Beef and Barley Soup with Mushroom

Winter means different things to different people.  Me?  I'm not good with the cold.  That frost on my lawn combined with the ice cold ground on my bare toes in the early morning is enough to send me straight to a steamy shower to rid the chill.  Admittedly, if I had thought to put on shoes before taking the dogs out it might not have been so bad.  Here in San Diego I've heard word that people know it's winter because the girls wear UGG Boots in place of flip flops with their shorts... (Note... I personally have not worn shorts in months!)

Counting my blessings that most days will bring mid-day temps into the high 60's (or maybe even the mid 70's!), our daily walks at the beach bring sights of surfers (full wet suit season), beach volley ball and soaring birds.  The gardens at Magee Park are flush with the growth of new blooms on the the rose bushes, and I'm taking that as a strong signal that spring is just around the corner.

Winter in Carlsbad, CA

However... around 4 PM that brilliant sun making its way low across the horizon dips below the hill behind our house and the chill returns.  Living in San Diego, the house builders felt no need to install pricier windows that might actually hold out the cold, hence as temps dip outside, the inside temps dip right along with them.  On occasion, one sitting close to a window will actually feel a draft enough to move their hair.  That's when we turn up the heat... and that's when we put soup on the stove to warm up our chilly bones.

Having turned up her nose to soup for the first 12 years of her life, Liv has discovered that some soups are indeed good food.  Lentil was a surprise favorite at a local restaurant recently and an Italian Ministrone has also received two thumbs up.  Thinking I had another winner for her I stewed up one of my own favorites, Beef and Barley with Mushroom, and I couldn't wait to get it to the table.

Simmering the beef and mushrooms in the afternoon I had two diverse opinions to the aromas wafting through our drafty house.  First appeared my son with a comment of, "Ewww!!  What is that smell??".  To which I responded, "Well... looks like it's not going to be your dinner."

Liv appeared moments later with a big smile on her face and an exclamation of, "Wow!!  What is that awesome smell??".  Describing my simmering brew, her face kept its smile and she walked away looking forward to dinner and eager to discovering barley.

Running a last minute errand, I put the soup on hold.  Coming home however, I noticed a somewhat guilty look on my positively starving girl's face, and peeking into the beef and mushroom simmer I found my soup had become mostly a mushroom soup as "someone" had stolen most of the tender beef chunks which had been patiently waiting for the barley.  She looked up and mentioned something about the beef being "awesome" as I added the barley for the remaining simmer.

Some 40 minutes later, the tender barley filled the pot along with tons of mushrooms and the few remaining chunks of beef.  Ladling up our steaming soup we sat down to dinner and discovered that while Liv loves the beef part of Beef and Barley Soup, the barley part is not a favorite.

My husband and I on the other hand, found the soup to be a wonderful treat, and one that indeed warmed us to our chilly toes.

Beef and Barley Soup with Mushrooms
Adapted from one of my all time favorite cookbooks, Great Food/Great Beer, this is one of the recipes I return to time and again.  Altering it a bit each time with different ingredients we happen to have on hand, the beef simmers to tender perfection, and if you can keep the teenager away from her beloved beef, you will be rewarded with a fabulous hearty bowl of Beef and Barley Soup.
adapted from The Anheuser-Busch Cookbook: Great Food, Great Beer

2 Tbs olive oil
3 cups sliced cremini mushrooms (About one 8 oz package)
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
12-16 ounces lean beef stew meat
2 cups beef broth***
water
additional sliced mushrooms - about 1 cup (optional)
1/2 cup carrots sliced into rounds
1 tsp dried thyme
1 cup pearled barley
freshly ground pepper
chopped parsley for garnish

Place a large Dutch Oven on the stove and heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add the beef, onion, and garlic, cooking until lightly browned.

Add one cup of the beef broth to the pan, scraping the pan bottom to loosen any browned bits stuck to the bottom.  Add the 3 cups sliced mushrooms, then add another cup of broth and the dried thyme.  Add water to cover, and heat to a nice simmer.  Cover, and keep an eye to make sure the soup does not boil.  Simmer until the beef is very tender (we simmered ours for about 2 hours) adding water if necessary.

Stir in the barley, additional mushrooms and carrots, adding additional water or beef broth as needed for a nice soupy mixture.  (As the barley cooks, you will most likely need more liquid).  Cook until the barley is tender.

Ladle into bowls, top with freshly ground pepper and a sprinkle of parsley.

