Beef Short Ribs, Braised in Red Wine, with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Beef Short Ribs (Braised in Red Wine) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

It has been a while since I have updated my blog. Life has been a little busy over the past few months. New job . . . . long commute . . . . kids' stuff . . . .  family activities . . . . well, you get the idea! I've been trying different recipes, but finding the hours in the day to write about them has been sort of a luxury lately. I have resorted to shorter versions of my posts on Facebook. But, today felt like a perfect day to update my blog. Everything revolves around my children - they are my inspiration. Today is a perfect example of that.

When I got home tonight (unfortunately close to their bed time due to traffic), my 7-(almost 8)-year-old son gave me a HUGE hug. He said "Thank you, Mom! I loved the meat you made - I had 2 servings!" My 11-year-old daughter later told me "Mom, the mashed potatoes (and the meat) were so good, thank you!" These words warmed my heart. They made the entire day seem like a blur!

What they were referring to are Beef Short Ribs, Braised in Red Wine, served with Garlic, Parmesan Cheese Mashed Potatoes that they had for dinner tonight. http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/braised-short-ribs

 

See, a few months ago, I went to Los Angeles for a mediation. I took my client who was traveling with me to Tom Colicchio's restaurant, Craft. http://www.craftrestaurantsinc.com/craft-los-angeles/ We spent more than 4 hours there having an amazing dining experience, which ended with us getting a private tour of the kitchen. Tom wasn't there that night, but one of his chefs hosted us. I had such a great time, and can't wait to go back. So did my client! I also love Tom Colicchio (one of the judges on Top Chef).

 

This past weekend, I was browsing through the Food and Wine Magazine website, and came across Tom's recipe for Beef Short Ribs, braised in red wine. I love braising because it makes the whole house smell wonderful, and the recipes are almost always great make-ahead meals - perfect for working parents. I had bought some short ribs at Berkeley Bowl on Saturday, and decided to try his recipe.  It was one of the best recipes that I have tried. I started making the dish on Sunday. I let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight. I finished it on Monday night after work. My husband made the mashed potatoes last night. Tonight, we enjoyed the meal for dinner.

 

 

The meat was tender, succulent, and so flavorful (from the red wine, onions, garlic, celery, thyme, etc.) Paired with the garlic mashed potatoes . . . . just heavenly! And, the compliments from my children: PRICELESS!

To make the dish even more enjoyable, my husband and I each enjoyed a glass of Estancia Reserve Meritage (Paso Robles 2011). It's a delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. http://www.estanciawines.com/artisan-wines/reserve/meritage/

 
Here is hoping you have a great week! And, cheers to my client, Allyn. . . . Great times!

Until next time . . . Cheers!

ZinAdel