West African Beef Stew

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            FOOD FUNNY
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Thanks to George in Poughkeepsie for this modern myth:

FBI agents conducted a raid of a psychiatric hospital in San Diego
that was under investigation for medical insurance fraud. After hours
of reviewing thousands of medical records, the dozens of agents had
worked up quite an appetite. The agent in charge of the investigation
called a nearby pizza parlor with delivery service to order a quick
dinner for his colleagues. The following telephone conversation took
place and was recorded by the because they were taping all
conversations at the hospital.

Agent: Hello. I'd like to order 19 large pizzas and 67 cans of soda.

Pizza Man: And where would you like them delivered?

Agent: We're over at the psychiatric hospital.

Pizza Man: The psychiatric hospital?

Agent: That's right. I'm an FBI agent.

Pizza Man: You're an FBI agent?

Agent: That's correct. Just about everybody here is.

Pizza Man: And you're at the psychiatric hospital?

Agent: That's correct. And make sure you don't go through the front
doors. We have them locked. You'll have to go around to the back
service entrance to deliver the pizzas.

Pizza Man: And you say you're all FBI agents?

Agent: That's right. How soon can you have them here?

Pizza Man: Everyone at the psychiatric hospital is an FBI agent?

Agent: That's right. We've been here all day and we're starving.

Pizza Man: How are you going to pay for all of this?

Agent: I have my checkbook right here.

Pizza Man: And you're all FBI agents?

Agent: That's right. Everyone here is an FBI agent. Can you remember
to bring the pizzas and sodas to the service entrance in the rear? We
have the front doors locked.

Pizza Man: I don't think so. *Click*

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            TODAY'S RECIPE
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This is an unusual dish that everyone will love, especially the
children at your table. Serve an assortment of garnishes to make
it a fun and memorable dining experience.

West African Beef Stew

4 Tbs (60 ml) butter or vegetable oil
1-2 onions, chopped
2 lbs (900 g) stewing beef, trimmed of excess fat
2 Tbs (30 ml) all-purpose flour
1 Tbs (15 ml) curry powder
1 cup (250 ml) beef stock
1 cup (250 ml) coconut milk or additional beef stock
1/4 cup (60 ml) peanut butter
1/2 lb (225 g) okra, trimmed and chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Boiled white rice (optional)

Optional garnishes:
Hard-cooked eggs, quartered or coarsely chopped
Toasted grated coconut
Chopped peanuts
Mango chutney
Chopped bananas
Chopped pineapple
Thinly sliced shallots fried until crisp or toasted
dehydrated onion flakes
Canned Mandarin orange sections, drained
Chopped fresh parsley, cilantro, or mint

Heat the butter in a large heavy pot over moderate heat and saute the
onion until tender but not brown, about 5 minutes. Toss the beef with
the flour and curry powder and brown lightly in the same pot. Add the
beef stock, coconut milk, and peanut butter, stirring to dissolve the
peanut butter. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer covered
until the beef is tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add the okra and
simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt
and pepper and serve over boiled rice. Serve with any or all of the
optional garnishes. Serves 6 to 8.
Received on Thu Mar 31 09:51:41 2005