***Liv Life Note:  For my family, I try to reduce salt, hence we only use 2 cups of beef broth in our soup.  If salt is not a concern for you, you may use all beef broth in place of the water.   

Additional Note - I happen to love mushrooms, and add the second batch towards the end so we have some very tender cooked mushrooms and a different texture of the not so cooked mushrooms upon serving.

 

Beef Stew with Beer and Horseradish

Many of you may think our sunny San Diego weather something akin to that of Honolulu, but let me assure you that is certainly not true...

While I may have been able to walk along the beach this morning, enjoying those light ocean breezes, recently I've had to start wearing long sleeves.  In addition, I've had to shut the windows at night (well, all except for a little crack - some fresh air is necessary to sleep...).  And I've found frost on the grass in the morning on more than one occasion, and believe me, my feet are absolutely freezing when I take the pups out on said morning with bare feet.  (Goodness... that  39º concrete is darn cold at 6 AM).  All I can say is thank goodness for for my beloved seat warmer as I drop the kids at school.

In all seriousness... I do chuckle at the number of people wrapped in ski jackets, scarves, hats and gloves as we walk along the beach with temps in the mid 60's.  One can always tell the "out of towners" as they are comfortable in t-shirts and even shorts.  San Diego Sissies?  Yes... we are!!

Such dire weather where one is chilled to the bone calls for extreme measures... such as a steamy bowl of stew.  Filled with tender beef and soft veggies, this beer spiked, horseradish flavored version had the entire family (even picky Liv) asking for seconds.  Mushrooms add wonderful flavor and texture while the horseradish gains somewhat of a sweetness and loses its bite as it stews over time.

So as we enter this chilly new year and continue into the dead of winter, break out your pot and stew yourself up a bowl of warming goodness.  Your chilly bones will thank you...

Cabernet Marinated Fillets with Sauteed Mushrooms

 

Dry-aged, tender, juicy, and extraordinarily flavorful fillets, a glorious mouth watering extravagance that is worth each and every cent (rather, dollar!) that we spend.  While Bobby's (Flay) and Emeril's 25-plus day dry-aged beef fillets are definitely "all that", my 2nd tier (non dry-aged) beef from the local market is still good enough to melt in your mouth and elicit groans of pleasure with the first bite.

A hearty cab simply combined with soy, onions and garlic brings a rich flavor to the tender cut while a topping of sauteed mushrooms lends a touch of earthiness to the mix.  With a quick dip into the marinade, the beef is ready to meet the hot grill grates in as little as 15 minutes.  Grilled asparagus and a tossed side salad make a noteworthy meal without much fuss (shhhh... no one will ever know!)

Black Bean Stew with Butternut Squash

It was a dark and stormy night, wind shrieked past the corners of the stuccoed dwelling splattering the driving rain onto the freshly washed windows.  When, oh when would she learn to wait until April to wash those panes of glass which so lovingly let the coveted morning light shine into the familial home (for it is in San Diego that our scene lies).  

But in San Diego it doesn't rain, or it hadn't rained much more than the usual 10 inches or so annually until a year ago when the family obtained the two tiny balls of white Maltese fluff... the same fluffs who don't care to get their manicured toes wet when it's time to "do their business".  The same fluffs who stand outside past bedtime on the soggy lawn (but not alone... no never alone...) with the somewhat impatient mother whose hair is wet even with the hooded protection of a somewhat too thin jacket.  She stands there, coaxing the little fluffs, telling them that it will be a long night and that they should "go" now.  But they are more interested in the flying leaves and the strange feeling of wind and rain on their teddy bear-like faces.  Finally they are done and the mother returns with the wet and "not-so fluffy" Maltese fluffs to the warm and aromatic house.

Aromas of beef and chili spices envelope the warm rooms of the house, for the mother had known it was going to storm and what better way to beat the unbearable (yes... it was in the low 50's...brrrr) cold on a stormy day than a hearty stew?  Filled with vibrant butternut squash the stew was visually a sight for cold eyes.  Chipotle chiles and a slightly spicy chili powder brought a warmth other than the actual physical heat of the dish, and the cilantro and pepper jack cheese brought a Mexican Chili-like flair to the steaming bowl of goodness.  Pearl barley added a healthy fiber to the flavorful mix and the tender chunks of grass fed beef made the husband's spirits soar.

With full bellies and happy heads, the family slept through the remainder of the storm awaking to gleaming but streaky windows and welcoming a new day.

