Pioneer Stew

Pioneer Stew
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. beef or lamb stew meat
  • 4 tbsp oil or Crisco
  • ½ c. flour
  • 2 c. chicken or beef bouillon
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 carrots. cut in 2" pieces
  • 4 medium potatoes, quartered
  • 2 tbsp cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
  1. In a heavy saucepan with cover, melt Crisco (or heat oil). Dredge beef or lamb meat & brown in hot oil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat.
  2. Add onions & garlic. Cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Add bouillon, bay leaf, thyme, salt, & pepper. cover & simmer for 1½ hours. Add potatoes & carrots.
  4. Cover & simmer for 30 more minutes or until meat & vegetables are tender. Stir in vinegar. Add more salt & pepper as needed.

Photo Courtesy of Jules Morgan on Flickr

McMurphy’s Kickass Homefries

McMurphy's Kickass Homefries
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 2 Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
  • ½ green bell pepper
  • ½ onion
  • 2 strips bacon, roughly chopped
  • butter
  • salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. Make sure your potatoes are washed & diced. Leave the skin on.
  2. Put the potatoes in a pot of water, approximately 3 qts, with 1 tbsp of kosher salt on the stove. Turn hear on high & bring to a boil until potatoes are fork tender.
  3. Dice the onion & bell pepper. In a cast iron skillet, render the bacon with the onions & peppers on medium heat.
  4. Strain potatoes & throw into the cast iron skillet with the peppers & onions & a pat of butter.
  5. Really mash down with the weight of another skillet, & set on medium-medium low heat until you finish cooling the rest of your breakfast, about 5-10 minutes. The bottom should form a nice crust on it.
  6. Salt & pepper to taste. Add a dash of hot sauce if you like.

 

Pumpkin Stew

From Taste of Home’s Halloween Food & Fun, 2003
Serves 8-10

Ingredients

2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1″ cubes 3 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
1 c. water 3 large potatoes, peeled & cut into 1″ cubes
4 medium carrots, sliced 1 large green pepper, cut into ½” pieces
4 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper
2 tbsp instant beef bouillon granules 14½ oz. diced tomatoes
1 pumpkin (10-12 lbs)

Directions

  1. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tbsp oil.  Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt & pepper.  Cover & simmer for 2 hours.  Stir in bouillon & tomatoes.  Wash pumpkin; cut a 6-8″ circle around top stem.  Remove top & set aside; discard seeds & loose fibers from inside.
  2. Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan.  Spoon stew into pumpkin & replace the top.  Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining oil.  
  3. Bake at 325°F for 2 hours or just until the pumpkin is tender (do not over bake).  Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving.

Puebla Chicken and Potato Stew

Chicken Stew Mexican Style by Lynda Giddens on FlickrAlso called Tinga Poblana de Pollo y Papas
Submitted by Americo
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

2 lbs. chicken thighs (with skin & bone) 6 c. water
1 large white onion, quartered 2 tsp salt
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled 14 oz. whole tomatoes in juice (1 can)
4 tsp Chipotle chilies in adobo (chopped, canned) 1 tsp dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 ½ oz. dried Spanish chorizo, finely chopped (1 link)
1 lb. boiling potatoes 2 oz. queso fresco, crumbled (½ c.)
avocado corn tortillas

Directions

  1. Bring chicken, water, 2 onion quarters, & 1 tsp salt to a boil, covered, in a 4-5 qt. pot over moderately high heat.  Boil 10 minutes, then remove from heat & let stand, covered, until chicken is just cooked through, about 10 minutes.  Transfer chicken to a plate, reserving broth with onion.  When cool enough to handle, coarsely shred chicken, discarding skin & bones.
  2. While chicken is cooking, heat a dry well-seasoned small cast iron skillet over moderate heat until hot, then brown garlic & remaining 2 onion quarters on all sides, turning with tongs, about 5 minutes.  Peel garlic & transfer with onion to a blender.  Add tomatoes with juice, chilies, & oregano, then puree until smooth.
  3. Cook chorizo (spicy cured pork sausage) in oil in a 12″ heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, until fat is rendered, about 2 minutes.  Carefully add puree (it will splatter & steam) & cook, stirring frequently, until thick, about 10 minutes.
  4. Peel potatoes & cut into ¾” pieces, then add to reserved broth with remaining salt.  Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are almost tender, about 10 minutes.  Add potatoes & onions to chorizo mixture along with 2 cups broth.  Stir in chicken & simmer 10 minutes.  Serve sprinkled with cheese.  Garnish with avocado slices & warm corn tortillas, if desired.

Chef’s Note: Ricotta salata or farmer cheese can be substituted for queso fresco.  The remainder of the chicken broth not used can be saved for later use.