Apple Slaw

I wanted something bright, fresh and crisp for the upcoming summer season, and this salad hit the mark. It has a nice crispness, delightful flavor and delicious crunch.

Try a variety of your favorite apples and mix up the sharpness of cheddar if you wish. The sky is the limit so mix up this delightful summer dish and enjoy.

¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Spicy Brown mustard
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp seat salt
¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 medium cabbage, shredded (4 cups)
1 small red cabbage, shredded (2 cups)
2 large carrots, shredded (1 cup)
1 medium parsnip, shredded (1/3 cup)
1 Granny Smith apple, unpeeled and cut into thin strips
1 Gala apple, unpeeled and cut into thin strips
¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
4 oz Carr Valley Mammoth Cheddar, cut into small wedges

In a metal bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, oil, salt and pepper; set aside

In a large wooden salad bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, parsnip, apples and parsley; drizzle on vinaigrette and toss to coat well.

Chill for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to combine, and then arrange cheddar wedges around the edge of the salad in the bowl.

Beef Stew – Frugal Gourmet Style

This recipe comes to you by way of the Frugal Gourmet, a fellow TV chef that passed away in 2004 amidst a cloud of controversy. He was instrumental in my first glimpses of cooking on TV before there ever was a food or cooking channel and his wit and fun in the kitchen certainly made for creative recipes. I believe he helped usher in a move from PBS to center stage cooking and paved the way for the culinary shows we watch today.

As a tribute to the Frugal Gourmet I’d like to present my take on his classic recipe utilizing wine in marinating beef to bring out the flavor in tough cuts of meat. By soaking tough but flavorful cuts of meat in wine for several hours you break down the connective tissues and collagen making the meat more appetizing and tender. An additional side benefit is cutting down on added salt, which is always a good thing.

Only use a wine that you would consume, never cook with turned, off or corked wine, as you will impart that off flavor into the meal you are preparing.

2 pounds beef chuck roast – cubed (sometimes referred to as stew meat)
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
3 celery stalks, cleaned and sliced
1 parsnip, cleaned and sliced
1 large sweet onion, peeled and sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
3 cups Zinfandel (I prefer red, but blush will work in a pinch)
4 tbsp Grapeseed oil
2 tbsp tomato paste

Place everything, except Grapeseed oil and tomato paste into a Tupperware marinade container. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours, mix around every few hours to make sure everything is evenly coated.

Remove the meat from the marinade and save everything. Heat a metallic skillet over medium high heat; don’t use a non-stick skillet unless that’s all you have. Add in the oil and toss in a small amount of meat, making sure not to crowd the pan to allow even browning. Continue in this fashion until all the meat is cooked; remove from the pan and place into a large glass casserole dish. Add the vegetables and wine, stir in tomato paste until blended, then bring to a boil and gradually pour over browned meat. Place into a preheated 350˚ oven, covered for approximately 2 hours or until meat is fork tender.

Remove from the oven and ladle over fresh cooked al dente egg noodles or hot from the oven buttermilk biscuits.