FTF: Beef Broccoli

Early today, We, (namely: the whole family) went on a quick errand to the bank. And right beside the bank is a Chowking Restaurant, and right in front of our car is a poster of their famous Beef Broccoli meal. And right there and then, my son asked me if we could dine-in and try some. Saying: "Mama let's eat that". To be honest, even a person with a full tummy will give-in to that food poster. The ad was pretty much working for us. Well, I told my son, that it's not the right time to eat in Chowking. Instead, we drove to the grocery store, bought Broccoli flowers , and for dinner I prepared our own Beef Broccoli. Eat All You Can!!! (lol!)

Photo: SEP990i

Creamy Beef Broccoli

• 1/2 kilo beef strips
• 2 medium heads broccoli (chopped to your desired shape and size)
• 1 small head cauliflower
• 2 tbsps unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cup all purpose crem1 cup cream of mushroom
• 1 can straw mushrooms (shitake or any mushroom of your choice is perfect)
• 5 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Thickening agent:

• 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup water

• After tenderizing the meat. Slice into thin strips. Set aside the broth
• In a separate pan, saute garlic and onion in butter
• Add sliced meat and mushrooms. Stir for a few seconds.
• Add 1/2 -1 cup beef broth just enough to cover half of the ingredients.
• Simmer for a few seconds.
• Add broccoli and cauliflower. Stir and add broth if necessary.Simmer until cooked but don't over do it.
• Add All Purpose Cream and Cream of Mushroom
• Add thickening agent
• Salt and Pepper to taste.

Food Trip Friday

Food Trip Friday--- Beefy Goodness

2 mouth- watering Easy Beef dishes.
Beef Curry

Ingredients:

1/2 K beef strips

1 medium carrot (chopped)

3 medium potatoes (chopped into quarters)

1 green bell pepper (chopped)

5 cloves garlic minced

1 medium onion chopped

1 tsp ginger minced

1/2 C fresh milk

1 C water

1 1/2 tbsp curry powder

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper

How To:

Saute garlic, onion, ginger in olive oil.

Add beef strips. Stir until half cooked.

Add 1C water. Simmer until beef is cooked.

Add potatoes, carrots. Simmer until vegetables are half-cooked.

Add milk and curry powder. Simmer until all are well done and to reduce sauce.

Salt and pepper to taste.

SERVINGS: 4-5

All -Natural Beef Caldereta

Now a days, easy to mix powdered ingredients are being used in preparing our favorite home-cooked meals. It can make our prep easier, but it is killing our health slowly. Just imagine the preservatives used in order to preserve such powdered mixture. Worse, we don't really know if the ingredients indicated are real. Caldereta is one Filipino dish that I just recently learned to prepare the old-fashioned way. But easy.

Ingredients:

1/2 K beef cubes

1/2 C tomato sauce

2 cups beef broth

3 medium potatoes (chopped into quarters)

2 medium carrots chopped

1 red bell pepper chopped

5 cloves garlic minced

1 medium onion chopped

1/2 tsp whole pepper corn

4-5 pcs. dried bay leaves

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp olive oil

1 /2 small packet of equal or 1/2 tsp sugar

salt and ground pepper

How To:

Boil beef cubes ahead until tender. Set aside beef broth.

In a separate sauce pan, saute garlic and onion in olive oil.

Add tenderized beef. Saute until beef is a bit brown.

Add potatoes and carrots. Saute again for another minute.

Add 2 cups of beef broth and whole pepper. Simmer until vegetables are cooked.

Add tomato sauce, soy sauce, red bell pepper and bay leaves.

Simmer until sauce is a bit thick.

Salt and and ground pepper to taste.

SERVINGS: 5-6

These has been my food trip for 2 consecutive Fridays. How about you? Go to: Food Trip Friday

Beef Mechado

Mechado is a famous beef stew here in the Philippines. This originated from a Spanish recipe called Mecha. A recipe whose name originally referred to the strips of pork back-fat that are threaded through thick pieces of cheaper lean beef to render them more tender and less dry.-wiki-

It involves a boiling process in order to get the right texture and softness of the beef. Similar procedure is also being used for other beef recipes such as Kaldereta and Lengua.

On the personal side of this recipe, it was first time to actually cook it. I was a little hesitant without my mom instructing or helping me. But then...I thought...if I can cook Kaldereta, why not Mechado. And so I based it on my mom's recipe of Kaldereta and added soy sauce, vinegar and bay leaf. My first Mechado attempt was a big success.

What you will be needing:

1/2 K beef cubes (beef stew)

200g tomato sauce

5 cloves of garlic chopped

1 medium onion (chopped)

1/2 tsp ground black pepper/ 1/2 tsp peppercorns

5 medium potatoes (cut into quarters)

1 medium carrot (cut into quarters)

2 medium green or red bellpeppers ( cut into quarters)

4-5 pieces of bay leaf

1tbsp soy sauce (1/2 tbsp fish sauce)

1/2 tsp vinegar

salt to taste

2 tbsps. olive oil

How To:

Others would marinate the beef in soy sauce and calamansi juice.

1.In a sauce pan, boil beef until soft & tender. Then set aside.

note: traditional boiling of meat may take 3-4 hours. If you know an easier way, I advise you rely on your trusted procedure. PressureCooking is an option.

2.Fry potatoes, in a separate pan,then set aside.
3.In a separate pan (again) saute garlic until medium brown. Add chopped onions, stir for a few seconds.

4.Add boiled beef (beef only)

5.Add carrots, keep stirring for a few seconds.

6. Add half of the beef broth.

7. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

8.Add bay leaf and tomato sauce. Simmer for a few more minutes.

9. Add the remaining beef broth, soy sauce, vinegar and fried potatoes.

10. Simmer until sauce is thick.

11.Add bellpepper

12. Add salt and pepper to taste

Sevings: 3-4

Served best with hot rice! Happy eating!

& Have a yummy weekend!