Fabulous Friday Finds – Beef Bourguignon

It’s been one of those days.

We’re still admiring Arabella’s flowers sent by the rock-star (the one I’m not allowed to mention), but there’s another chap hovering and he’s less desirable not only because he’s 23 and has tattoos everywhere except his eyeballs, but because he’s local and likes to invite Arabella out for coffee.  He is tall and very good looking and he is polite and well mannered but an inked up specimen is not what I had in mind for my daughter.  And she’s just announced she won’t be attending our Christmas in July event because she has to study.  She could study tonight but no, there’s an 18th on and that just can’t be missed.

Archie’s off with the pixies and thinks it’s okay not to turn up to university classes or hand in assignments and that hanging out in Kings Cross is perfectly fine and of course, nothing adverse will ever happen to him.  He’s also just announced he won’t be attending our Christmas in July event because he has rehearsal for some group performance due in at uni.  I can’t understand how the rehearsal’s been scheduled on the day of our event given he’s had eight weeks notice that he needed to block out the day for some family time.


Beef Bourguignon

Meanwhile, I’ve had a lovely dinner brewing.  Chopin and My Saucepan recently posted a recipe for Beef Bourguignon and I just loved the sound of this dish.  During these cold winter nights it’s always wonderful to warm up over some delicious comfort food and that is what this recipe does for you.

Chopin thickens the sauce with pureed carrots instead of cornflour.  I tried this for the first time.  Unfortunately, earlier in the week I blew up my food processor so I couldn’t puree the carrots and instead mashed them.  I think my result, although delicious, looks a bit too much like baby food with all the bits of carrot in it.  Please don’t be put off by my end result because although heavily dotted with orange, it’s a very delicious meal.

Chopin served this with crusty bread, I served it with heavily buttered mash.  Wonderful!

If your children are depressing you and if your evenings are cold and drab, cook Chopin’s Beef Bourguignon and it will take the edge off your issues.  For the recipe, please visit the wonderful blog, Chopin and My Saucepan.

Chopin and My Saucepan’s Beef Bourguignon

Served with mash

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Comments

  1. Slow cooking is definitely the flavour this month – the photos on Chopin and My Saucepan are lovely.

  2. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    Ah, yes, missing family functions because there are better things to do seems a common excuse for those who are the age of Archie and Arabella. They will come around, but it could be awhile. Patience, my dear, patience. And do continue to encourage and invite them, not the tatooed local, of course.

  3. The Café Sucré Farine says:

    I love a dinner like this, full of fabulous flavor and so comforting! YUM!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, it was wonderful. It was such a cold night and so lovely to sit down to a warming dish like this xx

  4. mmmmm if only I could eat meat. My kids have totally worn me tonight and I could totally do with losing a bit of an edge. The only thing is I am glad they are too young to cancel on me yet 😉 xx

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, you’re still at that stage where you have to take them with you. Won’t be long though and they’ll be behaving like mine! xx

  5. All inked up…perhaps it’s just a phase for Arabella. Still I can only imagine how hard it will be to watch the kids date. The beef dish looks comforting. My parents would love this dish. 🙂

  6. Amy @ Elephant Eats says:

    I’m dying to know who this rock star is! I know tattoos seem to indicate something, but I think you should not judge a book by it’s cover…Someone who treats your daughter well is the most important, right?…I had many an ink-free asshole that I dated 😉

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Yes, treating her right is the most important thing. Sorry to hear about the horrid ink-free assholes! xx

  7. Slow cooking foods are one of my best way to enjoy weeknight meals 🙂

    Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

  8. I’ve always wanted to try this dish….minus the alcohol…but at this moment it’s literally boiling here. I will what to make it when we get snow and it’s all festive outside. The dish looks delicious. I totally empathise with you, my kids are driving me bonkers, especially the oldest know it all (she’s 17)

  9. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    Thickened with carrot puree? Must try this as beef bourguignon is one of my absolute favorites. Can’t tell y9ou how typical it sounds to be either short a child or two at what might be a major event, or have an additional few or many added to the guest list. Kids. What would life be without them? Can’t imagine!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      That’s exactly how it is Victoria. It’s either a no-show or they turn up with 10 friends each and wonder why I’m off-side. Glad you can sympathise! xx

