I wish I could upload a smell. Our house smells like simmering beef, blanched bacon, onion, garlic, thyme, red wine, tomato paste, black pepper, bay leaf, and carrots, all nicely browned and deglazed and tossed together in a big granite pan and luxuriating in the oven at 325 for the next three or four hours, to be introduced to a pound of mushrooms sauteed in butter, and tiny red potatoes tossed in a butter and parsley sauce and served with a glass of red wine and a baby green salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Oh, and did I forget to mention a loaf of freshly baked bread? I'm going to take a nap now and just BREATHE.
Sounds yummy. I make beef stew that I serve over Polenta (I didn't think I would like that, but it was yummy.)
Dinner sound good -as does the salad and wine ... I'm making a home made pizza over here. I'm preparing myself to go mess up the kitchen ...
Posted by: Carin | December 31, 2005 at 03:51 PM
wow! that sounds (smells?) great. our house is a big stinky smoky house cos we went out to lunch with leftover turkey still on the stove. the dog is both sickened and excited
Posted by: paul | December 31, 2005 at 03:52 PM
That's prime condition for a dog, because if you eat something you can throw it up and eat it again.
Posted by: gail | December 31, 2005 at 03:56 PM
Thanks for putting that thought in my head.
Posted by: CraigC | December 31, 2005 at 04:03 PM
Boeuf Bourguignon is my all time favorite dish to make. Takes a lot of prep (especially peeling those dang pearl onions) but the wafting smell of it slowly cooking just can't be described - especially upstairs. I'm jealous, Gail. Do you flame the sauteed ingredients in brandy before oven-shoving?
Posted by: JWebb | December 31, 2005 at 04:07 PM
No, I don't flame them, just sautee and then deglaze the pan with some of the red wine. In this case I'm using Yellow Tail Shiraz/Cabernet blend, but we'll be drinking Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir.
Posted by: gail | December 31, 2005 at 04:14 PM
I have yet to deal with the pearl onions and the mushrooms. That's next on the agenda.
Posted by: gail | December 31, 2005 at 04:15 PM
jeez, that's right. chelsea would love to eat and puke and eat and puke ...
Posted by: paul | December 31, 2005 at 04:33 PM
Wow, Gail, that sounds wonderful. Can I come over?
Posted by: Scott P | December 31, 2005 at 04:38 PM
heh....you said Boeuf.
Posted by: SondraK | December 31, 2005 at 05:23 PM