When I was younger, I pictured 2012 to something akin to the cartoon The Jetson's. We'd all float about merrily through the sky in our Hoover crafts. We'd eat meals that consisted of a combination of pills for protein, fiber and starch, and most importantly, I thought I'd have a lovable bionic maid to clean my room, and mix the absolute perfect dirty martini for me after a long day at the office.
While that may not be the case, there are some big exciting changes that the New Year has in store.
Exciting thing #1: I am getting a new niece in the next week, which anyone whose ever heard me talk about my niece Jorden can attest to the fact that I truly adore being an aunt. I can't wait to start planting the seeds of creativity in another adorable little girl in our family!
Exciting thing #2: I will be graduating with my hard-won degree, and will be starting to work in an area other than food and writing,a new found passion of Occupational Therapy.
Exciting thing #3: We're buying a house, and getting a dog. I would also still like a robot, but these this exciting thing is still in negotiations.
Exciting thing #4: I am loving this blog, and am so thrilled and grateful for how well it's going over. Thanks to everyone for all the comments and e-mails and suggestions I get. 3rd Story Bake Shop is 6 months old now, and it's the most enjoyable combination of my careers as I could have dreamed of. I hope to have more time to tend to my little cyber muffin this year, and to get more of my talented friends to share their kick-arse recipes and stories about food on here more often too.
I'm sure there are a plethora of other exciting things that will happen this year, but one can only wait and see what those will be. The New year brings the prospect of a fresh start, and I thought a great way to celebrate a snowy New Year's eve this year would be to have some good friends over for dinner and drinks. I had to get up early in the morning to get the roast and complementary vegetables ready before work, but the prospect of a delicious, hearty roast on a snowy night was just too good to pass up.
Hearty Bison and Root Vegetables Stew
-1 bison top round roast
- 1 cup white wine
-3 cups water
-1 T. beef broth
-2 medium onions, chopped
-4 medium carrots, chopped
-1 package/ can cream of mushroom soup ( I make my own and freeze it in 1 cup servings)
- 1 medium rutabaga, peeled and chopped
-1 medium sweet potato, peeled and chopped
-2 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
-3 bay leaves
-1 T. garlic powder
-1 t. salt
-1 T. garlic salt
-1 head of garlic, minced
- 1 t. sage
-1 t. onion powder
Directions: In a large crock-pot or dutch oven turned on low, combine onions, garlic, cream of mushroom soup, wine, water, broth, bay leaves, garlic powder, salts, sage and onion powder, stir to incorporate. In a medium saute pan, heat 1 t. olive oil, and when warm, braise bison roast on all sides until just browned. Add bison roast to crock-pot and let sit 6 hours, stirring slightly every 3 hours or so if you're home. Add carrots, rutabaga and potatoes to the crock-pot and let cook another 2 hours, or until soft.
Nothing says "welcome home" like the aroma of onions, spices and garlic when you walk in the door from a long day. Especially if you're entertaining after a day at work.
It was delicious and comforting, the perfect way to spend a snowy and cold New Year's with friends.
Try not to lick your monitor, you may get shocked.
Even though we live in the future, you still can't taste things on the internet through your screen...
Cheers to an awesome 2012 for us all, full of good people, food and fortune. (And futuristic neon colored drinks...)
xoxo- Kala
No comments:
Post a Comment