  10. Beef Bourgignon is JTs specialty, he uses Julia Child’s original recipe and it always comes out perfectly. I’ll mention to use puréed vegetables to thicken the sauce but he likely won’t do it…such a traditionalist. Sadly we won’t be having it for some time, since it’s too hot to have the oven on for hours; although he has threatened to do it on the BBQ outside!
    I am dying to know who the rock star is. One of clients is married to Glass Tiger’s lead singer, he picked up the phone once when I called her at home. He knew who I was!
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

    • sorry, can you fix the typo bourguignon, please
      Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

    • hotlyspiced says:

      I’m glad this is a dish you cook Eva. For me, I don’t think the sauce needs any thickening at all so this would be perfectly fine without the pureed carrots. Sorry to hear the heat is continuing for you. I’ve heard it’s your hottest summer on record? Meanwhile, it’s unbelievably cold in Sydney. I’ve just come from my son’s rugby game where my hands went numb to the point I couldn’t even feel them – we’re not bred for those sorts of conditions here in Australia. xx

  11. Little buggers. I’m sorry they’ve piked on you, Charlie. No delicious Boeuf

    Bourguignon for them! 🙂

    • hotlyspiced says:

      I know. It’s so hard to organise a family event. They’re all keen when I organise it but come the day they’re no where to be seen! xx

  12. yummychunklet says:

    This dish is definitely “fabulous”-worthy!

  13. Charlie, I grimaced when you said your food processor blew up (you mentioned it on my blog, too) — I pictured spatters EVERYWHERE. In spite of the “baby food” carrots at the end of your post, I’d say you recovered from the mishap nicely and enjoyed a fabulous meal. Great save — and great recipe!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Hi Kim, it wasn’t too bad. The lid was on so not too much damage done. I just miss it so much though. I didn’t realise how often I use it. What did people do back in the old days? xx

  14. ChopinandMysaucepan says:

    Dear Charlie,

    Despite your food processor failing you, I think the pureed carrots would have still worked a treat coz your beef bourguignon looks fab. I think mashed potato would have gone better with this dish than bread too, especially in the cold weather. Thanks so much for the mentioned although I should add that I was inspired to make this dish from Guilaumme Brahimi’s video recipe.

    Sorry to hear the kids are piking out on you. I guess they are at an age where parents need to deal with a whole lot of different issues. LOL about Mr “inked up specimen” for Arabella!!

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks so much Chopin and thanks for a great recipe. Yes, teenagers – now there’s a lengthy topic! xx

  15. I will save this marvelous recipe for the winter! Yeah, I have kids of similar ages…some nights ya just need a nice glass of wine after talking with them :/

  16. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    What a shame that the kids can’t make it to the Christmas in July event! Although I’m sure you’ll have no shortage of people that want to come. And nice idea using carrots to thicken it instead of cornflour! 🙂

  17. I can see where they are coming from my friend, I guess I bail out on my parents sometimes to 😛 – at least they will always be there for the december Christmas 😀
    And with your gorgeous dishes, everyone will want to come to your Christmas in july anyway 😀

    Cheers
    CCU

  18. My mother had family days down pat and nobody ever missed. It didn’t happen often and she’d come to each of us and would say, “x date is x and it’s a family day. I do things for you every day and I ask very little in return. I pick up your clothes, I make your bed, I do your laundry, I cook your food and I take you anywhere your heart desires and I’ve done this since you were little. I’m asking for you to save the date and show me that I matter to you too. This means a lot to me.”

    After the first few times we KNEW what she was going to say but who could argue?

    I saw the beef bourguignon recipe and I was swooning over there too.

