Cinnamon Beef Stew

It's stew weather, and I'd had this Tana Ramsey recipe bookmarked for quite some time.  One of the aspects that had stopped me was experience in the size of my casserole dish compared with the size of Tana's meals.  There's always so much food!  So, without a large-family-sized dish, I halved the recipe.  I also didn't do a thorough check of my pantry before shopping so was without the tomato puree - I don't think it really suffered though.  And as it turned out, I didn't have enough marsala either, so topped it up with some soy sauce.  This was also a 'day of' decision, so I didn't get to marinade for too long either - next time.  Here I'll put my quantities and indicate what it was meant to be.

Ingredients:
500g braising steak (I used chuck steak), cut into 5cm/2 inch cubes
100mL marsala (I had maybe 30mL, and just sploshed over some soy sauce - enough to cover the meat)
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
1/2 stick celery, cut into chunks
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
150g shallots, peeled (I didn't even come close to this amount, and just used the 8 or so remaining in the vegie drawer)
175g carrots (preferably baby - my organic carrots were quite small), scrubbed, topped and tailed, or cut diagonally into 2.5cm/1 inch chunks
[1/2 tablespoon tomato puree]
100mL water
1 bay leaf
1 large cinnamon stick
125mL (1/2 cup) beef stock
salt and black pepper

Method:
*Put the beef in a mixing bowl and pour the marsala over it.  Stir well to make sure the beef is separated and covered in wine.  Cover and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes-2 hours.
*Preheat oven to 180C.
*Put the onions, celery and garlic into a food processor/mini chopper and process until completely smooth.  Add the tomatoes to the food processor and blitz again.
*Remove the beef from the marinade [and dry on absorbent kitchen paper - oops missed that bit].  Reserve the marinade.
*Heat half the oil on a high heat in a casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid until it shimmers [or, if you don't have an stove-oven dish, like me, use a large saucepan].  Add the beef in batches and brown on all sides.  Transfer to a plate and put to one side.  Add the remaining oil and cook the carrots and shallots until coloured at the edges.  Either return the beef to the casserole, pour over the pureed vegetables and tomato mixture, add the tomato puree and reserved marinade and water, or put all ingredients - minus the stock - into a casserole dish with a lid.
*If using a stove-friendly dish, bring to the boil while stirring, then season with salt and pepper.  Tuck the bay leaf and cinnamon stick into the stew, making sure they are completely submerged in the liquid. 
*Place in the oven (with the lid on) and cook for an hour.  Add the beef stock, season with salt and pepper and stir.  Return to the oven and cook for a further 1 1/2 hours or until the beef is tender.

Great served with mashed potato (and a nice glass of red).  Serves 2-3.  This was just perfect for this weather.  I used a bit of cornflour to thicken up the sauce, but aside from that, this was just right.  Meltingly tender beef and the aroma of cinnamon.... Mmm...

Outfit #137 - Snug As A Bug

I was nearly bowled over today by one of the grade 3 classes running back from PE.  Because I help out with their strings lesson, they all know me, so I had lots of smiles and waves.  One kid waved, grinned, and said I looked as snug as a bug in a rug.  Which was how I felt. 

Skirt: Gina Tricot (op shop). Tank (not really visible, but very necessary): Now. Top: Reverse (from Jeannie). Cardigan: Jeanswest. Stockings: Target. Boots: Sandler. Earrings: from Mombasa. Scarf: Atmosphere (gift).

Well, to be honest, my legs were a little cold.  Today was the first really cold day and I really enjoyed it!  Not least because I got to wear my favourite skirt.  Happy days.

I'm pretty sure this is the boldest I've been with pattern mixing.  Four - four! - in one outfit.  Striped stockings, animal earrings, floral scarf, and ...umm... something on my top.  I think of it as paisley, but it's more like stylised peacock feathers. 

Outfit #132 - Could This Be...?

Could this really be... At long... Last... Autumn? 

Skirt: Sunny Girl (op shop). Top: Ambra bamboo. Jacket: Kirx (from Jeannie). Earrings: ? Shoes and stockings: Target. Cardigan: ? (from Jeannie). Scarf: ? (from Myer).

This was the first day I wore stockings to school this year - not counting last Wednesday, when I was heading up into the mountains for a gig and would need the warmth.  And these stockings received such love!  One of the quartet girls even noted they, like, totally matched my earrings.

I did feel I was going rather 'animal' today - leopard stockings, deer (apparently) earrings, and what felt like a cat in the cardigan (close-up next time).

You may notice - if you're really on the ball - that I'm posting this just shy of midnight... On a school night!  After tonight's meeting, I stopped by a friend's place on the way home.  I was fed a totally delicious (second) dinner, and we watched the first half of Iron Man.  So, how's that for breaking out of the rut?!  And no, I'm not going to the gym first thing in the morning.  I am, however, really looking forward to a hill run in the evening.  No, I'm not being sarcastic. 

The New Hand Cream

So I'm a teacher, right?  This means that at Christmas I am often inundated with body lotions and soaps and bath products.  (Did I mention I love being a teacher?).  I very rarely have to buy any luxury body products for myself.  Last year, I even realised that if I had a bath every night for 3 weeks, I would make merely a dent in my supply.  It was tough.

I wouldn't consider my skin to be sensitive, but I know there are some brands that make me itch.  Some I try and then find I'm not feeling all moisturised but a bit itchy or dry or whatever.  All those I give to others with less sensitive skin than mine.  A couple of weeks ago, I noticed my hands were quite dry, most of the time.  And then the heel of the palms went really dry and flaky, like a peeling sunburn.  (I bet you're glad I didn't add photos to this one, right?!).  This was not helped by going to Melbourne (my skin never appreciates dry weather) or doing push ups during PT on the rubbery stuff in the park.  Looking for my facial care products, I came across a hand cream and it is amazing.  Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream, all-day moisture with Baobab Oil.  3 applications to the rather unattractive skin, and it was all clear.  My arms are also appreciating the dose of essential fatty acids and antioxidants, especially as we are in some very dry (relatively) and cooler (relatively) weather.