I don't think there is anyone who likes it when it rains all day. Especially those of us who have kids who need to be running around outside and burn off some energy so they can be as tired as they can be when bed time comes. Rain all day usually means that we're cooped up inside the house all day. But, there is an "up" side to rainy days, believe it or not. On rainy days, it means that I can actually make dishes like stews or braised meats because, well, I got nothing but time!
Today, I took advantage of this rainy weather that we're having in the Bay Area. I made one of the most delicious beef stews I have ever had: Food Network Start Tyler Florence's "The Ultimate Beef Stew". See this link for the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/the-ultimate-beef-stew-recipe2/index.html. It was the perfect dinner for our family. Patrick has had a stuffy nose. And, I woke up this morning with a slight sore throat. It was so cold today we actually had the fire burning all day. So, this was exactly what the doctor ordered for us. Even N
élianne raved about how tasty it was. She even had a second serving, which in our house means a successful dish.
This stew would be a perfect meal by itself with the carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, and peas. But, I made a side of Orzo pasta to serve with it because (1) I like having something to soak up the juicy stew broth and (2) the kids love the "special rice pasta" and are more likely to eat the stew if it's mixed with some rice or pasta topped off with some cheese. It actually paired up very nicely. If you don't have orzo, rice or some egg noodles would be perfect too.
Of course a meal in our household wouldn't be perfect without a glass of a delicious wine. For this beef stew, Patrick and I had a glass of a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon by Benziger Family Winery (Sonoma County, CA). That Cabernet is superb. It actually received a 90 point rating by Wine Enthusiast and was picked as an Editor's Choice in December 2010 (check out this link:
http://www.benziger.com/assets/client/File/Sell%20Sheets/07_cabernet_sauvignon_sonoma_county.pdf. The wine is a full-bodied Cabernet with aromas of dark fruit such as blackberry and wild cherry, and rich earthy notes of cedar and chocolate. Although it is an intense and complex wine, it is smooth and balanced on the palate with a lasting finish. It paired incredibly well with the beef stew. You can find this wine at Safeway for less than $15.00.
Well, I hope you stay warm and dry this long holiday weekend. If you are looking for some delicious and comforting food to make this weekend, I hope you try this dish.
Until next time . . . Cheers!
ZinAdel
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