September 19, 2006
How to look like you have been cooking the whole day
[This article title was inspired by the Group Writing Project at ProBlogger.]
Sometimes cooking can be a bit daunting for a newbie, but even newbies can look impressive. Who says you can’t spend 45 mins in the kitchen and yet look like you have been cooking the whole day, huh!
Here is a recipe for a beef stew from my friend Angela Lee, from Singapore. This recipe serves 3-4 people, or 1 greedy person over 3 meals. Leftovers taste very good too! (Eat with garlic bread or plain steamed rice.) I tweaked it a little to add in bacon bits and used only one pot. Yes, ONE pot for the whole cooking process.
- 450-500g stewing beef
- 4 strips of bacon, cut into small pieces
- soy sauce and pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 2 large potatoes, chopped
- 2 handfuls button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 can chopped tomatoes
- 500ml water
- 1 can beef broth*
- 250ml red wine (a good dry wine like Pinot Noir or one that you would drink)
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary*
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme*
Method:
Cube the beef, then marinate in soy sauce and pepper.
Brown the bacon in a pot. When the bacon looks brown (not burnt, please!), set it aside. Remove excess bacon oil from the pot and leave about 2 tablespoonful to brown the beef.
Brown beef cubes till cooked on the outside. Be patient! Do not move the beef cubes around. Allow them to brown for about 5 minutes on each side, because you want brown bits to form (process called caramelization).
While you’re doing this, boil some water in a kettle.
When the beef is nice and brown (yes, that’s what we are talking about!), add in the bacon, onion, carrots, garlic, potatoes and mushrooms and fry till golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Add tomatoes, hot water, beef broth, and wine. (If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, add 250ml water instead of wine, but it tastes much much better with wine.)
Season with rosemary and thyme. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer for 2 hours.
To thicken, add a heaped tablespoonful of cornflour to some cool water and stir well before adding to stew. Add more flour if you want an even thicker gravy.
It’s OK to leave it to simmer for slightly longer.
*Substitute Ingredients:
Use 2 beef stock cubes if you do not have beef broth.
You can also used the dried mixed herbs if you do not have the individual dried herbs.
Tips:
If you have ever had bad encounters with chewy beef, do not fear. Use a bit of meat tenderizer together with the marinate. Remember to just use a bit or your meat will literally fall into pieces or be too salty.
And then you can tell your loved ones that you spent the whole day pounding the beef (don’t tell them you used the meat tenderizer), preparing the beef broth, checking the pot now and then etc etc… ;)
Bite This!
More recipes:
Stir Fried Spaghetti With Black Peppered Beef
Slow cooker - Pork and vegetable soup
Watercress Soup - The Start Of My Detox Diet
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September 20th, 2006 at 3:04 am
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 20th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Wow am I hungry now! Nice recipe! Thanks for doing a how to for the Group Writing Project. My How To is up also.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Wow am I hungry now! Nice recipe! Thanks for doing a how to for the Group Writing Project. My how to is up also.
September 20th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
[…] Visit her entry: How to look like you have been cooking the whole day […]
September 20th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
yummy yummy yummy, i want beef in my tummy!
heya, i miss your cooking….
darn, i hope your hubbie doesn’t take that the wrong way…
Andrew Wee
www.WhoIsAndrewWee.com
September 20th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
andrew show me this site, I took a look and now I don’t think I wanna think about slimming ever again
maybe one of these days, you can cook up a feast for us all ….
hehehehe will be looking forward to this day
September 20th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Hey Matt, Thanks! I have checked out your site too! Great advice you got there! Hope both of us win. Haha.
Hi Andrew, We’d definitely meet up when I am back in Singapore.
Hi Zandtenn, If I cook, will you do the dishes? :)
September 20th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
You got me with the title. Now I’ll have to come back so I can learn to cook.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:43 am
[…] PPS: Robert Allen books still available. Get your free copy now. PPPS: visit my DigitalKeiretsu.com’s member YiChen’s Cooking entry for the Writing Project at: How to look like you have been cooking the whole day Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
September 21st, 2006 at 2:27 am
Hey Yich!
Nice site you have here! Keep up the good work! Hope to get more recipes from you while I’m studying in London! Can cook and save money! :)
September 21st, 2006 at 7:38 am
mmm, that sounds good!
September 21st, 2006 at 10:32 am
Ah, I always need recipes like this, wow does that sound good too ;). Our how-to is up as well if you’d like to check it out!!
September 22nd, 2006 at 11:13 am
Hi Chee Shan, Jersey Girl, Mamaduck
Do have a go at this recipe. It’s one of my favorites. Love it especially when the fragrance from the wine fills up the kitchen. :)
September 22nd, 2006 at 7:19 pm
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September 22nd, 2006 at 11:08 pm
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 23rd, 2006 at 5:59 am
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 23rd, 2006 at 7:13 am
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 24th, 2006 at 12:43 am
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 24th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Hey, the recipes here looks really good. Now I have an idea of what to cook this weekend for my grandma’s birthday party. :)
Thanks!
September 24th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
Hi Arvind, Thanks! I’d love to know how the recipe works out for you!
September 25th, 2006 at 6:02 am
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 26th, 2006 at 5:34 am
[…] How to look like you have been cooking the whole day by Yi Chen Sim […]
September 26th, 2006 at 9:32 am
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