Beef Stew

 This is my Beef Stew Loved by everyone who has had it, and for some loved more with out the peas ;)
Its a very comforting dish, served with warm rolls on a cool or rainy day.

you will need
 a crockpot or dutch oven

2lbs Stewing beef
3 medium carrots cut into rounds
4 medium potatoes cubed
2 medium onions chopped
3 stalks of celery chopped
1 cup frozen peas (optional)
2 boxes of beef stock (use gluten free stock if your making gluten free)
2 cloves of garlic minced
1/2 tsp parsley
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup corn starch
1 tbsp olive oil or veg oil

Heat a large skillet or if using dutch oven heat dutch oven over med/high heat. (turn on crock pot to low or high if your short on time. If using dutch oven preheat oven to 350)
Cut stewing beef into smaller chunks if they are large. Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper to the corn starch and mix. Sprinkle cornstarch mixture over the beef chunks and coat beef evenly. Add tbsp of oil to the skillet and add beef, brown on all sides. Move browned beef to a plate. (if using crock pot add directly to crock pot)
Do Not Skip this step it is very important - Use 1/2 cup of the beef stock and de-glaze the pan or dutch oven. Ensuring you scrape all the bits off the bottom. 
(If using crock pot add this to the crock pot) .
turn heat off. and Add the meat back to the pan along with all the remaining ingredients, stir place lid on and place in oven. Cook at 350 for 3 hours. Check on the stew every hour to ensure it is not drying out. If stew is drying out add more stock. The stew is ready when the meat is tender and falling apart and potatoes are cooked through.  Add peas once the stew is ready and let cook for an extra 15mins to heat peas through. If you don't like peas you can skip this step.
(if you find your gravy is runny.. follow this trick. Add 2 tbsp of corn starch to a cup and remove 1/2 cup of the gravy from the stew mix throughly and pour this mixture back into the pot) this should thicken up the gravy, wait awhile and see if it is as thick as you want. If not repeat this step. 
DO NOT ADD the Corn starch directly to the pot. ALWAYS mix with hot liquid from the pot. Other wise you will get a very lumpy grainy gravy.

For the crockpot best results are cooking on low for the entire day. this is a set it and forget it meal.  around 8 hrs on low and 4 hours on high.

Happy Cooking :)

Enjoy!


Fran

Delicious Hot wings

Delicious hot wings!

1-2lbs of tipped and split chicken wings 

1 cup franks red hot sauce

1/2 cup of butter *melted*

1 lemon juiced

1 tsp oregano

salt and pepper

parchment paper

Preheat oven to 400, line baking sheet with parchment paper, pat chicken wings dry with paper towel and place on prepared baking sheet, season with salt and pepper. Cook chicken wings in 400 degree oven for 45 mins or until fully cooked flipping half way through cooking.

While wings are cooking, place hot sauce in a metal bowl, add melted butter, lemon juice and oregano stir thoroughly.

Place pipping hot wings in a bowl and pour hot sauce over top and toss, serve with celery, carrots and dip.

Happy Cooking :)

Enjoy!

Fran

Gluten free- Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ever since I started this gluten free diet, I have been craving chocolate chip cookies..so after much searching and debating I found a recipe I was able to play with and make it taste just like regular chocolate chip cookies. I made these and added them to my christmas cookies

1 cup butter (softened)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cup rice flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. xanthan gum
1 tsp. salt
12 oz. Milk chocolate chips (add more if desired)

In a bowl, sift together the rice flour, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt.  In stand mixer cream the butter and sugar together, add the egg and vanilla and mix well. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix well on medium speed. Lower speed and add chocolate chips. Turn cookie dough onto parchment or plastic wrap, make the dough into a 1/2 inch rectangle and wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 mins. Preheat oven to 350. Cut dough into 1 inch squares and roll into balls, place on baking sheet an inch apart and bake for 9-10 mins. Remove cookies from oven and let stand on baking sheet for 3 mins before moving to rack to cool completely.
Serve with a glass of milk to a cookie loving man- PRICELESS!!!

Happy Cooking!!

Enjoy :)

Fran:)