The start of something glorious!

Beef Bourguignon… food of the gods, balm to the soul, the aroma is enough to make you cry!

The basics…

 Followed by the balm to the soul… (that would be the healthy dose of brandy to flambe it in, and the red wine to bathe it in!)… 

  

A few hours in a slow oven, then I will carmelize the pearl onions, saute the mushrooms, thicken the sauce, and let it cook for another hour or so.

I’ll come back and tease you with more pictures when it’s finished cooking!  Of course no meal is complete without a loaf of crusty bread, and I made some whole wheat bread while I was at it.  My oven has been running since this morning and will be on all day long, no need for the furnace today!

I’ll never forget the first time I tasted Beef Bourguignon.  I was in my early thirties, and thought I’d surely died and gone to heaven.  I vowed I’d never again make plain beef stew, and I haven’t!

I only make Beef Bourguignon a few times a year in the winter, as it’s very expensive to make… I think we can eat lobster for less, it’s very rich, and it’s very time consuming! 

So I always pick a day when it’s cold, cloudy, and either getting ready to rain or snow, somehow that makes it all the more magical to me, as I savor the wonderful smells, the joy of having a roof over my head and a warm home to call my own (life was not always so good to me!) and then I immerse myself in the pleasure of creating this special dish.  One day, I’ll make a step by step pictorial and share it on my blog.  I began with Julia Child’s version of the dish, but have adapted it to my taste over the years.

I serve it with garlic mashed potatoes and a loaf of crusty bread.  And I am eternally thankful I discovered the joy of cooking!

Comments

[BillieSews]

Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I really need to move next door to you. Maybe some of your energy, ability to cook and sew and quilt, etc., would rub off on me!

[Marguerite]

The Beef Bourguignon looks divine! Even if its not the final product. What is also intriguing to me is the bread baking book behind those lovely crusty loaves! Please share!!

[PatK]

I was in the same mood, made homemade Cream of Potato soup and cornbread soup today. Too bad we aren't closer (I'm in Texarkana) and then we could swap and have a meal of both! LOL Enjoy! We are enjoying ours this nice fall day. I hope you get the pictorial done soon!

PatK

[PatK]

Soup on the brain, Not cornbread soup, just cornbread from scratch!

PatK