Shock & Awe Beef Stew... Make this right now!!!

This is the PERFECT fall dinner and is definitely going into our weekly rotation.   I was nervous that the line would be long to vote so I wanted to have something ready right when we got home for dinner to warm our bones.  Whole Foods had beef stew meat on sale so I thought why not.  The beef stew I remember from when I was younger was bland and boring.  This was the opposite.  In fact Pete proclaimed it "one of the best things I have ever made."  I read many recipes online and kind of merged a few ideas to create this stew.  I think the thing that made it so awesome was the spice factor.  I seasoned the meat with salt, pepper, & crushed red pepper flakes before I seared it and that added lots of great flavor.  I also added crushed chipolte pepper powder to the mix for more depth of flavor.  This is a must try recipe!  I cant wait to have the leftovers tonight!

* Many of the recipes out there call for a slow cooker.  I'm much more into my dutch oven so I didn't go that route but I think this recipe would work in a slow cooker.

Ingredients 

•  2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2.5 pounds of beef stew meat cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1/2 pound  mushrooms sliced.  I used cremini but use whatever you want
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 3 cups beef stock
• 1 can tomato paste
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed chipolte pepper powder
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 5 cloves of garlic crushed
• salt & pepper
• 1/2 a bag of red potatoes sliced in half
• 2 cups carrots
• 1 cup frozen pearl onions
• I cup of frozen peas 

Directions

1. Season the meat on both sides with the S&P and crushed red pepper flakes
2. get the olive oil hot and brown the meat on all sides
3. Add the butter, mushrooms, flour, stock, tomato paste, herbs & spices to the meat and let cook for 1 hour on medium. 
4. Add the potatoes and carrots after 1 hour and continue to cook.  I let it cook for about 2 more hours.
5. Add the onions and the peas at the end before serving and they wont be mushy.  
6. Enjoy! 

Ingredients 

Season the meat before browning 

slice the mushrooms

add the butter, flour, stock, and paste 

Let it cook for 1 hour over medium 

Add the carrots and the red potatoes 

Mix in the garlic 

Put the onions and peas at the end 

Look how thick and delicious!!  

Serve with a simple salad 

It gets so good!!! 

Pete's plate 

My plate