    Now about this food processor. It’s time you traded the broken one in for a thermomix. Seriously. Anyone who cooks like you do deserves one.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Your mother sounds like a very sensible woman. I need to memorise her speech and relay it often. And you just reminded me. I was invited to a thermomix demonstration and I completely forgot. That is so rude of me. I’ll have to ring my friend and apologise xx

  19. tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says:

    You always make me feel so much better Charlie. You are a fabulous Mother and your kids still pike , what hope is there for me anyway.
    beef Bouguignon sounds fabulous with anything

  20. Oh that’s so sweet a Christmas in July event 🙂 My parents never really celebrated Christmas in December lol let alone in July hehe you are truly the best mum your kids can ever ask for ~ you care about them so much and give them so much freedom 🙂 great recipe~ thanks for sharing!

  21. Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake says:

    Aww it’s such a shame the kids can’t make it to the event! Although I understand a bit, my brother always has music rehearsals and performances on all the time and sometimes they’re at the worst times..:(

  22. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    Oh dear Charlie – seems your kids are determined to test you at the moment. I love the idea of thickening with puréed carrots – must try that.
    🙂 Mandy

  23. ChgoJohn says:

    I’d never heard of using carrots as a thickening agent but I like the idea. I bet they bring much more flavor than cornflower possible could. My food processor “died” just as I was starting my Christmas gift basket items. Some jars’ contents were a little crunchier, a little thicker, a little grainier than normal but no one seemed to mind.

  24. I love this dish too!!!! I made it awhile ago, I need to make it again soon:-) Looks gorgeous! Hugs, Terra

  25. Hi Charlie, I remember you mentioning it before, but what actually *is* King’s Cross? Always makes me think of the London train station 😀

    Lovely looking bourguignon… I remember seeing Chopinand’s post. I actually just put a load of beef to marinade in wine in the refrigerator over-night right now. Having some people over tomorrow and I’m serving that 🙂

  26. I’ve 2 whole rumps in my freezer (do you have any idea just how HUGE a whole rump is??) so any and all beef recipes a re being filed for future use, thanks Charlie.
    As far as the kids go – as I keep telling my husband, don’t take it personally!

  27. I so get where you are coming from. My 21-year-old son does three all-nighters in a row and then tells us we have to drive him to uni to hand in his assignment because he would be a menace on the road.

  28. InTolerantChef says:

    I mentioned to a Turkish friend that my daughter didn’t have a boyfriend, the next morning she had 5 random guys trying to friend her on facebook. My Turkish friend informed me that arranged marriages are still perfectly acceptable, so if you like we can forward a few names on to you 🙂 I’m assured they are all perfectly nice, and not just after a green card!
    I’m sure if you made them this dinner, they would Chase away any unwanted suitors 🙂

  29. Sophies foodie files says:

    Oooh dear Charlie, your kids are testing you big time! My husband Peter & I would gladly join you & your husband to dinner or to celebrate Christmas in July anytime. We can fly over instantly! 😉 What a great & tasty dish! Yummmm! Hang in there, my friend! 😉

  30. The beef bourguignon looks great 🙂

  31. Thickening it with carrots is a great idea. I wish I’d read this earlier, I would have happily taken Arabella’s place at Christmas in July!

  32. kitchenriffs says:

    I haven’t made beef bourguignon in ages – and when done right, there are few better dishes. This looks excellent. I’m in the wrong hemisphere for Christmas in July, but what a really nice idea. Christmas always meant cold, sometimes snowy, weather when I was growing up. I don’t live there now, but for about a decade I lived in Florida, and there my ideas of proper weather for Christmas got an adjustment! Sometimes it’d get down to freezing in Florida – sometimes. Christmas usually meant shorts, or if it was really cool maybe a light sweater. Anyway, fun post – sorry your kids are doing what kids too often do (and I used to do all the time, too).

  33. Oh you poor thing….how will you survive without your food processor?! I love slow foods too. I made a 12 hour lamb shoulder this Sunday. Oven went on at 6AM and I went back to bed! PS. thanks for introducing me to another nice blog…(Chopin and my saucepan)

  34. This is the ultimate comfort food!

  35. Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says:

    Took a look at that recipe and there is nothing disagreeable in this gluttons eyes. 🙂

    Cheers,
    Jed
    http://sports-glutton.com

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