My Experience with Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon

I don't get many days off to do as I please. Today I did!






So what do I do?...I decide to make Julia Childs Beef Stew! It seemed like a great idea. The day was slightly cool and looked like rain and my husband went biking with his friend for a few hours, perfect...I had it all planned out.




I started by getting a little motivation by watching Julie & Julia while I was on the Elyptical trainer! I know....call me a geek!


So I proceeded to embark on my days culinary journey at 1:30pm.

I prepped all my ingredients and then read the first line of the recipe again...oh, oh I was already stumped.


"Remove the rind and cut bacon" hmmm... our bacon nowadays has no "rind"! o.k. no biggy just cut the bacon...DONE


Then "Simmer rind and bacon for 10 minutes in 1 1/2 quarts of water, drain and dry"


What??? Yes, simmer the bacon in water! Just do it! I have no idea why and the book doesn't tell you why....Who am I to ask Why??

DONE.

Next, Brown the beef. Be careful for "spitting" oil. I think I'll have a few burns from that one!






Brown vegetables, add all back into casserole, add flour and put in oven. Remove from oven and add liquids, Oh oh...theres that bacon rind again "add back the bacon rind that had been blanched" well I already added the BACON, so moving right along....simmer, cover, put back in oven, lower temp and cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.


DONE.


OOPS! Have you ever heard that you should read the recipe ALL the way through? Well, I made a rookie mistake, but I pulled it out at the end.



Mushrooms and Pearl Onions must be dealt with! Sauteed the mushrooms, Braised the onions (by the way I never knew how good braised pearl onions could taste. I think I'll serve these as a side dish with steaks next week)

DONE.

Remove casserole from oven and strain off au jus(my lingo not hers), cook down until slightly thicker. Meanwhile cook up some egg noodles, sautee some asparagus (calls for peas, but not a big fan. Still felt I needed a vegetable)

Pour au jus over meat and simmer for a few minutes, butter noodles (because what would French cooking and Julia's recipe be without butter?)

Serve family style!

WooHoo!! Only 5 hours after starting this recipe I am DONE!

AAHHH! Fullfillment at the highest level!

The movie leads you to believe that you can do this recipe after you get off work! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

This is a Sunday kinda-thang! It's rich with depth of flavors you won't get from your Crock-pot beef stew.

Wine Pairing: Prager Winery & Portworks 2004 Napa Valley Petite Sirah

Bon Appetit!