beef chuck

When I make Chili its a MUST to invite MEN over! So I always invite Normy’s MAN friends over! One of the things that is a must when also making chili and inviting MEN over you MUST have BEER and have FOOTBALL ON!

along with BEER you gotta have cupcakes! Jamie Cakes that is…NOTHING More manly then a man and his cupcake!

Oh don’t forget the BEER too!

OK Let’s Get cooking

Recipe

2 pounds ground beef chuck

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and washed
1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes with juice

2 14.5 oz cans, diced tomatoes (I used FIRE ROASTED Tomatoes)
1

(6 ounce) can tomato paste

1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 green chile peppers, seeded and chopped (I used canned)

4 cubes beef bouillon

1/2 cup beer
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 (10.5 ounce) bag corn chips such as Fritos®
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned.

Drain off excess grease.

Pour in the spicy chili beans,

black beans

diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery,

green and red bell peppers,

chile peppers,

bouillon,

and beer.

Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano,

cumin,

hot pepper sauce,

salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika,

and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.

To serve, ladle into bowls, and top with corn chips and shredded Cheddar cheese.
Fixings that I had for our chili

Let the MEN get their chili 1st

3 Happy MEN!

Lately all I want to do is cook foods in my new Le Creuset pot! I am looking for recipes specifically so I can use my dutch oven! I love it!

We spent New Year’s Eve with Friends! I (of Course) Cooked! It (Finally) snowed here and got bitter cold! So I thought what better dish to make than beef stew! But not just any Beef stew! I made Tyler’s Ultimate Beef Stew!

Recipe

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, for frying, plus more to drizzle
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups all-purpose flour

2 to 3 pounds beef chuck shoulder roast, cut into 2-inch pieces (this cut is also called chuck shoulder pot roast and chuck roast boneless)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 bottle good quality dry red wine (recommended: Burgundy)

8 fresh thyme sprigs

6 garlic cloves, smashed

1 orange, zest removed in 3 (1-inch) strips
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 bay leaves
2 1/2 cups beef stock
9 small new potatoes, scrubbed clean and cut in 1/2
1/2 pound carrots, peeled and sliced

2 cups frozen pearl onions, a large handful
1 pound white mushrooms, cut in 1/2 ( i used Crimini mushrooms)
Horseradish Sour Cream, recipe follows, for garnish

Preheat a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with the oil and butter.

While the pan is heating, arrange the flour on a large dish. Season the cubed beef with some salt and freshly ground black pepper and then toss in the flour to coat.

Shake off the excess flour and add the beef chunks in a single layer to the hot pan, being careful not to over crowd the pan, you might have to work in batches. Thoroughly brown all of the cubes on all sides.

Once all the meat has been browned remove it to a plate and reserve.

Add the wine to the pan and bring up to a simmer while you scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon being sure to loosen up all those tasty bits.

Once the wine has gotten hot add the browned meat, thyme, smashed garlic, orange zest strip, ground cloves, freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring the mixture up to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered until the liquids start to thicken, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cover and cook on low heat for 2 1/2 hours.

After 2 hours add halved potatoes, sliced carrots, pearl onions and mushrooms, along with a pinch of sugar to balance out the acid from the red wine. I also added one large can of whole San Marzano tomatoes. Turn the heat up slightly and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes more, until the vegetables and meat are tender. Season with salt and pepper and remove the thyme sprigs.

To serve, place the stew in a soup bowl, and add a dollop of Horseradish Sour Cream.

Horseradish Sour Cream:

1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Chives, finely chopped, as garnish

Combine sour cream, prepared horseradish and a drizzle of olive oil in a small bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add a dollop of the mixture on top of the stew and garnish with chopped chives.

I also made Champagne Cupcakes, with Champagne Frosting and topped with Chocolate Covered Strawberry (But I can’t tell you the recipe because then people won’t buy them from me)

What did you do for New Years? I was good, only had a couple glasses of wine! I was DD later on in the night, hubby had a little bit too much, I was also the picture taker as I always am. I don’t mind, as long as there are a few good pictures of me. We were mellow this year. We went to our friend James house :

James made my bacon wrapped smokies (well not mine) but the recipe I have: recipe

Allan, (My Hubby in the middle) Normando, James and the shorty in the front is Karen

Allan, Me (In the Middle) James on the right, Karen in the front

Karen can’t eat flour or eggs, so I felt bad that I made cupcake and she couldn’t have any. So I made her some chocolate covered Strawberries and her name in Chocolate.

Me and my typical pose, with cupcakes! Happy New Year!

This is my fav picture I took of the night! James and his cupcake! I also brought sparklers to put in the cupcakes to make it more special and fun! (I think James appreciated it)