Traditional Beef Stew
(An O'Brien favorite)
3 lbs boneless chuck roast, cut into 2-inch pieces
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp freshly ground pepper
2 yellow onions, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup flour
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red wine
3 cups beef broth
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme
4 carrots, peeled, cut into 1-inch slices
2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch slices
3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut in eighths
fresh parsley to garnish (optional)
On medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil to a large
heavy pot (one that has a tight fitting lid).
When it begins to smoke slightly, add the beef and brown
very well. Do in batches if necessary. Add the salt and pepper as the beef
browns. Once browned, remove the beef with a slotted spoon
set aside. Add the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened. Reduce
heat to medium-low, and add the flour and cook for 2 minutes stirring often. Add
the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add wine and deglaze the pan, scraping any
brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. The flour will start to thicken the
wine as it comes to a simmer. Simmer wine for 5 minutes, and then add the
broth, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and the beef. Bring back to a gentle
simmer, cover and cook on very low for about 1 hour. Add potatoes, carrots, and
celery, and simmer covered for another 30 minutes or until the meat and vegetables
are tender. Taste and adjust seasoning. Turn off heat and let sit for 15
minutes before serving. Garnish with the fresh parsley if desired.
The Ocean and the Hourglass – Review by Martha A. Cheves,
Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish
“What kind of book is this, Mr. Thompson?” his voice cracking
as he asked. “Open the cover, Nicholas.” Nicholas met the librarian’s gaze and
the old man’s trustful not restored his confidence. Opening the cover, the
thick black hand cover gave way to cream-colored sheets that did not smell of
musk or salt. They were blank. “The book is empty?” Nicholas was now
thoroughly confused. The librarian, however, seemed utterly amused by the
situation. “That is why there are rules, Nicholas. The book alone cannot work
without the hourglass. And of course, it will not function with the imagination
of one as special as you are.” “I don’t understand.” “Let me explain,” offered
Mr. Thompson as he rose from his chair. Clasping his hands behind his back, he
resembled a lecturer preparing to give a speech. “There are five rules to using
the Book. They must be followed as I lay them down…
“The first rule is that you must always read the book alone.
Never tell anyone that you have the book nor let anyone read it.”
“The second rule is that you must always read the book with
the hourglass. Never are you to activate one without the other. Disaster lies
in that course.”
“The third rule is that when reading the book you must never
lose track of either item. If you were to be reading and the hourglass was
lost, then you too would be lost. Keep both together.”
“The fourth rule is to always read the book as you wish it to
be read. Never lose hope in the story, for you will be lost if you do.”
“The fifth and final rule is as important as the others, even
more so if you believe as you should. You must never stop believing in heroes,
Nicholas. You must believe with all your heart that good will prevail, that
heroes will triumph no matter the odds.”
Nicholas Miles was from what has become such a common state
of being for so many young boys and girls. He is being raised by a single
mother who works hard but enjoys the bottle a bit more than she should. He has
also become the punching bag for the bullies within his school. One morning,
after his usual confrontation with these boys, Nicholas just couldn’t bring
himself to go inside the school. This time the boys had torn his favorite comic
book in half tossing it on the wet ground. Nicholas’ hero was the Mariner and
the destruction of this book was the destruction of his comic book friend. With
no money to replace the book, the next best place was the library where he could
read until his heart was content as he enveloped himself with those who cared…
the heroes of the oceans of a world far, far away. What he never dreamed of was
Mr. Thompson introducing him to the very old, very special book and the
hourglass which he had stored deep within the library waiting for that special
person to come along. This book allowed Nicholas to write his own story and
live it as it happened. Only he could create the beginning and the end and only
he could decide the effect his decisions would have upon everyone involved in
his story.
The Ocean and the Hourglass is one of the deepest books I’ve
ever read. It awakens the reader to right and wrong in says that I personally
have never give thought to. You may ask the question “what is right and what is
wrong?” Easy answer? Maybe but “who interprets what is right and wrong?” We
all know the 10 commandments, which are cut and dry in definition – aren’t
they? What about the gray areas? Can we tell black lies, white lies and gray
lies? Or are they all lies? Can we kill people to benefit the masses and it
be ok? Are there black killings, white killings and gray killings or again are
they just all killings? Are the killing wrong if they will save more then they
kill? Are we in our current position by choice or by events and chance? Do
events really play a role in the choices we make? As I said, The Ocean and the
Hourglass is a deep book of thought. It started out as what I expected to be a
children’s book but boy was I wrong as I got deeper and deeper into the thoughts
it evoked within me.
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