Tuesday, February 2, 2010

French Dip Sandwiches and Au Jus


French Dip

French Dip

I have a strong suspicion this is what slow cookers were invented for. I have an even stronger suspicion this is what cows were invented for.

As usze - feel free to tweak and twist to your tastes - more or less herbs, more or less garlic, less beer, more soy (read: saltier), no broth (read: stronger jus), etc.

Just don't skimp on the beef sear - makes a big difference in flavor and texture.

French Dip Sandwiches w/Au Jus

4 lbs beef chuck roast, or rump if you like leaner and chewier
about 1 T coarse salt, about a couple t pepper - to taste
2 medium onions, sliced thick
2 bottle beer (I like ales if you want a stronger jus)
½ cup soy sauce
2 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
2 large bay leaf
4 black peppercorns
2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
1 cup beef broth, start with 1 add more if you want weaker jus
6 large French hoagie rolls, or slider buns
12 slices Provolone cheese, or Swiss
butter!

Trim (especially if you use chuck - there's plenty o' fat to go around), sprinkle and press kosher salt and black pepper into all sides of beef. Heat skillet till hot, add 1 T oil (should shimmer immediately), add beef and sear on all sides. I find if you place it in the pan, then move the meat a little with tongs a couple times, then let sear, it doesn't stick at all. Repeat on all sides. Remove pan from heat entirely, and place beef in bottom of slow cooker.
French Dip
Add 3 T butter to skillet, immediately add onions, lightly brown onions (don't allow to burn) well. Pour over beef.
French Dip
Remove pan from heat and add beer. Deglaze pan with beer over medium high heat. Add remaining ingredients, besides beef broth. Pour mixture (omitting broth) over beef and onions.

Cook over low 10-11 hours. No skimping! Add broth if desired or necessary. Shred beef in crock, allowing jus to moisten shredded beef.


French Dip
Split rolls lengthwise, scrape out a bit,
French Dip
then spread lightly with butter and toast in oven.
French Dip
Strain jus
French Dip
Add beef
French Dip
yum
French Dip
and cheese
French Dip
French Dip
and broil.
French Dip
French Dip

There's the beef.
French Dip
Close sandwiches and butter tops and bottoms a bit, broil, flipping halfway,
French Dip
you want them toasty and crunchy. For the dipping. Coming soon.

See the magical transformation of the boring bread we started with and the tasty outcome we have lying just beside it? MMMmmmmmmagic.
Photobucket

and serve with strained au jus alongside for dipping...
French Dip
Hello. I feel like I've always know you were out there. Waiting for me.

And now for the namesake action shots, "The Dip":
French Dip
and
French Dip

French Dip



For printing:

French Dip Sandwiches w/Au Jus

4 lbs beef chuck roast, or rump if you like leaner and chewier
about 1 T coarse salt, about a couple t pepper - to taste
2 medium onions, sliced thick
2 bottle beer (I like ales if you want a stronger jus)
½ cup soy sauce
2 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
2 large bay leaf
4 black peppercorns
2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
1 cup beef broth, start with 1 add more if you want weaker jus
6 large French hoagie rolls, or slider buns
12 slices Provolone cheese, or Swiss
butter!

Trim (especially if you use chuck - there's plenty o' fat to go around), sprinkle and press kosher salt and black pepper into all sides of beef. Heat skillet till hot, add 1 T oil (should shimmer immediately), add beef and sear on all sides. I find if you place it in the pan, then move the meat a little with tongs a couple times, then let sear, it doesn't stick at all. Repeat on all sides. Remove pan from heat entirely, and place beef in bottom of slow cooker. Add 3 T butter to skillet, immediately add onions, lightly brown onions (don't allow to burn) well. Pour over beef.

Remove pan from heat and add beer. Deglaze pan with beer over medium high heat. Add remaining ingredients, besides beef broth. Pour mixture (omitting broth) over beef and onions.

Cook over low 10-11 hours. No skimping. Add broth if desired or necessary. Shred beef in crock, allowing jus to moisten shredded beef.

Split rolls lengthwise, scrape out a bit, then spread lightly with butter and toast in oven. Add beef and cheese and broil. Close sandwiches and butter tops and bottoms a bit, broil, flipping halfway, and serve with strained au jus alongside for dipping.


When it comes to my food: the messier the better.
French Dip



Friday, December 25, 2009

EATS! Belgian Waffles for Christmas Brunch...




Belgian Waffles

1 package active dry yeast, (.25 ounce)

¼ cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

3 egg yolks

2 ¾ cups warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

¾ cup butter, melted and cooled to

½ cup white sugar

1 ½ teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 egg whites

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.


