WooHoo! Here we are with less than a week to go — are we all pulling our hair out yet???
I still have a ton of stuff to do — same as every other year LOL. And every other year has taught me that it will all get done. And I guess what doesn’t get done wasn’t that important anyway. I still have baking, decorating the real tree, and wrapping to do. How ’bout you?
I was checking my blog and it’s been a loooong time since I had a recipe here and I have a perfect one for this busy time of year. Several years ago I stopped into our very cool little used book store here in town and found myself in the cookbook section. They had a copy of a Southern Living Christmas Cookbook and the recipes looked so good, I just couldn’t pass it up. Most of the recipes are for the special occasions that we celebrate during the holidays, but there are also a lot of recipes that are fairly quick — for those days when we’re just so busy that there’s not a lot of time to cook.
I found an interesting recipe for beef stew in the “Easy Everyday Meals” section of the cookbook. I almost didn’t try this recipe because the ingredients just seemed too basic (and frankly, a little weird) for a beef stew. But I’m so glad I did. I make it a lot now during the winter — I put it in the oven around lunchtime and it’s ready just in time for dinner. And, it’s perfect for a day of gift wrapping or tree decorating!
Oven-Baked Beef Stew
2 pounds top round steak, cut into 1-inch pieces
8 stalks celery, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
6 small round red potatoes, quartered
6 large carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 cups chopped onion
1 (7-oz.) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca, uncooked
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 cups tomato juice
Combine all ingredients in a roaster (a cast iron pot or Le Creuset pan works great), stirring well. Cover and bake at 250 degrees for 5 hours. Serves 6.
We love to have ours with a cheddar biscuits. There are lots of recipes for cheddar biscuits out there, but, since I usually make this stew on a busy day, we like to use the Red Lobster biscuit mixes — I hope you can find them in your neck of the woods!
Ok … good luck! Hope you have a very productive last weekend before Christmas!
XOXO,
Anna
Wow Anna, this looks like proper food! Yum.
Amalia
xo
That sounds good, although our weather has been so unseasonably warm I’m starting to think salads! If I don’t get by here again, happy Christmas Anna!
that stew is pretty much how I make stew except the tomato juice – I put in a can of tomato soup and a can of golden mushroom soup and sometimes a 1/2 cup of catsup
Thanks for the great recipe – looks perfect for this busy time of the year!!
xo
That recipe looks great. I just put it on my to do list.
Your dinner looks soooooo yummy! I have never tried the Red Lobster mix, but do see it in the store and often been tempted. Should I give it a go?
I agree with Amalia’s comment – that does look like proper food and I will give it a try. And we also love those Red Lobster biscuits. Thanks for a new dinner idea! And Merry Christmas and Happy HAPPY New Year!
Looks good! And yes, it all gets done or not…lol. And I keep adding to the list!
Thanks for the recipe, it sounds very tasty indeed. I love stews in winter but have never thought to have them with cheddar biscuits, or knew cheddar biscuits existed in fact. Have fun wrapping pressies and making everything look pretty for Christmas.
Oh YUM! I love a good beef stew. And biscuits!
I’m hoping to wrap gifts during the football game today. Still have baking to do and then the cooking for the Big Feast! An enormous Roast Beast!
Merry Christmas, dearie.
Your stew looks great—I would cook it in the crock pot while I was at work. (My ex used to make something very similar to this without the ‘shrooms and with Pace picante sauce for the tomato sauce/paste.) Have you seen this bag?
https://www.noodle-head.com/product/makerstote
I can see you making it with “Maker” fabric—it would be really cool. My mom makes Red Lobster biscuits from that mix sometimes, and we eat them with soup from a can. (Every person can have whichever kind of soup they like.) We add extra cheese—the mix ones aren’t cheesy enough.
Oh, far too hot to be thinking of stews (but it does look tasty), think I’ll stick with the salads! Enjoy your Christmas prep and have a wonderful one with your family. Hugs xx
your stew looks acceptable. i would eat it.
i am, however, leary of biscuits you made from a boxed mix. we can still be friends though. i have to make candy, shop for christmas eve dinner, and wrap wrap wrap. i’m doomed, but as you said, it will get done!
xoxo.
merry christmas anna banana.
.b
Ive been so busy I am just getting around to reading this post. I need this recipe! It looks delicious. Merry Christmas Anna, my friend.
That beef stew looks delicious! And I’m hungry. I’ll have to print and save this one to try real soon. Obviously, it is too late for today. ;) Merry Christmas!
I love this! Everything sounds so delicious. Can’t wait to try