Beef Stew: A classic crowd pleaser!

Marietta's Beef Stew

Serves 4

Image source: Wikimedia

1 lb beef stew meat

1 T. arrowroot

2 T. Olive oil

1 onion, chopped

3 or 4 ribs celery, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

Salt & pepper

1/2 cup Marsala wine

1 T.Tomato paste

2 cups fat free beef broth

1 12 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 bay leaf

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 medium potato, washed, peeled, and cut into chunks

Preheat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Toss beef with arrowroot in a plastic

bag. Add 1 T. Oil to pan and brown the beef on all sides; remove from pot and

set aside. Add remaining oil to pot along with onion, celery and carrot. Cook

till softened, about 5 min. And then add salt and pepper to taste. Add garlic

and cook another minute.  Add wine to pan and allow alcohol to boil out, 

scraping brown bits as it cooks. Add tomato paste and mix with vegetables. 

Add tomatoes, beef broth,meat, bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce into pan. 

Bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover pan. Allow to cook for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add potato chunks to pan and cook another 20 minutes, or till potatoes are fork tender.

8 WW points per serving

Marietta's Swiss Steak

As a kid, my mother used to make Swiss Steak quite a bit.  I still like to make it once in a while, and this recipe brings that familiar smell and taste right back to me.  I hope you will give it a try, and maybe it will become a favorite for you as well!

Marietta’s Swiss Steak

Serves 4

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 small onion, diced  

1 T all-purpose flour   

1 Tbsp olive oil   

16 oz uncooked lean beef round steak

16 oz can diced tomatoes   

2  oz water , or as needed

1 tsp sea salt   

1/2 tsp black pepper   

1-2 Tbsp canned tomato paste   

Trim the beef pieces to remove excess fat.  Mix the flour with salt and pepper, then use to coat the beef. In a saute pan, heat the oil and brown the beef on both sides. Remove beef and set aside for a moment. Add onion and green pepper to the pan and saute. Add tomato paste, then tomatoes and water(as needed) to create sauce. Add beef pieces back to the pan and bring the sauce to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook at least until beef is tender, about 90 minutes.

6 WW points per serving

Amazing Banana Bread!

The beauty of this recipe is that it contains no added sugar and no grains...it is gluten free!  My husband follows the Paleo/Primal diet. He found this recipe on one of the sites he looks at regularly, and asked me to make if for him.  I think it's a keeper because it's good for dieters, diabetics, and those with gluten intolerance--and for me, too!

No Added Sugar, No Grain Easy Amazing Banana Bread

12  gluten free servings

 4  medium banana(s), very ripe, mashed   

1/3 cup(s) regular butter, melted   

  4  egg(s), organic, free range   

 1 tsp vanilla extract   

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon   

 1 tsp baking soda, heaping tsp   

1/4 tsp table salt   

1/4 cup(s) chopped pecans, optional ingredient   

 8 tbsp (1/2 cup) Bobs Red Mill Organic Flour, Coconut, High Fiber... DO NOT SUBSTITUTE another ingredient

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Throw everything together in a medium bowl and mix until combined. Pour into a lightly greased (use butter) bread pan and bake for about 45 min. Bananas should be extremely brown almost to the point where you would throw them away or freeze them. If they are NOT overly ripe, your bread will not be as sweet so you can add about 1/2 c maple syrup to the batter. optional add ins: dark chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans,slivered almonds, raisins, etc.

Note: Sometimes when I have very ripe bananas around, I peel and mash them up, then put them in a plastic bag in the freezer.  Then when I want some banana bread, I am ready to go!

 4 WW points per serving

Source:Primally Inspired