DAY 62 RECIPE: HEARTY BEEF STEW

This has been a crazy day and things are so nuts I can't even begin to explain! I did, however, manage to make dinner and get the recipe ready for the blog! Enjoyed by all and hopefully for you too!
DAY 62 RECIPE:

HEARTY BEEF STEW


INGREDIENTS:
1 LB Stew Beef
1 Tbsp Oil
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
2 Ribs Celery, Coarsely chopped
1 Large Onion, coarsely chopped
1 Cup Sliced Carrots (thick slices)
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
3 Tbsp Butter
3 Tbsp Flour
5 Cups Beef Broth
2 Tbsp Corn Starch
2 Tbsp Water
4 Medium Potatoes, cut in 1" pieces
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Cup Frozen Peas
1/2 Cup Frozen Corn

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a large dutch oven over high heat.
Add beef and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Brown beef for about 6 minutes.
Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic; sauté another 5 minutes. Remove beef and veggies from dutch oven. Add butter to pan and melt. Sprinkle flour into pan, stir constantly for 2 more minutes. Slowly add broth stirring constantly, 8 minutes. Mix together cornstarch and water, immediately pour into pot (slowly). Cook 4 more minutes. Put beef and veggies back into pot, reduce heat to low and let simmer 1 hour. Stir 3 times throughout. After the 1 hour, add potatoes, Worcestershire sauce and 1 tsp pepper. Let simmer another 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until potatoes are tender. When the potatoes are done, remove from heat and stir in the frozen peas and corn. Let sit 3-5 minutes and serve.

DAY 61 RECIPE: PAN SEARED PORK STEAK

Hello my wonderful readers! Due to unforseen circumstances, my post for last night was unable to be posted. But here it is now! Tonights recipe will be up in a few hours, after it is made and consumed:) These pork steaks are nice and simple, tender and moist. Hope you all enjoy!
DAY 61 RECIPE:

PAN SEARED PORK STEAK

INGREDIENTS:
PORK STEAKS:
4 1" Thick Pork Steaks
2 Tsp Garlic Powder
2 Tsp Onion Powder
2 Tsp Paprika
2 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Pepper
1 Tbsp Oil
SAUCE:
Pan Drippings from Pork steaks
2 Tbsp Flour
1 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Cup Chicken Broth


DIRECTIONS:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat oil over high heat in a non stick fry pan. Meanwhile, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika on a plate.
Coat both sides of each pork steak in the seasoning mix, and place in heated oil.
Sear for 2 minutes on each side.
Transfer steaks to a casserole dish and cover with foil. Place in oven and bake for 40 minutes.
Reserve drippings from fry pan.
SAUCE:
Over a medium heat, melt butter in with the pan drippings. Add flour and stir constantly, cooking for 2 minutes. Slowly add chicken broth, stirring constantly until thickened about 8 minutes. Pour over cooked pork steaks

DAY 60 RECIPE: CUCUMBER SANDWICHES(TEA PARTY!)

Today we had our dear friend Liz come for lunch and a visit. Since Liz is British, we thought it would be fun to have a kind of "Tea Party" theme for lunch. It was lovely and the kids loved the little sandwiches!  I did make some peanut butter Tea party sandwiches for them though! We actually made six different kinds of little Tea Party sandwiches, and today my recipe is one for Cucumber Sandwiches.We also served the White Chocolate Cheesecake that I started last night for our dessert! I hope you all enjoy them! I know our British Friend Liz sure did! Thanks for coming over Liz! We had a great time and really enjoyed your company!
DAY 60 RECIPE:

CUCUMBER SANDWICHES

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 Large Long English Cucumber, THINLY sliced
3 OZ Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbsp Miracle Whip
1/2 Tsp Paprika
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
3 Slices White Sandwich Bread
3 Slices Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
1 Tbsp Butter

DIRECTIONS:
In a smallish bowl whip together cream cheese, miracle whip, paprika, salt and garlic powder until smooth.
On one side of each slice of bread spread a thin layer of butter. On top of butter layer, spread a layer of cream cheese mixture (about 1 tbsp per slice of bread).
arrange cucumber slices on all three pieces of white bread to cover.
Place whole wheat bread slices on top.
Carefully cut all crusts from sandwiches. Now slice sandwiches into quarters.
Serve immediately.

DAY 59 RECIPE: WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

I would like to start this by apologizing. I will not be posting a picture of this recipe tonight, it will be posted tomorrow. I am actually not serving this cake until tomorrow, so I did not want to put a photo up when the cake has yet to be garnished! Rest assured though, I will have the photo posted tomorrow afternoon!
Again, it seems I am making dessert. So much for my hope of eating a bit lighter fare while on vacation! That's what happens sometimes I guess! There is a lovely lady coming tomorrow as our lunch guest, so I was hoping to make something special for her! (Can't wait to see you Liz!).
I hope you all will enjoy this recipe as well! It's not huge, which is a nice change for a cheescake; and it's actually really easy to make. Totally delicious ( I have made it and eaten it many times!) and presents really nicely!
Here is the recipe, photo to follow tomorrow!
DAY 59 RECIPE:

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE


INGREDIENTS:
CRUST:
1 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Butter or Margarine, melted
FILLING:
8OZ Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbsp Butter or Margarine, softened
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Tbsp Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
2 Tbsp Flour
3 OZ White Chocolate, melted
GARNISH:
1 Pint Fresh Raspberries, washed and dried
2 OZ Dark Chocolate, melted
2 OZ White Chocolate, Melted

DIRECTIONS:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
CRUST:
Toss together graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Mix in butter until everything is moistened. Pat in an even layer in the bottom of an 8" springform pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
FILLING:
Beat together cream cheese and butter until fluffy. add sugar, beat until combined. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Add milk, vanilla and flour. Beat for one minute. Add white chocolate and mix thoroughly. Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
GARNISH:
Put melted white chocolate into a small piping bag. With this, pipe small circles in a pattern of your choice over the top of the cake. In each of these White chocolate circles, press a raspberry. After you have finished with the raspberries, drizzle dark chocolate over the entire top, i usually drizzle in back and forth horizontal lines.