DAY 25 RECIPE: SPICY BEEF SOUP

Well, today I used up the leftover roast beef from last nights dinner.  I made Spicy Beef Soup (James' Favourite!). Super easy to make, especially if you are using leftover beef! You can use whatever kind of leftover beef you might have, or you could use fresh as well, just extend the initial cooking time. A totally versatile recipe. You can also add whatever veggies you have on hand. So many options! Just remember, if you add quick cooking veggies (brocolli, cauliflower, peas, etc) add them during the last few minutes of cooking only! Root veggies can stay in much longer! Hope you enjoy this!
DAY 25 RECIPE:

SPICY BEEF SOUP


INGREDIENTS:
2 Cups Cooked Beef, in small pieces (I used leftover roast beef)
2 Tbsp Canola Oil
1& ½ Cups Carrot slices
2 Ribs Celery, sliced
1 Medium Onion, diced
1 Can Mushrooms, drained
OR
2 Cups Fresh Sliced Mushrooms
3 Garlic Cloves, Finely minced
2 Bay Leaves
1 Tbsp Thyme Leaves
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
1 & ½ Tsp Chilli Flakes

DIRECTIONS:
Heat Oil in a dutch oven or a large sauce pan over medium high heat.
Add beef and sauté for 6 minutes to achieve a nice deep brown colour.
Add veggies and continue to sauté for another 8 minutes.
Add Broth and seasonings. Reduce heat to low and let simmer at least ½ hour, up to 2 hours.

CALLING FOR SOME HELP:)

Hello my fabulous readers! Not sure if there are many of you, but whoever I have I think you are FABULOUS!!!
I have a favour to ask of you all....My sister and I have entered a cooking contest! We actually entered this quite a few months ago. It seems Pillsbury has had some issues with this contest, and it has been more than a little frustrating. Finally everything is up and working, but now there are only two days left to vote. I am posting this in hopes to get some more people to go and vote/rate for my sisters recipe and mine! We need to have a super HUGE response in these next two days even to place at all. I feel so frustrated, irritated, upset and stressed about this! I would love to have had the contest based on the merit of the recipe, but alas, that is not how this contest goes.So I am counting on some support from my readers, friends, anf family:) Thank you in advance to everyone!
anyhow, this  is the website:http://www.bakingchallenge.ca/index.php
the recipes to vote on are:
Swiss and Sage Turkey Bites
and
Individual Peach Cobblers

DAY 24 RECIPE: GARLIC ROAST BEEF

Here it is, another Sunday Dinner. I have had many MANY years of fighting with my enemy, the roast beef. The roast beef still tries to pull one over on me most of the time, but I got it this time! I have learned to watch very closely. In such a short amount of time, this nemesis of mine can easily over cook and turn into my saw dust special. I have also learned that, A) It is best to remove this from the oven a little before you think, as it will continue to cook once it is out; B) Let the roast sit about 20 minutes or so before you cut it; as this will allow everything to "settle"; and C) I make the roast a bit ahead of time and leave it sit in the pot with all the broth and whatnot for up to 2 hours or so. Keeps the roast warm and tender. This also frees up the oven for yorkshire pudding and whatever else you wish to make with it.
Anyhow, finally here is the recipe!

DAY 24 RECIPE:

GARLIC ROAST BEEF


INGREDIENTS:
1 2-4 LB Roast Beef
2 Tbsp Canola Oil
3 Tbsp Flour
1 Tsp Oregano
1 Tbsp Thyme
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
5 Garlic Cloves, peeled and halved
1 Large Onion, roughly chopped
2 Ribs Celery, cut into 2 inch sections
1 Cup Whole Baby Carrots
8 Cups Beef Broth
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

DIRECTIONS:
Pre Heat oven to 275 Degrees.
Mix together flour, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper.
Make 10 slits in roast. Shove garlic pieces into each of the slits.
Pat flour mixture over entire roast.
Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium high heat.
Put roast in dutch oven and brown/seer on all sides.
Remove roast from dutch oven and reduce heat to low.
Carefully add 2 cups of beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Cook and stir constantly, picking all bits of the bottom, for 2 minutes.
Take off heat, add onions, celery, and carrots.
Place roast on top. Pour remaining broth over everything.
Cover and bake in oven for approximately 40 minutes per pound.
***Cooking time depends on how big your roast is and how well done you like it. 40 Minutes per pound should give you a medium well roast.

Oh Sunday....time for some Celebrity Rehab and tasty food:)

Today is Sunday. What does that mean to you? Have to go back to work tomorrow? Have to work today? Church? Hubby FINALLY goes back to work tomorrow? haha. Cleaning day? Sleep in day? Who knows!? It means lots of different things to lots of different people. To me, it means, hateful football on the TV, relaxing with my family, one of my favourite show on TV tonight! (Celebrity rehab). But does it have to mean a big time consuming meal at dinner? I know it seems to be a traditional Sunday night for lots of people. Never really was in my family when I was growing up.
Over the years I have thought that perhaps I was missing out on something. Now that I have my own little family, I thought a few times, that I would try to implement this Sunday Dinner tradition. Now I have realized that, it just creates more stress on a day that should be relaxing! Sometimes we end up having the big, time consuming meal. Mostly it ends up being left overs or throw togethers. As much as I love to cook, I think that maybe spending some quality time with my family shall outweigh slaving in the kitchen.
Of course, with that said, tonight we are having roast beef with mashed potatoes, veggies, and yorkshire pudding. Am I a hypocrite? haha.
I would love to hear some thoughts from anyone reading this...what does Sunday mean to you? And do you implement the "Sunday Dinner" tradition in your family?