several occasions, each time improvising a little on the ingredients and measurements. The resulting stews have varied slightly in consistency and looks, but have always tasted yummy. This one was no exception.


As they say, the proof of the pudding (or in our case, the stew) is in the eating. Here is the goddaughter's younger sister, a notoriously fussy eater, proudly posing next to her empty dish. I don't think there can be a better endorsement than this!

11 comments:

Karen said...

Awesome! I've been thinking about this stew all day, only to cruise by and find that you've made it!

I can't help but remember that you're not allowed to play with knives...

Tinsie said...

Haha! I wondered if anyone would pick up on the knife reference. I should've known it'd be you :-)

I've made this stew 3 times over the last six weeks. It's definitely become one of my winter staples, and I think of you every time I cook it.

Fifi Flowers said...

LOVE when kids like to cook!!!

Betty Carlson said...

Yum -- I love stews, especially in this weather.

My daughters LOVE the Notebook -- I'll have to watch it soon. What did you think?

Puss-in-Boots said...

I love a good stew, nothing like it on a winter's day.

Lowell said...

The best thing about this is that you and your goddaughter are able to spend time together and learn from each other! Wonderful!

I think, though, I'd like to hear more about you and knives! :-)

Tinsie said...

@ Fifi: Although as a kid I was totally disinterested in anything that took place within the four walls of a kitchen (except eating, that is) I have to agree with you!

@ Betty: The Notebook was OK, nothing out of the ordinary and certainly not a "classic" by any stretch of the imagination. A fairly typical and utterly predictable love story, with a very light touch of tragedy at the end.

The best thing about it was that Ryan Gosling was in it, but then again I liked him better in Half Nelson. By all means watch it, but don't expect the earth to move, because I don't think it will (despite what your daughters may have said).

@ Jacob: I have to admit, spending time with the goddaughter was great :-)

In summary, the story with the knives goes like this: if there's a sharp knife in my vicinity it will most likely make contact with a part of my body. When I was a kid, such contact was a regular occurence, but with time I've become better at avoiding the worst. Instead, as I grow older I seem to be drawn more to sources of heat and electricity than blades. Ho hum.

Mo said...

looks delicious

palmtreefanatic said...

how cute they are and such tasty stew! I wanna bit, guess I will have to make this!
Thanks Tinsie!

Tinsie said...

It was as delicious as it looks! If you're looking for an easy-to-make, yummy stew, this is the one.

Karen said...

I'm so glad, Tinsie! On both counts. :-)