Crock-Potting It Up

So I bought this Crock-Pot a couple weeks ago and have been on a mission ever since. Tuscan White Bean soup…check, Guinness and Beef stew…check, Chicken (minus the noodle) soup…check. Today I am attempting  pulled pork. Who knows if it will turn out as amazing as I think it will be, but I have serious faith in this machine. It’s like you can throw in anything, set in on low, and in 8 hours it’s a little pot of Heaven.  And the metallic red color? Love at first sight. Here’s a recipe for Beef and Guinness Stew we loved.

-I found this recipe in The Gourmet Slow Cooker and adapted it to what I thought was good-

Grocery List:

¾ cup all-purpose flour

2 ½ pounds lean stewing beef (cut into 1 ½  inch cubes)

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

2 to 3 large potatoes (peeled and cut into bite sized pieces)

2 to 3 carrots (peeled and cut into bite sized pieces)

2 large yellow onions quartered (I used sweet onions…really good)

1 to 2 sprigs thyme

2 cups Guinness

1 teaspoon salt

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (I didn’t do this)

(I added celery and garlic but that is not in the original recipe but was awesome. I also added a little bit of beef broth(Maybe a cup). I guess it just depends how thick you’d like it.)

Place the flour in a resealable plastic bag. Add the beef to the bag, several pieces at a time, and shake to coat completely.

Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. In batches if necessary, add the beef and cook, turning, for 8 to 10 minutes until browned on all sides. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain.

Place the beef, potatoes, carrots, onions, thyme, (celery and garlic) in the slow cooker and pour the beer over top. (If you prefer the vegetables with more texture, let the stew cook for 1 hour before adding the vegetables.) Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the meat is very tender. Season with salt. Remove and discard thyme.

Transfer to serving bowl and garnish generously with the parsley.

I added jalapenos to mine instead of parsley, which might sound weird but it gave it the kick I was looking for.  Try it out and enjoy!

Upcoming task for the weekend: painting the living room.

Irish Pubs and Rain Boots

So I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve been on here…

Life has been moving ahead as usual. Since we last spoke I have attended Hannah’s first birthday party, seen some great local bands, and met some wicked fun people (haha).  Needless to say I am exhausted and in need of a serious recharge! Lucky for me I can do that next week when my family flies over and we all head up to the beach house for a week. I can not wait for some relaxing on the beach, boogie boarding and family game nights. Oh and it’s my birthday on the 8th. The big two nine. One more year of 20’s. Looking forward to my 30’s. Pretty sure it will be my most formative decade yet. Either way I’m so excited to spend it with the whole family in Maine, if only Penny could have come…

Found another spot we love to go to called Ri Ra. It’s a chain Irish pub, but since there are only like 5 in the U.S. it doesn’t really seem super chainy to me. Great food. Seriously the Guinness beef stew is heaven on a cold day and of all the times we have been there (I think 5 times in the last two weeks) the spinach and artichoke dip has been a high priority. And I love everything potatoes so this place is the best.It totally helps that all the bartenders are friendly and hot. It’s just not right. And hell, half of them have our names down and know that I want a Smithwick’s and Em wants a Guinness… hmmm I’m starting to think a pint tonight sounds great! Although we should probably take care of some business before this storm rolls through.

Ahhh the storm. It seems people are going to extremes with Ms. Irene. Not that being prepared and safe are a bad thing, I just don’t think it will be that bad when it finally hits Maine. Might as well keep that between us or the poor news reporters here will have to go back to talking about lobster catches and airport grants. We’ll see I guess. Should buy a flashlight and some bottled water just in case. Probably should have already had those…

Maine has definitely been growing on me and is feeling more like my home than a vacation. I’m excited for the trees to change color and for me to splash around in my new rain boots. Damn I love Fall. This will be my first in New England and I can only imagine how great it will be. Looking forward to apple cider and pumpkin scented candles. Oh snap, I think a trip to the Yankee Candle store is in order! Maybe I’ll wait til Seany gets here…