A clean kitchen. My mom taught me well. My mind might be disorganized,
but I keep a neat, clean kitchen...just like my mom's. Yes, neatness when
cooking can save you lots of time in your kitchen. The key to kitchen bliss
is to always, always organize yourself...make sure you have your
recipe's ingredients, measuring cups, etc., on the counter ready for use.
Also, clean as you go. Above all, have lids handy! It is of utmost importance
to cover pans with lids when cooking. A lid on time avoids messy splatters.
You most certainly don't want those nasty splatters!!
And speaking of my mother's kitchen...today I feel like preparing one of her
recipes. She made a "carne encebollada", or beef with onions stew that was
simply scrumptious. Best of all just a few ingredients. I like simple. Keeps the
kitchen in order, and lesser ingredients = less to clean!
You will need 2 1/2 lbs chuck roast cut in large pieces. The onions have to
"dissolve" into a sauce, so if the meat is too small it will be ready before the
sauce is...
the meat in the bag. Now salt and pepper it...add to a plastic bag that has
some flour in it.
This is great because you save time...no messy flour ANYWHERE!
Now I am ready to to take the beef out, and toss the bag into the trash...
and I can do that with my eyes closed even from the other slide of the kitchen!
OOOOOPS!!! I missed the trash can!!! Must be this cold I am coming down
with...I am not feeling my best! Alright...let's continue. I will get to that in
a minute!
But first I am going to brown the beef in some good olive oil...
Making sure it does not burn. Let me stir this .... hmmmm....where is my spoon?
Oh, found it...OK time to stir...I better do this quickly now!!
Oh, nooooooo!!! A splatter on my counter??? I will get to
it in a second. The beef is too brown, so I must take it out first! Now add the
onions thinly sliced. Hmmmm....where are my onions? I didn't cut them?
Darn! I had to cut them thicker than I wanted them, but time is of the essence!
When the onions are caramelized add the smoked paprika...Where is my paprika?
Gosh, this is so unlike me! Let me see in the cabinet...aha...pepper...nope...
nutmeg...nope...aaahhh....garlic salt...nope!
AHA!! PAPRIKA!!!
Great!! Now I am going to add the Pah...paaaah...paaaah...prih....
kaaaaaachiiiiiiiiissss!!!!
Oh, nooooooooo!!! Another splatter on my counter!!
With the sneeze the container went flying away from my hands!! What a mess!!
Let me get a spoon and finish adding the paprika to the stew...
AAAAACHIIIIIIIIIIIISSSS!!!!
GAAAAHHHH!!! Defiintely I have a cold. This is not looking good....what
a kitchen....I better get a beer!!
This is getting on my nerves...I feel like drinking the beer instead of pouring
it in the stew!! But here it goes ....I am going to add the whole can.
I wonder if using Mexican beer will affect the flavor of this dish? I am sure it
doesn't ...Ok! Almost done pouring the last of the beer...excuse me my throat
is bothering me..."COUGH...COUGH...COUGH"
AWW!!! Why didn't I put the cup down when I felt the urge to cough...now
look at this splattering mess!!! Alright, I am not cleaning this now...I mus look for
the Tylenol cold medicine....and kleenex. Hmmmm...don't have any kleenex! kitchen
paper towels will have to do!
Aaaaaaachiiiiiiissssssssss!!
Sniff, sniff.... alright....cough...cough...bring to a boil...and cover
with...WHERE IS MY FREAKING LID!! The sauce is splattering out of
control!!
OH....noooooooooooooooo....nooooooooooooooo!!
I can't take this!! I have to look away!!!
GASP!! This view is even worse...I don't know...How did this
happen? I am so organized!! What do I see over there? A carton of eggs? How did
they get there. Excuse me...I am taking a moment to put these eggs away...
COUGH....COUGH...
SPLAT....SPLAT....
Why did I get out of bed today?
Let me take a deep breath and continue...Add some oregano, and a couple
of bay leafs, stir once in a while ...you don't want this sauce sticking to the pan.
And now...my favorite part ...tasting it! Let's see...I am now bringing
the spoon toward my mouth...
AAAAACHIIIIIIIISSSS!!!
COUGH....COUGH!!
THIS IS IT!!! My pretty socks ruined!!
No more! No more! I am setting my spoon down! I need a
break...I will let the stew simmer, as I simmer in an
eucalytus bath...
A couple of hours later...
After my bath, I walked into the kitchen from h**l, to check on
the stew...avoiding all eye contact with the splatters, of course...
It looked delicious, and I needed to eat!!
After all, don't they say:
Feed a cold...starve a fever?
]
Wow, that looks DELICIOUS!! The finished picture, of course. My heart hurt for all the clean up you faced though.
It must take you FOREVER to put the posts together. I hold extra special appreciation for everything you publish because the love, time and effort you invest is so evident.
I've seen that pan a few times now -- I think I'm going to dig deep into my pockets and invest in one too. The size is fabulous and clearly it can be used to make almost anything.
Thank you Juana!!
Posted by: Sally G. | 11/25/2010 at 10:51 AM
One of my favorite meals is beef stew, from my grandmother's recipe, so I know I would love this! (And this looks suspicially like my kitchen after I make my kids favorite fried chicken tenders - flour, paprika, grease everywhere!!!)
Posted by: Barbara | 11/27/2010 at 10:31 AM
Oh, you got your grandmother's recipe? WOW, I wish I had something from mine!!
By the way I havent' forgotten about the tortilla recipe, I just want to be able to take photos when Maricela does them, because she doesn't measure ingredients...but coming soon!
How do you make your chicken tenders?
Posted by: Juana | 11/28/2010 at 03:27 PM
Your comments always lift my spirits! Thank you so very much, I think it's wonderful that you have noticed it does take time! Although I cleaned as I splattered...lol! Splatter, photo, clean!
And yes...that pan is great for the money!
Posted by: Juana | 12/01/2010 at 08:02 AM