Beef Stroganoff ~ Quick and Delicious

This is one of my favorite go-to meals for a weeknight.  But it's delicious enough to serve if you've got company coming.  Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

Beef Stroganoff

serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb sirloin steak, or strip steaks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 1 large clove garlic,  crushed 
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup cooking red wine (or Marsala) 
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped ( may substitute 1 t. dried parsley)
• 1 cup sour cream
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Sea salt, to taste 
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Directions

1.  Heat oil in large heavy skillet until very hot but not smoking.  Brown steaks in the heavy skillet, about 2 minutes each sides. Remove beef from pan and keep warm. It's important to remove the beef as soon as it's browned - don't worry about cooking through, because it will cook through when returned to the sauce.
2. Saute onions, mushrooms, and garlic. (You can use the pan in which you cooked the steak).  Cover if necessary to keep pan from drying out. When mushrooms and onion are tender, deglaze pan with chicken broth and wine. Reduce heat to low. Add pepper and parsley. Stir, and taste sauce for salt - you probably won't need any due to the salt in the other ingredients. 
3. While the mushrooms are cooking, slice the steak into strips about 1/2" thick. Return beef to skillet, and stir to combine. Heat through over medium-low heat. 
4. Place sour cream in a small bowl, and add 3 T. of the hot pan sauce, one tablespoon at a time. This warms and thins the cream so it doesn't curdle when added to the pan. Meanwhile, the sauce in the pan should have reduced a bit. 
5. Add the sour cream mixture to the pan, and stir to combine. The sauce will look a bit "grainy" at this point - just increase the heat and reduce a little, and it will look creamy again.
6. Serve over rice or noodles.  OR serve over my White Bean Puree.
   

Easy & Delicious White Bean Puree

Stew season is upon us, and this is the perfect side dish for sopping up all of the delicious gravies and broth. If you're getting bored of mashed potatoes or rice, you have to give this a try ~ it's deliciously creamy!  To serve, put the puree in the bottom of a large bowl and top with your favorite stew. 

White Bean Puree

Ingredients

• 2 (400 g) cans cannellini beans, rinsed,drained
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 4 cloves garlic, quartered
• 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea Salt (to taste) 

Directions

1. Combine beans and stock in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, and then reduce to a low simmer.
2. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, cover and simmer for 10 more minutes
4.  Uncover and if needs be, simmer stirring occasionally about 10 mins or until most of the liquid is absorbed. (see photo below)
5. Blend with remaining ingredients, until you have a smooth puree. 
6. Add salt to taste.

 *Tip ~ I like to leave a little liquid in the bottom of the pan so that that puree isn't too thick. 

For an appetizer or a snack, make a thicker puree, and simmer until all of the water is absorbed, blend until smooth, and serve on crostini, or crusty bread. 

Want some fun add-ins? Got it! Just stir in one or more of the following: 

-finely chop some fresh rosemary

-a teaspoon of grated lemon zest

-sauteed finely chopped shallots

-thinly sliced, sauteed mushrooms

-thinly sliced, sauteed leeks

The Buddha Board

Hey there readers! I'm writing today to introduce you to the Enso Buddha Board. Just in time for the holidays, this will make a great gift!

 Master the art of letting go...

Buddha Board is inspired by the Zen idea of living in the moment. You simply paint on the surface with water and your creation will come to life in bold design. Then, as the water slowly evaporates, your art will magically disappear leaving you with a clean slate and a clear mind, ready to create a whole new masterpiece.  

With today's fixation on technology, we find ourselves, our friends and our kids unable, or maybe unwilling, to take the time to relax. But the Buddha Board is so fun, you'll want to take a minute for yourself.  Open up the Enso Buddha Board and take a few minutes to revitalize your creativity and quiet your mind.

The premise of the board is to use water to "write" on the tablet. Once you've relaxed and created a design, the water picture disappears.  Leaving you with a clear mind. Plus, it's fun! Kind of like and etch-a-sketch, but you don't have to shake the design away.

While I was drawing on the Buddha Board, it occurred to me that the Buddha board could be useful in relieving holiday stress, and in fact, any worries or fears.  By writing your worry on the board, it allows the board to erase the worry, therefore releasing it from your brain.  I sat down and tried my theory.  Writing a word of two expressing anxiety, and then watching the words fade away felt great! Afterwards, I wrote happy thoughts. and just drew on the tablet.  It felt good to take a few minutes out of my day, to just play.

The Buddha board is perfect for kids aged 5 to 93. And with the holidays fast approaching, this makes a unique and fun gift for anyone on your list.  Spread some zen!

You can find the Buddha Board by clicking the following links:

Homepage: www.buddhaboard.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhaboard/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdGdfIRKLDI&feature=em-upload_owner

Buddha Board is environmentally friendly - no ink, no paint, no chemicals - and will last for years with proper care. Live for the moment, and enjoy!

I have been compensated for this post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.