Beef Chili with Poblanos and Beer

With our scarves tightened and Ugg boots layered with socks we faced the bone-chilling wind chill of 46º a few nights ago to take the pups for a little walk after dinner.  Not going too far so as not to chill our fingers we returned to warm ourselves by the fire and got to clearing the dishes from our undeniably appropriate cold winter night's chili.

46º may not sound so cold, but for us in San Diego, it's life changing!  Socks have come out of hiding, ugg boots have replaced sandals at the high school, and we've switched the coffee from iced to hot.

Newspaper showing the "drastic" dress difference in San Diego from season to season!

In all seriousness... when I moved here after spending 3 winters in Louisville, KY I laughed at how everyone was so cold all the time.  I even sounded a bit like my parents saying, "Well, if you'd dress properly, you wouldn't be so cold!".  We enjoy sunny days on the empty beaches in January, and gardening and planting roses in February.  Over the years though, my winter "gear" has worn out and I find myself heading out on chilly mornings with just a light sweater and floppies, and yes... improperly dressed, I too am complaining about the cold.  

Thinking chili is the perfect winter meal in any region I set out to sautee my poblanos, onions and garlic in the early afternoon.   Adding spices to the vegies and then combining them with the browned beef along with a bottle of dark beer to simmer had the aromas wafting through the house for hours before we topped our steaming bowls with my favorite part of chili, the "goodies".  Chopped, fresh cilantro and green onions were sprinkled over grated cheeses along with a dollop of sour cream.  Some of us added a scoop of rice, but we all enjoyed a side of Buttermilk Cornbread Biscuits fresh from the oven.

With our bodies warmed and satiated we leaned back in our chairs, sighed and decided that Life is Good.

Roasted Prime Rib with a side of Ӧstkaka. A magical holiday...

Christmas 2010 was one of those magical days surrounded by family, good friends and glorious food.  Our welcomed guests traveled from near (next door) and far (Maryland) to celebrate this long awaited day with us.  A work in progress for weeks, the menu was eagerly anticipated and definitely a group effort with everyone down to the youngest child participating in some way!

Pomegranate Champagne Sparklers started our evening as multiple appetizers including Greek skewers, Southwestern cheese dips and Baking Barrister's Bacon, Blue Cheese & Pomegranate Endive Spears stirred our appetites for dinner.

Greek Skewers - Cherry Tomato, Persian Cucumber, Cubed Feta drizzled with a garlic olive oil

Bacon, Blue Cheese & Pomegranate Endive Spears

My first ever (and very successful!) attempt at roasting a Prime Rib brought a beautiful main dish to our multiple dining tables.  Tender, cooked to perfection and impeccably flavored with rosemary, garlic and a touch of thyme this rib roast was a true treat, stunning and without much work!  The gift of a lovely Zin produced at a friend's vineyard in Oakhurst beautifully complemented the beef and kept our missing friends Tom & Fran close to our hearts.

Juicy turkey breast as a second main course filled out our menu for those preferring a lighter choice.  Enhancing both meat options, one neighbor arrived bearing heaping platters of roasted root vegetables and another bringing their famous, and oh so delicious, shirred potatoes along with a decadent Custard Cornbread.

Custard-Filled Cornbread

Mom, arriving with a beaming smile and a small baking dish in her hands, passed the dish to Liv saying, "Go ask your mom if she remembers this!"  Looking at the creamy, cheesecake-like texture with the soft scent of almond I threw Mom a curious look and asked what it was.  Grinning, she replied, Ӧstkaka.  

A vague, but fuzzy memory of the Swedish name rose to the surface in my mind, but I have to admit that I don't have much of a recollection of the sweet, creamy side dish.  The room chattered and laughed as the name was thrown around a few times and we all eagerly awaited a taste.  First bites brought smiles of pleasure and "Oooohhh's and Aaaahhh's" from the crowd along with a proclamation that this was the best dish of the meal .  (Unfortunately I'm photoless on this dish, but will post the delectable recipe below!).

Lindsay & the cheesecake!

Not to be forgotten, an array of desserts filled any empty spaces remaining in our stomachs.  Becky had put together one of our holiday favorites, Cooking Light's Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake which she has been making since 1998.  Mom contributed her annual Rocky Road and a box of homemade fudge (Liv's pick of the day!) which we combined with our tropical Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Brittle, and Wendy (the Weekend Gourmet's) hedonistic Peppermint Truffles for our bountiful dessert tray.

