Sunday, January 29, 2012

Bootcamp, Beefstew and Beseeching

I have had one heck of a busy weekend.
I've spent the better part of the day planning meals, grocery shopping and washing fruits and veggies.
Guess what I ended up getting for my birthday?


Mmmmhmmm....

I've sliced and chopped my fool head off today.
I even made some dough.
With wheat!
Gasp!
For Glenco.

My fruits and veggies are resting comfortably in the fridge all prepped and ready for me this week.

I wanted to share the Beef Stew recipe with you.
Certainly - it was my favorite beef stew recipe, thus far.
Perhaps it was the mood I was in whilst cooking it - perhaps it was the celery root, perhaps it was the humanly raised, grass fed beef - I behoove you to try it and let me know what you think.
This isn't a picture of the actual stew -
photo from eating clean diet website

But this is the actual recipe I used.
: -)

The Best Danged Beef Stew Evah

1.25lbs of beef stew meat
1 tsp smoked paprika (I used regular)
1/2 scant teaspoon of sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon oil (I used a bit less)
1/2 large white onion, chopped
Large pinch dried thyme
Large pinch dried rosemary
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour (I used quick cooking tapioca)
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar - divided
2 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth (I used beef broth)
2 bay leaves
1 cup chopped, peeled carrots
1 1/2 cups potato chunks (I used red potatoes)
1 cup of peeled, cubed celery root chunks (try not to substitute or eliminate this)
2 large portobello mushroom caps, cut into 1" chunks
3/4 cup of frozen peas

Pat beef dry with paper towel and sprinkle with paprika, salt, cayenne and black pepper.  In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil on medium high.  Add beef and cook, undisturbed for two to three minutes.  Flip beef and repeat on opposite side.
(original recipe said to do this in two batches.  I ask you, who has time for that?  I did it in one.)
Remove beef and place on a large plate.
Add the onion to the pot and cook about six minutes, til lightly browned.  Reduce heat to medium low and add thyme, rosemary, tomato paste and garlic.
Mix well.  Return beef and any accumulated juices to the pot.
Sprinkle with flour and cook for one minutes - stirring constantly.
Add 2 T of the vinegar and simmer for one minute.  Add broth and bay leaves.
Cover and increase heat to medium high.  Once it begins to simmer, reduce it to medium low, and maintain a slow, steady simmer.

Cover and cook for an hour and fifteen minutes - stirring about three times.

Add carrots - simmer for thirty minutes more.
Add potatoes, simmer for 10 minutes.
Add celery root, cover and simmer til all is tender - about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, coat a large skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium high.  Slap those mushrooms in there and the remaining 2 T of vinegar, and a pinch of salt and black pepper.
Cook three to five minutes, stirring frequently.  Continue cooking until mushrooms are tender and all liquid is almost completely reduced, about three minutes.

Add peas to the pot.
Cook about 2 minutes, add mushrooms and remove from heat.
Remove bay leaves and serve.

Worth every minute.
One and a half cups of beef stew has 386 calories, 10 g fat, 32 carbs, and 35 protein.


The last thing I wanted to mention tonight is Bootcamp.
Tomorrow is the day.
Sign ups.
If you don't sign up tomorrow - you probably won't get in.
I'm beseeching you to give it a little more thought.

Click here and give my interview a listen.
You can access the link to sign up for the early bird email there too..

I wish I could somehow convey to you what a difference this program has made in my life.
I finally admitted that I couldn't do it on my own.
I liken it to the dentist, or going to the doctor for a needed surgery.
I wouldn't in a million years try to fill my own tooth - or give myself surgery.
I feel that being overweight for so long, and all of the emotional baggage I carried from it - was like a cancer on my soul.
I admitted I needed help.
I got it.
It was worth every dime, and even more.
If you are just sick and tired of being sick and tired - if you are just at the end of your rope of 'trying it on your own' or other programs that don't seem to work for you.
It's not just calories in, calories out.
You aren't broken.
You can succeed.
You aren't too old, you aren't too young.
You aren't too busy either.
There's no perfect time to change.
Now's your chance.
Right now.

Many of you will be glad to know that after today I won't be mentioning it again!
Ha!

Sign ups are tomorrow - the program starts on February 8th.
I'll be helping coach.
Nothing would make me happier than to help you succeed.
For real.

Please email me if you have any questions at all!

My goal for Bootcamp this go around is to lose another 20lbs.
I want to build some serious muscle and build my endurance.
I plan on rocking 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and possibly 100.
Gettin' old ain't for sissies baby.


Move over Betty White -



11 comments:

  1. The beef stew recipe looks great. I don't make stew, I always make vegetable beef soup. But I might give this a try. Thanks!

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  2. Your weight loss is incredible and you should be so proud! I too have about 10 more lbs. and the winter months are so difficult but we must forge ahead!
    Glad you had a great weekend...

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  3. Good luck on bootcamp! Happy belated birthday! Wish I could join you for the fun, but I'm having back surgery!

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  4. I am going to make this stew this week, I promise. I will pick up the meat tomorrow- I have everything else.

    I am so proud of you for doing the boot camp again. If things were just a bit different I would join you but right now I am in a good spot and eating clean. Some serious inflammatory problems are keeping me from easy mobility but this flare will quiet sometime soon.

    God bless ya, girl- You go get 'em. xo Diana

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  5. The beef stew sounds wonderful. I'll have to make that for Yeoldfurt next week ...he'll love it!

    Congratulations (again) on your successful weight loss journey, Jayme. You DO look marvelous!

    : )

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  6. oh how I'd love to do boot camp but just cannot afford it at this time..or possibly ever..BUT, I have joined a running club, requires 6 four days of running per week and two days of other "training"..I am thinking I will do some minor weight lifting..

    Good luck.

    Michelle

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  7. 'Growing old is not for sissies'! Indeed it is not. No boot camp for me because we are living in France, but working for the last three years on our five hectare homestead has given me back my muscles, cooking farm type cooking has given us back our nutritional values, having to TV has given us back our life. Bon courage for your coming boot camp session.

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  8. That beef stew sounds heavenly.
    But, here is what I want to talk about, that food processor! I have the model KitchenAid made right before this one, the fancy smanshy one with three bowls and all the attachments (bought off QVC) Blah blah blah. Everytime I use the darn thing for any dry ingredients, nuts, bread dough etc. it slings the dry ingredients out around the lid seal! Does yours do this? Help! I need to know!

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  9. Sigh.

    I'd like to lose 50 lbs in the next year.

    I've been up 50-60 lbs from my ideal weight for the last 18 years.

    Where do I start?

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  10. I am not seeing any prices on this site. How about just a round about figure?

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment!