Carbonnade Flamande

Made this last night, for Christmas dinner, and it rivaled the best Carbonnades I've had in Belgium! I've turned out many plates in my career, but only certain dishes have become meals I feed my own family, like boeuf carbonnade à la flamande. I was taught to make this Flemish beef and onion stew by my mentor, Belgian chef Leon Dhaenens, when I was a young cook. Unlike French beef stews made with wine, carbonnade relies on the deep, dark flavor of Belgian abbey-style beer. But what really gives carbonnade its distinctive character is the addition of brown sugar and a fillip of cider vinegar, a sweet-sour combination that plays beautifully against the caramelized onions and rich beer. 
—Charlie Palmer, chef-owner of Aureole in New York City and Las Vegas

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS
2 lb. beef chuck, cut into 2″ x ½″-thick slices (In the Boucherie Moroccaine they sell "Carbonnade" meat)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup flour
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
4 slices bacon, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 cups Belgian-style ale (I used Maredsous Tripel - CF)
1 cup beef stock
2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 sprigs thyme (I used at least double)
3 sprigs parsley (I doubled this too)
2 sprigs tarragon (I didn't have any tarragon)
1 bay leaf
Bread, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
Season beef with salt and pepper in a bowl; add flour and toss to coat. Heat 2 tbsp. butter in a 6-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add beef; cook, turning, until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate; set aside. Add bacon; cook until its fat renders, about 8 minutes. Add remaining butter, garlic, and onions; cook until caramelized, about 30 minutes. Add half the beer; cook, scraping bottom of pot, until slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Return beef to pot with remaining beer, stock, sugar, vinegar, thyme, parsley, tarragon, bay leaf, and salt and pepper; boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, until beef is tender, about 1 ½ hours. Serve with bread.

Sesame Banana Bread

Sesame Banana Bread As I mention up above, I use a mix of black and white sesame seeds. More than anything, it makes the seeds more visible. 1 cup / 4.5 oz / 125g all-purpose flour
 1 cup / 5 oz / 140g whole wheat flour
 3/4 cup / 4.5 oz / 125 g dark brown sugar (or muscovado) 
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt 
1 1/3 cups / 7 ounces / 200 g toasted sesame seeds 
1/3 cup / 80 ml extra-virgin olive oil 
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
1 1/2 cups / 12 oz / 340 g mashed, VERY ripe bananas (~3 bananas)
 1/4 cup / 60 ml plain, whole milk yogurt
 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

 
For the glaze: 
1/2 cup / 3 oz / 85 g sifted dark brown sugar (muscovado)
 1/2 cup / 2 oz / 55g confectioners' sugar
 4-6 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Beef Stew with Beer and Paprika | The Pioneer Woman Cooks | Ree Drummond

Beef Stew with Beer and Paprika | The Pioneer Woman Cooks | Ree Drummond

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• 2 pounds Stew Meat
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 can Beer, 12 Ounce Can
• 4 cups Beef Stock (or 4 Cups Water + 4 Beef Bouillon Cubes)
• 2 cups Water (additional, If Needed)
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Sugar
• 4 whole Carrots, Washed, Unpeeled, And Roughly Sliced
• 4 whole New Potatoes, Quartered
• Minced Parsley (optional)

Preparation Instructions

- Heat oil and butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Brown meat in two batches, setting aside on a plate when brown. Cut pieces in half. Set aside.
- Add diced onions to the pot. Stir and cook for two or three minutes until softened, then add garlic for another minute. Pour in beer and beef stock, then add Worcestershire, tomato paste, paprika, salt, pepper, and sugar. Add beef back into the pot. Stir to combine. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
*UPDATE: The liquid should cook down to a thicker state. If it gets too thick/reduces too much, add additional water as needed.
- Add carrots and potatoes, then cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes. (If stew gets dry, just add a cup of hot water at a time to replenish the liquid.) Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Serve in bowls next to crusty French bread. Sprinkle with minced parsley, if desired.

Stoemp aux choux de Bruxelles // Brussels-Sprouts Stoemp!

Ingrédients pour 4 personnes :

    400 g de pommes de terre farineuses (bintje)
    450 g de choux de Bruxelles
    50 g de beurre doux
    Sel et poivre noir du moulin

Stoemp aux choux de Bruxelles

Préparez les légumes. Épluchez, lavez et coupez les pommes de terre en gros morceaux. Épluchez et lavez les choux de Bruxelles. Coupez-les en deux.

Faites cuire séparément les deux légumes, pendant 15 à 25 minutes, en surveillant leur cuisson à l’aide de la pointe d’un couteau : la chair doit être très tendre. Préférez une cuisson à l’eau bouillante (voir : Cuisson des choux de Bruxelles). Égouttez-les.

