Saturday, February 19, 2011

Sweet Beef Stew-Rasta

I was inspired to go out on "the pigeon limb" by the pan-caribbean culture in my new Brooklyn neighborhood to make a beef stew that was warming on the inside and inspiring on the outside (I am thinking of the beach, right about now). The anchovy fillets are REQUIRED - and with the rest of the tin, make a Caesar Salad dressing for the next day! (Email me for a recipe). Because I used chicken stock instead of beef, the anchovy and worcestershire sauce add some body without making it overly heavy.

We steamed some kale and served it with a bit of butter and balsamic vinegar - it was the perfect accompaniment.

1 lb stew beef
olive oil or coconut oil to cover the bottom of the pan
S&P

1c chopped sweet onion
1 qt. chicken stock
4 anchovy fillets

dash of cinnamon
dash of cumin
approx 1 T Worcestershire Sauce

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed to bite-sized

Dry the beef with paper towels, coat with S&P
Brown the beef in olive/coconut oil

Add chicken stock and onion
Simmer, covered approximately two hours or until the beef is almost pulling apart, then add anchovy, spices, worcestershire and sweet potato, and stir
Continue to simmer until meat is tender and sweet potatoes are done - some should be breaking down to thicken the stew.  Add more broth or water if stew thickens too quickly and when you reheat the leftovers.

We also had apple pie, another nice accompaniment!

Friday, February 18, 2011

New Email

Hi All,

Just wanted to note a brief change. Lynn alerted me to the fact that my email address isn't working properly at times.  I've decided to change email providers to a service I know better.  If you have Mozart's Nose in your address book, please change it to -

mozartsnose@me.com

Thanks so much! Enjoy a breath of fresh air before winter pounds down one last time! ~ Kate


A Post for the Last Gasp of Winter

This post is appropriate because you know that winter isn't over yet. 


I used to write a monthly column for Waverly Fitzgerald's web magazine Living in Season - she has since wanted to go in a different direction and had to scale back her work with a monthly production.  So here is the one I did for January and its really lovely, so I'd love to share it with you.


It’s a season where we can be so distracted by responsibility that our life perspective shrinks to a pinpoint.  Remind yourself of what joy feels like, just take a moment to stop your worry and quiet that little voice inside. Retreat into your favorite place – I find myself visiting a place in my mind that is full of everything I need. What do you need, what do you find in this place?  Is it as soft as sinking into a pillow topped mattress with something fuzzy and warm by your side? Are you alone or with your favorite person in the whole world?
If you find your mind trapped inside, imagine what is outside. What or who is there to look to? Or maybe the cold outside challenges any warmth within. Inside my life is a heat that shatters any influence the cold outside might have on my aspirations for the next year.  No, it is not “all sunshine and lollipops,” but it is full of love, always full of the love and care found between my family, friends, and I. 
It is during this time of year where we can find sparkle in any type of light that might shine on our situation.  This tart little bread will perk up your holiday sparkle and new year shine.

Photo by Mozart's Nose
Almond Lime Bread

Makes One 9x5” loaf

Mix
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp baking soda
Add
¾ cup slivered, sliced almonds
½ cup lime marmalade*

In a separate bowl - 1 egg, beaten with 1 cup whole milk
Stir in 4 T melted butter and 1 T lime juice

Add to flour mixture. Stir only until evenly moist.

Spoon into 9x5x3 loaf pan

Combine ¼ cup more almonds with 1 T melted butter and 2 T sugar

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 min approx.

Cool on rack for 1 min, then loosen edges and turn out onto rack. Drizzle the loaf with 1 T lime juice and sprinkle 1 T lime rind on top

Cool and then wrap in plastic wrap and store overnight to mellow the flavor.

*Lime Marmalade can be tricky to find.  If you search without success, substitute the lime marmalade for orange marmalade, the almonds for chopped pecans, the lime juice and zest for lemon juice and zest.

Photo by Mozart's Nose