Brunswick Stew

Growing up in the South I have always had a love for Brunswick Stew. The mix of barbecued chicken, pork, & beef mixed with corn, tomatoes, and lima beans just can't be beat. If you've never had Brunswick Stew from a deep south BBQ joint you are truly missing out. This recipe is my attempt to match come as close as possible to the Brunswick Stew at your favorite BBQ joint. It's easy and delicious!

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 - 6 hours
Serves: 6

Ingredients:
1 can BBQ pork
1 can BBQ beef
2 (16 oz) packages of Lloyds BBQ (pork, chicken, or beef; use any combination you please).
1 can creamed corn
1 can white shoepeg corn
2 cans stewed tomatoes
2 cups lima beans
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Turn the heat to low and cook for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally. (Yes that is all the instructions... incredibly easy right?!?) 

Serve with corn bread and a large glass of sweet tea! And there you have it, a true southern classic!

'Til next time,
Caroline  

Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup

I found this recipe on A Family Feast's blog. Rather than being called Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup, it should be called Everything but Your Kitchen Sink Beef and Vegetable Soup. If you haven't noticed by the list of ingredients it has almost every vegetable you can imagine. The fun part of this soup was that you can definitely get creative with the ingredients. If you don't like one vegetable then leave it out. If you prefer kale instead of spinach, then substitute it or add it to the recipe. The wine gave the broth a deeper flavor but if your taste buds dislike wine (I can't imagine why they would) then just leave it out and add more V-8 juice and beef stock. You can really make it your own which I loved. It was delicious and definitely hearty. It made for great leftovers and would freeze pretty well. 

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Serves: 12-14 servings

Ingredients:

2 Tbls. olive oil

1 lb. chuck beef, cut into small pieces

1 cup onions, diced

1/2 cup celery, died

1 cup carrots, diced

1/2 cup leeks, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

12 oz V-8 juice

1/2 cup red wine

2 quarts beef stock

2 cups water

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatos

1 cup cabbage, chopped

1 white turnip, diced

1/2 cup green beans, roughly chopped

3 oz baby spinach

1 (11 oz) can corn, drained

1 (14 oz) can white beans, drained & rinsed

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat.

Place beef in oil and sear on all sides. Be sure not to crowd the pot so cook the beef in batches. 

Add onion, celery, carrots, and leeks and saute fore 5 minutes or until the vegetables are slightly tender.

Add garlic and cook an additional minute.

Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the dried thyme.

Add the V-8 juice and red wine to deglaze the pot. Cook for one more minute while scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. 

Add the beef stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes.

Stir in the green beans and cook for an additional 20 minutes.

Stir i the cabbage, turnip, and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the potatoes, spinach, corn, and white beans and bring back to a boil. Simmer for 5 more minutes or until the potato is cooked. 

Add salt and pepper to taste if needed.

I hope you enjoy this hearty beef and vegetable soup!

'Till next time,

Caroline 

Hamburger Soup

This hamburger soup is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It is hearty, filling, and has a great flavor! Don't be thrown off by the name though. This hamburger soup contains no mustard, ketchup, or any other bizarre combination of condiments. 

Ingredients:

(serves 4-6)

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 cup diced onion

3/4 cup diced carrots 

3/4 cup diced red bell pepper

4 - 5 cloves of garlic, minced

1 cup sliced okra

4 cups chicken broth

1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes

2 bay leaves

2 Tablespoons worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. fresh cracked pepper

Optional: 1 cup chopped cabbage, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and/or 3/4 cup green beans.

The best way to begin this recipe is to get all the prep work out of the way. Believe me this will make it smooth sailing when you start cooking. Dice your onion, carrots, red bell pepper, and garlic. Heat a large stock pot over medium heat. Combine diced vegetables, ground beef, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, oregano, and worcestershire sauce in the stock pot. 

Cook the beef until it is browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. 

Once the meat is browned and the vegetables are sautéed, about 5 - 7 minutes, add the rest of the ingredients to the stock pot (2 bay leaves, chicken broth, 15 oz can of tomatoes, and 1 cup sliced okra).

Stir ingredients in stock pot together and bring to a simmer. Turn heat down to low, cover with lid, and simmer soup for 1 to 2 hours (stirring occasionally). Once soup has cooked down is combined, remove pot from heat and serve. Enjoy!

'Till next time,

Caroline