Tuesday, January 29, 2013

PW's Sunday Night Stew


Now you all know how much I love the Pioneer Woman's blog. She is hysterical and her recipes are always yum, yum, yum! I love all her step by step pictures, too (I SO wish I had the time and patience to chronicle my blog like that!! Maybe in my next life....). Anyhoo, my friend, Melissa, told me I had to make the Pioneer Woman's Sunday Night Stew- she said the mashed potatoes were "the best she's ever eaten in her life!" Well, when those words came out of Melissa's mouth (she's QUITE the foodie/cook herself), I wasted no time gathering the ingredients for this meal. And yes, Mel, these mashed potatoes were TO DIE for! The stew was super tasty, as well. I don't use turnips very often....but, I have to say, they gave a unique, but pleasant, flavor to this hearty, comfort dish. Despite this meal's name, I made this on a regular ol' Tuesday night. Enjoy!

Here is the recipe straight from the Pioneer Woman herself:

STEW:
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • 2 pounds Beef Stew Meat (chuck Roast Cut Into Chunks)
  • Salt And Pepper
  • 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 4 ounces, weight Tomato Paste
  • 4 cups Low Sodium Beef Stock Or Broth, More If Needed For Thinning
  • Several Dashes Worcestershire
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sugar
  • 4 whole Carrots, Peeled And Diced
  • 2 whole Turnips, Peeled And Diced
  • 2 Tablespoons Minced Fresh Parsley
Mashed Potatoes:
  • 5 pounds Russet Potatoes (peeled)
  • 1 package (8 Ounce) Cream Cheese, Softened
  • 1 stick Butter, Softened
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
  • Salt And Pepper, to taste
STEW
Salt and pepper stew meat. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add butter, and as soon as it melts, brown half the stew meat until the outside gets nice and brown, about 2 minutes. (Turn it as it browns.) Remove the meat from the pot with a slotted spoon and put it on a plate. Add the rest of the meat to the pot and brown it, too. Remove it to the same plate. Set the meat aside.

Add the onion and garlic to the pot, stirring it to coat it in all the brown bits in the bottom of the pot. Cook for two minutes, then add the tomato paste to the pot. Stir it into the onions and let it cook for two more minutes.

Pour in the beef stock, stirring constantly. Add the Worcestershire and sugar. Add the beef back to the pot, cover the pot, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.

After 1 1/2 to 2 hours, add the diced turnips and carrots to the pot. Stir to combine, put the lid back on the pot, and let it simmer for another 30 minutes. The sauce should be very thick, but if it seems overly so, splash in some beef broth until it thins it up enough. Feel free to add beef broth as needed!

When the carrots and turnips are tender, stir in minced parsley. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve piping hot in a bowl with mashed potatoes, letting the juice run all over everything. Sprinkle with extra minced parsley at the end.

MASHED POTATOES
Cut the potatoes into quarters and cover with water in a large pot. Boil until potatoes are fork tender, about 25-30 minutes. Drain the potatoes, then put them back into the same pot. With the heat on low, mash the potatoes for 2 to 3 minutes to release as much steam as possible.

Turn off heat, then add cream cheese, butter, cream, seasoned salt, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Serve potatoes immediately or spread them into a buttered baking dish to be reheated later. To reheat, put them in a 375 degree oven, covered in foil, until hot.

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