Making a Beef Stew at 10 p.m. Might Not Be the Best Idea ... But I Wanted to Try the Staub Cookware

Making a Beef Stew at 10 p.m. Might Not Be the Best Idea … But I Wanted to Try the Staub Cookware

I’m disappointed I haven’t been able to keep up on the blog or my messages this month because there have been some wonderful memories and experiences the past few weeks, from putting on a puppet show for my nephew to having an Auntie Mame movie night with pizza for a few members of my family. We’ve burned the midnight oil working on the secret project, which is now mere days away from being fully operational in a very big way. We’re trying to get one of the spare bedrooms at home ready in case we have extended house guests next month. I have to fly to Santa Fe soon for a very important personal commitment. There was a memorial service for a family member who lost the fight with cancer. Oh, I am quietly running a new side investment project that I’ve only told a few people about that might turn into a viable alternative for fixed income securities since interest rates are so low relative to my inflation projections.

What else … ah! Remember the Staub Coq Au Vin dutch oven cookware I bought from Williams-Sonoma back in December? It arrived today. After spending the morning at the furniture store with my mom and Aaron finalizing the next round of the home project, I decided that the new piece had to be put to good use. What good is a legendary dutch oven if you don’t make something in it?

It seemed like a perfect excuse to try out a simmering red-wine beef stew recipe that has been on the need-to-experience list so $60 worth of groceries, and nearly three hours, later, the finished product was served to five of us after watching this week’s episode of Once Upon a Time. It was delicious. The beef was so tender it nearly fell apart in your mouth and the red wine added a richness that isn’t often found in stews. The Staub instantly skyrocketed to the top of my very-favorite-cookware list. I’m thinking maybe I should get a grenadine one just to mix it up from time to time.

We wasted no time breaking in the Staub Coq au Vin Dutch Oven once the shipment arrived this afternoon.

The delicious beef stew we made was based upon a red wine, garlic, and onion base that was amazing. It is definitely going on my 'list of 30' top recipes to memorize. A serving that could feed 6 to 8 people cost roughly $60, so the per-person economics wouldn't be terrible for a family. The total cooking time was under 3 hours, making it even more appealing.

Speaking of dining, I ordered a large Nourisan rug today for the dining room that should arrive in a few weeks. It will replace the current rug under the dining room table, which I am giving to my grandmother after she reminded me several times that I shouldn’t get rid of it (hint … hint …). I’m glad it will go to good use; the old one is still a nice rug, but I figured if I am upgrading everything else to New Zealand wool, including the wall-to-wall carpeting, I might as well switch out the last area rug.

I ordered a large Nourisan rug today for the dining room in New Zealand wool.

That’s it from Kansas City. I need to take a shower, throw on a robe, and do some writing before 3 a.m. so my schedule isn’t thrown off too badly tomorrow since my appointments begin as early as 8 a.m.