A Soul Warming #SundaySupper - Cowboy Beef Stew

 I never try a new recipe when I cook to feel better, and I don't think most people do. The familiar is what soothes.  When I found out the theme for this week was "Soul Warming", this was the first recipe that came to mind.  Our host this week for #SundaySupper is Susan @ The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen.  Our fabulous team has made recipes that keep us warm - heart and soul.  Our prayers go out to those affected by Hurricane Sandy, and hopefully they can get a nice, hot comforting meal.

Hurricane Sandy - Help Those in Need

This has to be one of my most favorite comfort foods.  Not only because it's delicious, but it brings me right back into my mom's kitchen.  I can only remember my mom making one thing in the pressure cooker - stew.  It was one of my Dad's favorite meals.  She used to serve it in a big bowl "family style" and he used to call it "Cowboy Food", hence the title of this recipe.  I still have my mother's pressure cooker from the 1950's.  Unfortunately, this was the last stew for the pot.  She finally gave out on me.  I think the pots back then were make out of German Tanks!  If I could get a replacement gasket for it I would, but it's time for a new one.

 When I cook my stew, the sound of the weight hissing, and jiggling on the pot, brings me right back home.  My mom is truly here in spirit when I make this for my family!

You will need:

• 2 lbs. Chuck Stew Beef
• 1 Tbsp. Oil
• 1 Tbsp. butter, unsalted
• 1 lb. fresh carrots, peeled and cut into half-moons
• 2-1/2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-1/2" chunks
• 1/2 large Spanish onion, roughly chopped
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 10-ounce pkg. frozen peas
• Garlic Powder, Paprika, salt and pepper to taste
• 3 Tbsp. flour 

Cut stew beef into 1-inch cubes, removing any fat.  Heat oil and butter in pressure cooker on medium-high and brown beef cubes.  Continue cooking beef until all water from the meat evaporates and begins to caramelize.  Add onions, salt and pepper, garlic powder and paprika (I just sprinkle it in the pot - maybe 1 tsp. at the most).  Saute about 5 minutes.  Add beef broth, cover and set 15 lb. weight on cooker.  Cook at 15 lbs. pressure for 20 minutes.  Let pressure come down on its own.

While meat is cooking, peel carrots and potatoes and keep in a large bowl of cold water until ready to use.

 Remove cover, add potatoes and carrots and cover and bring back to 15 lbs. pressure.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Place pressure cooker under cool running water in the sink to bring pressure down quickly.  Remove meat, carrots and potatoes to a large baking pan or casserole dish.  Bring pan juices up to a boil.  Add peas and simmer 5 minutes.

To thicken gravy, mix 3 heaping Tbsp. flour into 1/2 cup cold water and stir to combine.  Gradually add into simmering pan juices until it is the thickness you like.  I kind of make it in between a soup and gravy consistency - Stoup - as Rachael Ray would say.  Adjust seasonings.

Pour gravy over meat and potatoes in pan, try to wait until it cools off for a minute before you dig in!

Chow Down Pardner!

Serve with crusty bread or biscuits

If you don't have a pressure cooker, I would suggest making this stew in the oven @350 degrees F for at least 2 hours or until the meat is very tender, add potatoes and carrots, bake an additional hour and finish on the stove.

Main Entrees: 

• Carrot, Parsnip and Lentil Casserole  - Happy Baking Days
• Chicken with Herbed Dumplings – Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Chicken pot pie – Gotta Get Baked
• Cholula Chicken Enchiladas – Kwistin’s Favorites
• Eggplant Parmesan – The Hand That Rocks The Ladle
• Roasted Roots and Fruits with Sausage – Shockingly Delicious

Chili/Stews:

• Beer-Braised Beef – Sustainable Dad
• Bigos {Authentic Polish Hunter’s Stew} – From Fast Food to Fresh Food
• Brunswick Stew and Rice – Big Bear’s Wife
• Calico Beans – Home Cooking Memories
• Carbonnade Flamande – The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Chicken Cacciatore {Hunter Style Stew} with Easy Creamy Polenta –Webicurean
• Chicken & Mushroom Stew On Egg Noodles –  Galactosemia in PDX
• Cowboy Beef Stew - Comfy Cuisine 
• Ham and String Beans –  Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Hearty Moose Meatball Stew – Mrs. Mama Hen
• Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili - Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Lentil and Chorizo Stew – Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Seafood Gumbo and Soul Warming #SundaySupper Wine Pairings - ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
• Soul Warming Hearty Beef Stew - In The Kitchen With KP

Soups:

• 30 Minute Black Bean Soup – Supper for a Steal
• Black Bean Soup – Basic and Delicious 
• Black Bean Soup with Hot Roast Pepper Cream - The Lovely Pantry
• Canadian Beer Cheese Soup – Juanita’s Cocina
• Chicken Pot Pie Stew Soup – Ruffles and Truffles
• Chicken Soup with Dumplings – The Messy Baker
• Chicken Tortilla Soup – Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
• Coconut Curry Chicken Soup – Damn Delicious
• Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup – Mama Mommy Mom
• Easy Chicken and Dumplings – My Catholic Kitchen
• Easy Italian Wedding Soup – Family Foodie
• Easy Wonton Soup – Soni’s Food
• French Onion Sou – Momma’s Meals
• Homestyle Chicken and Dumplings – I Run For Wine
• Lasagna Soup – Cravings of a Lunatic
• Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup – Mangiamo
• Lentil and Bacon Soup – Small Wallet, Big Appetite
• Lentil Soup with Spinach – Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Peppery Mulligatawny Soup with Cherry Tomatoes & Cilantro – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Pozolillo Verde {Green Chicken & Corn Pozole} – La Cocina de Leslie
• Red Lentil Soup with Crispy Aromatic Coriander – Chattering Kitchen
• Roasted Jalapeno Soup – Chocolate Moosey
• Rule of Thirds Soup - What Smells So Good?
• Seafood Chowder – Noshing with the Nolands
• Spanish Garlic Soup – Pippi’s In The Kitchen Again
• Spicy Gumbo Z’herbes – Pescetarian Journal
• Spicy Korean Brisket Soup {Yukgaejang} - Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
• Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup {Jjamppong} – Kimchi Mom
• Spicy Udon Noodle Soup – My Trials In The Kitchen
• Turkey Noodle Soup – Magnolia Days
• Tuscan Bean Soup  - The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Twisted Chicken Noodle Soup – The Meltaways
• Warm You Up Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Soup - Daily Dish Recipes

Desserts/Beverages:

• Hot Fudge Pudding Cake – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• White Hot Chocolate with Orange – GirliChef

Join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat. 

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.

We’d also love to feature your Sunday Supper Soul Warming Recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them with all of our followers, too.