Holiday Dessert Tray, Hedonistic Peppermint Truffles, Macadamia Brittle, Rocky Road & Fudge

Truly a night not to be forgotten, we all followed Liv's lead and "Lived Life" to the fullest this Christmas, 2010.  Heading into the New Year we are thankful for the life we have and the friends and family who complete it.

Salad Prep Crew:  Liv, Lindsay, Rachel & Babbles the platapus

Speaking of thankful... I must make mention of my super clean up helper Rachel!  Not only did she scrub her mom's vegetable roasting pans, but armed with a bottle of cleaning spray she helped clean my counters and as the adults rested their tired bodies with a much needed cup of coffee, she single handedly cleaned up each and every spot on our floor.  I'm thinking she definitely deserves a raise in her allowance this week!!  ;)

Miss Rachel, clean-up girl extraordinaire!

Beef Stew with Red Wine and Mushrooms

I'm not usually one to plan ahead, but this morning had a busy day in front of me and I actually put a Beef Stew on the stove shortly after breakfast.  Letting it simmer away while I finished up the dishes and other little chores, I got a head start on dinner.  I do have a crock pot, however, I frequently forget to use it - as I did this morning!  But I'm certain that this would be one of those crock pot recipes that would come out perfectly.

Browned beef, sauteed onions and garlic enhanced with a robust red wine and a touch of thyme give this simmering stew a mouthwatering scent that meanders its way throughout the house.  A side of crusty bread to sop up the juices is a nice addition to this one pot chill chaser!

A forgiving recipes that works well with what you have on hand, I have to admit that I have never really measured what I toss in, but the results have always been just fine!

 

Marinated Flank Steak with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Tiffany's Pinto Beans that Rock!

Marinated Flank Steak with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Pinto Beans that Rock!

My dear husband is a bona fide world traveler!  A week ago he explored the Pacific Rim, stopping in Shanghai, Qingdao, Seoul, Osaka, Singapore, Shenzen and Taipei, to name a few.  He flew his own chariot out of Anchorage, AK, but not before he sent me some amazing, envy-provoking shots of his mouthwatering meals from a little place called the Glacier Brewhouse.  I think his co-workers thought he was a bit odd shooting his meals and sending them home to me, but I feel like I almost lived through every bite.  Fresh Blackened Alaskan Salmon, Macadamia Crusted Halibut and some sort of decadent Brownie Sundae all made the photo line-up, and also made me extraordinarily envious!

Macadamia Crusted Halibut with Mango Salsa from the Glacier Bay Brewhouse in Anchorage, AK

On to Asia he enjoyed numerous restaurants serving a plethora of fresh sushi in addition to a highly regarded German Pub featuring the best Schnitzel he's ever tasted.  iChat became our communication, and he would occasionally face the computer camera out of his hotel windows, almost making me feel like I was there.  This trip had him visiting Seoul, South Korea where he took advantage of a fascinating excursion to the DMZ, exploring the third of four North Korean-dug tunnels discovered by the South under the DMZ... he was physically <170 meters from North Korea!  Another stop had him viewing the Olympic Torches in Qingdao (the site of the yachting and rowing competitions for the 2008 Olympics), and the next shopping in Shanghai.  Liv was thrilled with his return and a special bag full of Japanese and Korean sweets!

Singapore soared to the 2nd spot on his favorite cities list!

Qingdao, China - Olympic torch and flags (site of yachting and rowing competitions in the '08 Olympics)

Shot of the bridge to Kansai Airport, Japan (built entirely on a man-made island!)

Heading home after 14 days on the road had him carrying all of his wonderful new experiences, but also craving a good steak.  One of our favorites, an all American meal, is Cooking Light's Bourbon and Brown Sugar Flank Steak with good old Garlic Mashed Potatoes.  Flavorful steak is tenderized with a bourbon laced marinade which combines beautifully with fluffy, garlicky mashed potatoes.  

As the steak soaked in its marinade, I stumbled across the perfect side dish in Tiffany's (I Don't Cook, But my Boyfriend Does) Pinto Beans that Rock.  And rock they did!  The comment that got me was, "Or, you can make these amazing pinto beans that your guest will not only remember, but rave about during the meal, and even better, quietly ask you for the coveted recipe."   

I can't find the words to adequately describe these extraordinarily tasty beans, but they totally made our meal.  Spicy with hot peppers, bursting with flavor from a few slices of crumbled bacon and seasoned to perfection with a simple dose of thyme and cumin, these beans are a keeper for sure. With an amazing photo to match the amazing flavor of these beans, I'm going to send you to her site for the recipe for Pinto Beans that Rock and I will post our old time favorite steak marinade recipe below.