In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the warm milk and the melted butter. Stir in the yeast mixture, sugar, salt and vanilla. Stir in the remaining 2 1/2 cups milk alternately with the flour, ending with the flour. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks; fold into the batter. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.


Preheat the waffle iron. Brush with oil and spoon about 1/2 cup (or as recommended by manufacturer) onto center of iron. Close the lid and bake until it stops steaming and the waffle is golden brown. Serve immediately or keep warm in 200 degree oven.


After the hour in a warm spot you get somethin' looking like this...

And it smells like heaven and is light as air...



If it tells you anything, this bowl was less than half full when the hour began...



That's the original recipe up above, but I find in my Belgian waffle maker (deeper than a regular waffle iron), I use a full cup of batter at least...

and...

Tah DAHHHHHH!




Usually we have our ducks in a row and have some fresh whipped cream and strawberries and a sprinkling of powdered sugar. But trust me when I say, these'll do. These'll do.

Just do NOT forget the Vermont maple syrup. REAL. and good butter. REAL.

Yay for waffles!




A Snowy Christmas Morn.





The many faces of Christmas morning:



intent focus





slight impatience





mild confusion







moderate confusion






mild frustration







intense frustration




and finally...


simple satisfaction
a h h .




Happy Holidays with love from our family to yours.



Friday, December 18, 2009

Fa La La la La...


So here's a little sneak peek...





Not winning any races for first tree up, but this big mother has taken some creativity on how to fill it up (our traditional tree is going downstairs with all of our family ornaments and the little train around the base).

Is "mother" acceptable when describing a Christmas tree?

Ah, well. Tis the season.

Will get some photos up when this big mother is done!

Merry Christmas all! Happy Holidays! YAY!


Friday, December 4, 2009

EATS! Shrimp Bisque. Oooo la la.



First snowfall this is what we make. My shrimp bisque. Please ignore the fat, ignore the alcohol (but you could just use a little more shrimp stock), and try this decadent soup.


Rich, warm, filling, and possibly a little intoxicating as I now read down the ingredient list.

Hee.

The canned soups, which I usually avoid, do give it more stability. Which is a good thing around this three ring circus. No worries on this breaking in the fridge after - it reheats beautifully!

Sourdough bread bowls courtesy of Panera, got to mention that. Hey. I'm not a masochist. the bisque is work enough. Just pinch out some bread to hollow slightly before toasting lightly in the oven. This soup makes people really happy. Promise.


Michelle's Shrimp Bisque

2 bags shrimp/crab boil

4 pounds deveined shrimp (can use peeled)

1 ½ tablespoons salt

1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium carrots, chopped

1 stick butter

2 cups white wine

½ cup brandy

2 cans cream of celery soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 pints heavy cream

3 tablespoons tomato paste, more as needed

1 tablespoon dried chives

2 large bay leaves, whole

1 tablespoon dried parsley

ground white pepper, to taste

⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon paprika

Boil 4 qts water with 2 bags crab boil, turn heat off. Add shrimp and let sit, subtracting a minute or two of cooking time. RESERVING 3-4 CUPS OF LIQUID, drain shrimp. Cool shrimp completely.

Meanwhile, melt butter in large, heavy-bottomed stockpot and saute onions and carrots over low until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes or more. Add garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add wine and brandy. Boil 2 or more minutes, until alcohol is evaporated. RESERVING CREAM, add remaining ingredients, whisking until well combined. Remove from heat, Whisk in about 2 cups of reserved shrimp stock and return to low heat.

Peel the shrimp if necessary, then chop 1/2 the shrimp, adding the other 1/2 (whole shrimp) to the bisque. Remove and reserve bay leaves and blend the soup in batches until texture is as desired (bisque consistency). Blender stick is the way to go, but if necessary you can do batches in the blender.

Return to heat, add cream and remaining shrimp, return bay leaves and adjust seasoning. BE VERY careful not to let simmer or boil. If the consistency is too thick, add more cream or shrimp stock. Remove bay leaves right before serving.




Try it, you'll like it!





Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Into the Trees.



The trees are all but bare now; but wow, what a gorgeously phenomenal, exceptionally amazing, spectacularly fantastic fall we've had. Even after the leaves...well, leave, I love the trees in the Ozarks.

I feel neked without trees. I know what I said.


But that's a whole other can of worms, ya'll.






Hi Sophie-Jo. Best dog ever.




Mushrooms. I have a theory our small acreage is situated on the world's second largest organism - another fungi. They're bleedin'everywhere. We enjoy watching them come and go. Fairy magic, Greybee thinks.

I must concur. Her logic is infallible.




Hi Greybee Baby. Best baby ever.

Don't touch the mushrooms.






Hope all you Ozarkers enjoyed the leaves; hope all you transplanted Ozarkers enjoyed the photos.








Love what you see when you walk out your front door.