Écrasez les légumes ensemble au moulin à légumes manuel : au presse-purée ou à la fourchette, mais à la main, sinon vous obtenez une purée collante très désagréable. Vous devez obtenir la consistance d’une purée assez ferme. Laissez fondre le beurre sur la purée. Salez et poivrez. Mélangez bien. Servez chaud.
Conseil du chef

Servez en accompagnement de boudin noir ou de belles grosses saucisses (Morteau ou chipolatas) grillées ou cuites dans l’eau des légumes. Dans les assiettes de service, moulez le stoemp en parts individuelles où creuser un trou pour y verser le jus de cuisson des saucisses.

de MEXICO à BRUSSELAS

Last Friday I made lots of traditional (though lesser-known) Mexican Tacos Guisados (that is, stewed tacos - as opposed to tacos made from grilled meat).

Here are the Recipes:

* TACOS DE TORTA DE COLIFLOR *

for the tortitas:
1 small cauliflower
4 eggs
3 tablespoons of flour

for the salsa:
3 medium tomatoes
1 clove garlic
chipotle chile (optional)
chicken stock
salt
((note - i used part of the same sauce when i made the Tinga, and this worked well, though this sauce for the tortitas should be a bit less spicy.))

Directions:
- cut cauliflower into smallish pieces and steam or boil until soft.
- mix up the eggs and flour until it forms a slightly thick batter.
- take a small handful of cauliflower pieces, cover with batter, and fry in (peanut) oil.
- drain excess oil / rest on paper towels.
- mix up the sauce in a blender.
- heat up the sauce on the stove.
- add tortitas to this sauce to reheat them, and let them absorb the sauce's taste.
- serve on tortillas as tacos, or with rice. delicious alone, but you can also add queso fresco and/or guacamole.

===========================
* TACOS DE TINGA DE POLLO *

1 whole skinless chicken breast
1 clove of garlic
2 large onions
4 tomatoes
3 Chiles Chipotle Adobados o Enlatados (canned Chipotle peppers)
Cooking oil
Salt

Directions:
(1) Cut the onion in long, fine pieces. In a large pot cook the chicken with the onion, and some salt. Cook until soft.
(2) Drain the chicken stock from the onion and save it. Put the drained onions in a pan and fry until golden. Tear the chicken into long, thin pieces.
(3) Use a blender to mix the tomatoes with some of the chicken stock, the garlic, and chipotle chiles.
(4) Now add the salsa to the golden onions (you can add a 1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar), and let simmer for 10 minutes. Add this sauce to the chicken and salt to taste.

==============================
* TACOS DE PAPAS CON CHORIZO *

1 kilo fingerling potatoes
2 links of spicy (cooking) chorizo (NOTE: this is NOT the same as chorizo that you eat in slices! and it's much cheaper)
1 yellow or white onion
tortillas

- wash and cut the potatoes into small pieces. boil until soft. drain.
- meanwhile finely chop the onion and sautée it until it becomes soft, then add the chorizo (note - depending on the chorizo you may need to remove its casing and cut it into pieces before adding it to the sautée pan.)
- add the chorizo/onion to the potatoes. salt only if necessary.
- serve on tortillas.
===========================
* TACOS DE CALABACITAS *

onion
zucchini / summer squash
fresh or canned corn
jalapeño (or other chile pepper)
oregano
cilantro

- sautée the onion first, then add the other vegetables.
- season with cilantro and oregano, and salt to taste.
- serve on tortillas as tacos, with queso fresco and/or guacamole.

====================
* CEVICHE TROPICAL *

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless halibut, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup tequila
1 habañero pepper, seeded and minced
1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 bunch chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions:
- Combine cubed halibut, lime juice, tequila, minced habañero, and diced mango in a non-metallic bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours.
- After the ceviche has sat for 1 1/2 hours, add the remaining vegetables. Mix well, then recover and refrigerate another 30 minutes.
- Fold in the remaining cilantro, and season to taste with salt before serving.

==================
* SALSA HABAñERO *
1-2 medium tomatoes
3 habañero chiles
2 cloves of garlic
salt to taste

put everything in the licuadora (blender), and mix it up. vary proportions to control spiciness (habañeros can knock your socks off!)

=================
* PICO DE GALLO *

tomatoes
onion (red or white)
chile peppers (traditionally jalapeño, though others work fine)
lime juice
salt 
=============
* GUACAMOLE *

2 avocadoes
2 cloves of garlic
1 chile pepper
2 cherry tomatoes
cilantro
lime juice
salt

- fry in olive oil the garlic and diced chile pepper
- mix into the avocado
- add juice from 1 lime, diced cilantro and tomatoes, and salt to taste.

Brian L. Frye writes: The cocktail I made for Penny was just a classic sour: 1.5 oz. beet gin, 0.75 oz. Cointreau, 0.75 oz. lemon juice. It was the color & consistency of blood! The beet gin has an interesting, earthy sweetness. I also made a Negroni variation, with 1 oz. beet gin, 1 oz. sweet vermouth & 1 oz. Campari. Nice.