Beef Soup/Stew

2-4 T. arrowroot powder*
salt and pepper to taste
2 lbs of stew beef, bite sized
2 T. Ghee
a small handful of mushrooms, finely chopped
3 cloves minced garlic
3 stalks celery, diced
3 carrots, diced
2 white sweet potatoes (or white potatoes*), largely diced
2 cups pearled onions (or 1 whole onion, roughly chopped)
2 T. tomato paste
4-6 cups of beef broth

*Controversially Paleo, and Whole30... make your own judgement call here.  I chose not to use it today.

IF using arrowroot powder, mix powder with salt and pepper coat bite sized pieces of beef.  If not, skip to the next step.

Heat large (or dutch oven) over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes.  Add ghee, beef, salt and pepper.  Brown on all sides well.

To the meat, add mushrooms and garlic and saute for a couple minutes until softened.

Add celery, carrots, sweet (or white) potatoes, onions, tomato paste, and beef broth.  Simmer for as short as 30 minutes (beef will still be somewhat tough) or as long as a couple of hours.

If you use arrowroot powder, this will thicken it making more of a stew.  However, for Whole30, it will remain more soup-like.

SO yummy.

Mexican Chicken Lime Soup

It's the time of year that really should qualify as good soup weather.  Well, in some parts of the country it is still quite warm... like where I am.  However, for me that does not change the fact that I am hungry for soup.  So I decided to make a batch of this soup and it ended up tasting SO yummy.  This really is a simple recipe.

Mexican Chicken Lime Soup

1/2 red pepper, diced

1/2 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 T. cooking fat (Ghee is what I used this time)

salt and pepper to taste

2 cans of diced tomatoes 

2 c. shredded chicken

2 c. chicken stock

3 1/2 T. Mexican Spice Blend 

Juice of 1 lime

Place red pepper, onion, and garlic on a pan and pour melted ghee over it. Salt and pepper it to taste.  Broil this for about 20 min.  (This step could be simplified by sauteing the vegetables in the soup pot until they are soft; however, roasting them under the broiler first adds a depth of flavor.)

While they are roasting, cook your chicken and shred it.  Since I happened to make the stock today as well, I was able to get 2 cups of meat off of the chicken carcass.  They were super tender and fell apart into an amazing consistency in the soup.

                       

                       

In a pot, combine peppers, onions, garlic, tomatoes, chicken, broth, spices, and lime juice.  Stir until mixed well and simmer until warmed through or ready to serve.

Topping ideas:

Avocado Lime Dressing (minus the water)

Shredded Lettuce

Salsa/Pico De Gallo

Cheese*

Sour Cream*

Corn Chips*

*NOT Paleo/Whole30 approved (I added these for my husband.) 

Beef Barley Stew

I really enjoy soups and stews.  I definitely try to take advantage of the few "Soup/Stew" kind of days since they don't happen nearly as often as they did in the midwest.  Recently, I made a beef Barley Stew.  It was super tasty, even in its simplicity.

Beef Barley Stew (Makes about 4 quarts) 

1 T. oil

1 medium onion, chunked

1 lb. of your choice cut of beef (I use whatever is on sale)

2-3 carrots, chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 c. uncooked pearl barley

1 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 t. dried thyme

7 c. broth (beef or vegetable or a combination)

1/4 c. red wine

Heat the oil in a skillet.  Cook beef, onion, carrots, and garlic until the meat is browned and the onion is translucent.  Transfer to a crock pot. 

Add barley, salt, pepper and thyme.  Stir in broth.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours.  

Leave out the barley for gluten free, Paleo version. 

Serve with Homemade Poolish Bread. 

Enjoy!