Good Beef Stew

[Guest]

I dug this out of my recipe file and decided to adapt it to GF (doesn't take much...basically just ditching the flour!)

CIDER BEEF STEW

2 lbs. stew beef (browned lightly in 1-2 T. oil)
4-5 carrots
4-5 ribs celery
2 large russet Idahoes (unpleeled)
3 onions quartered
1 bay leaf
Salt, pepper and thyme to taste
2 cups apple cider

(obviously, cut the above veggies into chunks)

Put the potatoes in your crock pot first. Add the rest. I also added maybe 1/2 tsp. ground pepper, 1 tsp. salt., a bay leaf and a sprinkle of Thyme. Then I pour 2 cups of apple cider over the top. It just gives the stew such a great flavor!!

I play it by ear, but on a school day when I'm at school, I let it cook on low for 10 hours or so. Today we have a snow day and I am home! YIPPEE. I also needed to start it on high today. From what I've read, every hour on high equals 2 hours on low. That seems to be my experience. I have a Rival Crockpot.

Anyhoo...when done, you can thicken the juice by making adding a little cornstarch and water and also a little Gravy Master (DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE I DID AND USE KITCHEN BOUQUET!! IT IS NO LONGER GF, but GRAVY MASTER IS. I GOT NAILED ON THANKSGIVING!!)

So, after multiple errands this afternoon, Christmas shopping and a hair appt., I will come home to serve hubby and I a delicious beef stew! Don't you love these crockpots when you are out all day??? I also made a GF cornbread, a tossed salad and we'll crack open a bottle of red wine.

Dinner's at 6:30, you guys! You are all welcomed! HA HA

Carole (I am usually logged on as zoomers180 but the site is not letting me do it today! Hmmmm)

[SueznRN]

I made this stew over the weekend and it was a big hit!
I was wondering for some variety if anyone could think of another juice that might work rather than the cider?

Thanks!
Susan

[aklap]

Hi Suz,

What about a GF beef broth?? Pacific makes such a critter.

Or what about red wine?? I'm just thinking out loud...it's really time to go to bed.
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[SueznRN]

OOHHH, good ideas! I will try those next time :>) Thanks a bunch!

Suz

[mrsppmrxky]

I took a chance and added a cup or two of brewed coffee to my water and it made a nice sauce. (a friend had tempted me to try it.)

If you can find the Kraft roasted garlic salad dressing. you put some in the bottom of the pot and then over the meat and cook it. (I think I would do the veggies in a seperate pot.....I have never done them with the sauce, because I do not add water to the salad dressing.)

I have heard if you add a soda cola flavor that it is good, but I have never tried it.

You can also use the oily Italian Kraft dressing and cook like the above.
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[momto4]

GF Red wine adds a lovely taste to stew. I usually use beer as my son hates stew anyway. Omitting the flour can make for a watery stew, when I feel like forcing my son to eat stew(Once I think) I substuted the flour with a GF blend. I season the flour, coat cubes of beef and brown them is some oil, chuck it in a sauce-pan add the beer or whatever stock you want to use, canned toms and any old veggies I can find. Leeks though are a must for me to add the flavor I like.

[daughteroftheking]

don't use beer...beer is made from barley which is a big no no for celiacs & a gluten free diet!

[momto4]

Sorry I assumed everyone knew that beer was'nt GF. Thats what I meant when I said I didnt feed it to my son he is Celiac. Sorry I forgot there could be new people that did'nt realise. Omit the beer! Go for GF Red wine or some other stock.

[The Edifying Conscience]

Beer can be used. One just needs to use a GF variety like Lakefront Brewery, Rampapo Valley or the other one...can't remember the name.

When I make stew I always use a red wine in my stew...even if the recipe doesn't call for it. I just reduce the amount of water or stock and sub the wine. It adds some depth of flavor.
TEC

[momto4]

Thanks TEC I agree with you. A bit of red wine is great in many dishes. Beef and mushrooms with red wine and rice is good too.

[Fidissimus]

Oh - I'm excited - I LOVE stew! I've never heard of it made with cider before - I bought all the stuff and will make this tomorrow.

I've always made it with beef stock and or red wine, etc... new and fun! I'll post tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[aklap]

Sounds good! Well expect food porn...err ahh...pictures
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Fidissimus]

Al, I can only hope to follow in your artistic foot steps...
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[The Edifying Conscience]

Fid,
Are you making the stew with a hard cider like Woodchuck Granny Smith or a kiddie cider? Just wondering...hard might be interesting as it would add some more dimension. I'll have to give it a try in October as I'm in complete summer food mode right now.
TEC

[Fidissimus]

I agree - I think a hard cider would add a nice complexity to it, but since I'm nursing and both me and my baby have the flu - I think I'll use the kiddy cider this time around. I will however probably add some beef bullion, allspice and a small amount of applesauce - w/ GF flour at the end to thicken things up. Oh and maybe just a pinch of ground clove... and perhaps a wee bit of cider vinegar... I'm afraid with the sugars in the regular cider it will be too sweet otherwise.

Sorry, just thinking out loud...
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/