Boeuf Bourguignon Busby Style

i love french cooking. i discovered it through Julia Child. she was such an interesting person. justy bought me her cook book, "mastering the art of french cooking", at a book store in livingston. it was then that i started cooking 'french'. what i have discovered is french cooking IS simple. it takes basic ingredients like: meat, butter, shallots, cream, fresh vegetables, and wine to create the most savory dishes in the world! saute any meat in butter or bacon fat, add wine, reduce it, add cream...and viola!

today i made boeuf bourguignon. it was a cold rainy day here. i thought this would be perfect. there are many recipes you could use. Julia Childs is lengthy. many steps. but not hard steps. there is an easier version. Laura Calder from Cooking Channel "french food at home" has a simple recipe. i have made both versions. both are delicious.

i was out of carrots...honestly i thought i had some. i think the carrot fairy came in during the nite and stole them. so i used baby portabella mushrooms instead. i always think 'improvise' when you can on a recipe. that is how great dishes are developed. dont be afraid to try something different. even with a classic dish like this.

i cut round steak into 1" pieces. i then sauted them in bacon fat. i browned them in small batches. i then placed all the browned meat on a plate and in that same oval casserole into the drippings i added half of one onion sliced and one cup sliced mushrooms. salt and pepper. i cooked them several minutes then added about 3 Tbsp flour. i cooked this a few minutes longer. then i added half a bottle of a 2004 merlot. i added equal parts beef broth. one bay leaf, thyme, and parsley. i then added my meat back into this. i brought it to a simmer. placed a lid on it and put it in the oven (pre heat 450---turned down to 325) i left it for 2 hours.

in the mean time i made some pan bread and boiled potatoes. to the potatoes i added butter and fresh chopped rosemary and some peas and salt and pepper. sooo good.

i have added a picture of one of my flower beds. honestly, i have fallen in love all over again with my yard! i work in my gardens daily. it all looks so pretty.

well, i hope you are inspired to try 'something french'!

~bon appetite~