Boeuf Bourguignonne

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            FOOD FUNNY
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Even though Rosemary Zwick of Cape Town, South Africa doesn't offer
this one as a true food funny, I'm pretty sure it has happened at
least once somewhere.

I pulled up to the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant and ordered
coffee. I asked the clerk to put some ice cubes into the cup so
that I could drink the cool coffee quickly. At the window there was
a delay. Finally, a teen-aged girl came to the window looking
frustrated. "I'm having a problem," she announced. "The ice keeps
melting."

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            TODAY'S RECIPE
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This classic French dish is really nothing more than a hearty beef
stew simmered in red wine. Serve some boiled parsleyed potatoes and
a green salad and you have a complete meal.

Boeuf Bourguignonne

For the marinade:
3 lb (1350 g) beef round, cut in 2-inch (5 cm) cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 cups (500 ml) red wine
2 Tbs (30 ml) olive oil
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp (2 ml) dried thyme
1 bay leaf

3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 onions, chopped
7 Tbs (105 ml) butter
1/4 cup (60 ml) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (125 ml) beef broth
1 Tbs (15 ml) tomato paste
2 cups (500 ml) small white onions, par-boiled
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1 tsp (5 ml) sugar
2 cups (500 ml) sliced mushrooms

Combine the beef and the rest of the marinade ingredients in a large
bowl and marinate for at least two hours and up to 24 hours,
stirring occasionally. Remove the beef and pat it dry. Strain the
marinade and reserve. Heat 2 tablespoons (30 ml) butter in a heavy
skillet over high heat and brown the meat quickly on all sides.
Remove the meat to a two-quart (2 L) baking dish. Deglaze the
skillet with 1/2 cup (125 ml) reserved marinade and add to the
baking dish. Melt 4 tablespoons (60 ml) butter in skillet over
moderate heat and saute the chopped garlic, onions, and carrot until
lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Blend in the flour and stir for 1
minute. Add the remaining marinade, broth, and tomato paste and
stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Pour over the meat. Cover
and cook in a preheated 350F (180C) oven until the meat is tender, 2
to 2 1/2 hours. Melt 1 tablespoon (15 ml) butter in a skillet over
moderate heat and saute the white onions with the salt and sugar
until golden. Add the mushrooms and saute for two minutes more.
Add the onion mixture to the beef and cook an additional 10 minutes.
Serves 6 to 8.
Received on Thu Jun 30 07:25:34 2005