Beef, Beer & Barley Stew

Just saying the words, "Beef, Beer, & Barley" makes me think of a Kevin Fowler song (Beer, Bait, & Ammo).  It's probably what made me break out the Shiner Bock to enjoy with it! This recipe is perfect for the wet, rainy weather we are having in San Diego tonight. You can do this on the stove top or in a Crock Pot.  I hope you get the chance to enjoy the flavors, too! PS--Don't skip the horseradish at the end, because it really finishes the flavors of the stew and make it dance (to above said song) in your mouth! ;)

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons  olive oil
• 3  pound  beef stew meat
• 2  teaspoons  salt, divided
• 1  teaspoon  black pepper
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 onion,  coarsely chopped onion
• 3  bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 3  tablespoons  tomato paste
• 2  cups  (1 1/2-inch-thick) slices carrot
• 2  cups  chopped peeled turnips (about 1 pound)
• 1  cup  uncooked pearl barley
• 5-7  garlic cloves, minced and divided
• 2  (8-ounce) packages mushrooms, quartered
• 1  cup  water
• 4  cups  low-salt beef broth
• 3  tablespoons  Worcestershire sauce
• 1  (12-ounce) bottle dark beer (such as Shiner Bock)
• fresh parsley, chopped
• prepared horseradish

Directions

Toss stew meat with flour, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Add beef to pan; sauté 10 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan. Do this in batches instead of crowding the pan and cooling the oil.  

Place the cooked meat into a crock pot. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes then add garlic and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Add broth and scrape up brown bits.  Pour over meat in crock pot.

ingredients

turnips (peeled and chopped, whole on the right)

Shiner Bock Beer--HECK YES!

Pearl Barley

Stir in tomato paste.  Add carrot, turnips, barley, and mushrooms to the crock pot. Add water, Worcestershire, and beer. Toss in bay leaves and thyme. Cook for 6-8 hours in a crock pot. 

Season with salt & pepper to taste. Ladle about 2 cups stew into each of 8 bowls. Top each serving with parsley and 1 horseradish. Crack open a beer and ENJOY!!

Enjoy!

12 Ounce Nutrition

A day of watching your favorite football team or parade can include tossing back a couple beers, a few glasses of wine, or indulging in a flute of champagne. Beyond the over flowing plates and heaping scoops of ice cream on your favorite pie, calories can also be added through your choice of beverages. Life is about balance, and where you get your calories during this holiday's meal is your choice. A couple tips to keep you moving in the right direction (which is not the scale moving in an upward motion):

1. Choose white meat over dark and skip the crunchy skin
2. Serve fresh vegetables versus casseroles
3. Opt out of ice cream or choose a small dollop to enjoy with your favorite slice of heaven
4. Skip the seconds and head for the hills (meaning get outside and exercise a bit!)

5. Savor a single roll and pass on the 100 calorie pat of butter

6. Relish each bite, and give thanks to the food in front of you (while realizing many in the world are not as fortunate)

7. Pumpkin pie has fewer calories than pecan (but that doesn't mean have an extra big piece of pumpkin!)

8. Eat breakfast and lunch to avoid feeling famished and overeating at dinner

9. Pace yourself--chew each morsel and sip water in between so you allow your body to tell you it's full before you are as stuffed like the turkey you just ate

10. Lastly, think twice before you throw back a couple beers or glasses of wine

Some numbers for you to think about
12-oz Regular beer 149 Calories
12-oz Light beer 110 Calories
12-oz Red Wine 240 Calories
12-oz White Wine 225 Calories
12-oz Margarita 510 Calories

Adding greens to your favorite brew will not make it 12 oz nutrition!