Marinated Beef Fillet and an Award!

Today we had great cause for celebration!  Our elusive San Diego sun made an appearance and even as evening approaches it is still shining.  After an entire month of gray, cold, chilly (yes... I'm feeling very sorry for myself!) weather, the bright, beautiful rays of the sun boosted everyone's spirits.  Energy flowed back into my blood, my zucchini plant perked up his little leaves and the kids jumped in the pool!  Our fingers are crossed that our esteemed sun will keep his face shining on us in the days to come.

For our celebration we knew we had to be outside, grilling.  Olivia has been a rabid beef eater since she was about 2.  With her first taste of marinated flank steak, her eyes grew big and a smile spread across her face with the discovery of a new favorite food.  Since then her preference has moved to not just any old beef, but fillets, with her most memorable experience being a 21 day, dry aged fillet at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill.  That same smile spread across her face as her eyes closed with sheer pleasure at her first bite.  

Unfortunately, Mommy doesn't have access to the same meat buyer as Mr. Flay, so we had to settle for Trader Joe's offerings, which in our opinion are pretty darn good.  Our marinade of choice was our "go to" marinade for just about all cuts of beef that we grill - skirt, flank, flat iron, etc.  

With a touch of cumin and brown sugar to offset the salty soy sauce, we get perfect results every time.  This is one of those marinades that even works in a quick pinch when you realize you forgot to marinate the meat and only have an hour before dinner.  While at least an hour is preferable, we have had decent results with a quick ½ hour dip before grilling.  

So here's to the glorious sun.  May it return tomorrow and the next day... let the summer weather begin!

Steak Marinade

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup soy sauce (lower in salt is fine)

½ tsp ground cumin

1 Tbs brown sugar

2 garlic cloves, pressed or finely diced

Mix all ingredients together and pour over beef.  Marinate for 2 hours, grill.   

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To add to my celebratory mood, I am so excited to announce that I have received an award!  Ela from Everything's Herbed has so kindly bestowed the Versatile Blogger Award to my blog.  Ela lives in the Philippines and the title photo on her blog is an amazing shot of her home and lush yard.  I am beyond speechless, and very humbled to receive such an award.  Ela, I can't thank you enough, whenever I see this award on other sites I will think of you!

In accepting the award, the receiver is to share seven unknown facts about themselves.  I don't have anything amazing to share, but here are the first few things that come to mind... 

  *   I was a Girl Scout Leader for 4 years for my daughter and 16 lovely girls who I miss seeing every week. 

  *   I don't really like Girl Scout Cookies.

  *   I passed pilot ground school and have 4 flight hours.

  *   I like to surf, but I'm not very good at it.

  *   I feel so lucky that my parents only live 5 minutes away.

  *   I love Rubio's.

  

  *   I love the tropics.

The next part of the award is to do some awarding myself.  As I am such a new blogger, I don't really feel qualified.  However, I do have a couple of bloggers that I have come across in the last few months who I feel truly deserve this award.  

Versatile:  Turning with ease from one thing to another.

As I read this definition, three blogs come immediately to mind.  In no particular order, I would like to pass this award on to:

Tiffany from I Don't Cook, But My Boyfriend Does.  I recently began reading Tiffany's blog and immediately bookmarked several recipes.  I also found a couple of recipes that I had already made and completely concur with her thoughts and impressions.  With both of us being from San Diego (we have never met), I was excited to find her two other blogs, Life in San Diego and I'll Have Another One, both of which have shown me things about my own hometown that I didn't know.  If she doesn't define versatility, I don't know anyone who does!

My second blog to recognize is Try Anything Once.  The writing here is enjoyable and her witty sense of humor often shows.  Here the versatility is evident with recipes of many different kinds, and photos and stories to go with them.  Versatility also shows up when she turns a bit of a disaster into a wonderful meal!  

And my third recognition goes to Sarah at Baking Serendipity.  Sarah's blog is a bit new as well, and her recipes show a great amount of versatility.  From her most current Blueberry Muffins to her Grilled Pizza and on to the Sangria Chicken Salad, her photos, recipes, and writing are all a joy to read and view.  I also want to thank her for welcoming me and kindly helping me out with some blogging etiquette!

Ela, I would like to thank you again for your kindness and generosity in recognizing me with this award!