Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen

Sorry about this picture.  It looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Maybe a tad too much of the Hendry wine?  But seriously, when you photograph your food, you sometimes have to do it in a hurry because there are people waiting to eat.  There was little time for me to make adjustments.

There has been little time to do any serious cooking either.  That is why this quick stew of beef, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms is so reliable.   It cooks quickly because the beef is sirloin and doesn’t require the slow braise that chuck usually needs.  It is just a matter of cubing your beef and vegetables, sauteeing them in batches and simmering the mixture in beef broth for about an hour, with a last minute infusion of flour and wine.  So easy.

It is nice to be home with my collection of copper pans again.  I have a history with them.  It is just a shame that I do not have the wall space to hang them like Julia.

Hendry Wines out of Napa Valley are some of our favorites.  When we visited there years ago we stayed at a bed and breakfast outside of St. Helena and the Innkeeper was a distributor for the small winery.  What fascinated us was that the winemaker at Hendry was both a farmer and a nuclear physicist.   We are fortunate that we have a generous family member who brings us Hendry Wines regularly.  In a blind wine tasting that we conducted last year, Hendry Wines won hands down in all catagories.

Enjoy.  We are off for a few days visiting the kids for Easter.

SKILLET BEEF IN WINE

1 1/2 pounds boneless sirloin steak
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 onion chopped
1 pound red potatoes cut into cubes
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 can low sodium beef broth
2 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup red wine

Cut steak into 1-inch cubes.  Coat a large nonsick skillet with 1 tablespoon oil and place over medium-high heat until hot.  Add steak cubes; cook 4 minutes or until steak loses its pink color and is browned on all sides.  Remove steak cubes from skillet, and drain well.

Recoat skillet with 1 tablespoon oil; place over medium-high heat until hot.  Add carrot, mushrooms, onion and potatoes; saute 5 mintues.  Return steak to skillet.  Add thyme, salt, pepper and beef broth; stir well.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until meat and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Place flour in a small bowl; gradually add wine, blending with a whisk.  Add to steak mixture, and cook, uncovered, 5 minutes or until thick and bubbly, stirring occasionally.

Printable recipe