100th POST + Giveaway!!!

That's right folks, can you believe this is my 100th post!!! So, in honor of that, I thought it would be fun to do a little giveaway (my sister's grand idea!)- and since I am not a "real deal blog" just a little fish, I don't even know for certain what my giveaway will be, maybe because I don't even know for certain if anyone will even respond- HA! But I thought it sounded fun, so away we go!!!!

GIVEAWAY- Leave a comment with your favorite recipe FROM THIS BLOG (if you've tried it or wanting to try it) and I will choose- I don't know 3-5 winners at random for a prize. If you live local, you'll probably get a home-cooked treat or something crafty, and if you live far away (mom, sisters, Sara, anyone else?) you will find yourself a fun little something in the mail (so leave your email address so I can get details!) How about a week- so do it by next Friday, Sept. 18th... no later, we don't want it to drag on forever- leave your comment. OK??? FUN!!!

OK, how is it that as of 3:00 on day one I have had 74 visitors to the blog and only ONE comment, come on people- just leave a comment- simple.... "I like ...." that's all there is to it! Don't be a party pooper! And if you don't want the prize, I'll eat or enjoy it for you- no hurt feelers on this end!!!!

Now, for my 100th recipe post.... drum roll please.... inspired by the [darling] movie Julie & Julia..... a simplified and more nutritious version of .....

Beef Bourguignon original recipe by Julia Child,

adapted recipe by Andrea Haddon :)

Ingredients:

3 lbs. stew meat, cubed

4 ribs celery, chopped

3 carrots, peeled & chopped

1 sweet onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic (or 2 large cloves)

8 oz. mushrooms, chopped or sliced

2 cups potatoes, chopped

2 cups red wine

1/2 cup beef broth

1/2 cup flour (for dipping the beef cubes)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

I made this recipe in the crock pot- in the movie and in the original recipe, she bakes it for 3 hours (and burns it!) and I didn't feel up for that amount of time, but I was so intrigued and wanted to give it a whirl, so I busted out the crock pot, and it turned out fabulous!

I wanted to do like Julia and "pat my beef dry with a paper towel" and then dip it in flour, and then brown it on the stove- and she's right, it does brown much better that way! You could probably for-go this step to shorten the prep- but if you do decide to do it, you put 1/2 cup flour on a plate, pat your beef cubes dry with a paper towel, dip the cubes in flour and then add them to a pan with a drizzle of oil and a TBSP of butter (for flavor says Julia... she uses way more butter by the way!!!) Remove the beef cubes and then saute the onions and garlic in the same pan with the left over beef juices (I had to add a smidge more oil to my pan). Then add that to the crock pot with the beef cubes. Wash and chop all the veggies and add them, plus the wine, broth, and seasoning (you can also add a bay leaf if you enjoy that flavor) and cook on low for 8 hours. I served it solo as a stew, but you could possibly serve it over a bed of noodles or with some french bread. It was delicious!!!! "Bon Appetite!"

*** Feel free to pass this blog and/or recipes on to family & friends! The more the merrier!***