It’s my birthday month. I was born on Saint Patrick’s Day and I celebrate the entire thirty-one days.
I arrived here by way of a miracle and some days I think it’s a miracle I’m still here. But I digress, birthdays are a beautiful thing and need to be celebrated for more than a day.
My mother made a big deal of my birthday, my family makes a big deal of it, and lest you might think otherwise, I make a big deal of it.
My mom made my favorite foods each birthday, but they were not considered “company worthy” so if guests were coming, my favorites were moved to another day. However, each celebration still had the requisite green gelatin and green frosted layer cake, which is how the month-long celebration got its start.
One of my sisters always makes me corned beef and cabbage every year, and friends and family over the years have fussed and celebrated with me all month long.
One year a beau made me Guiness Stew. It was sooo good, but maybe it was because he took the time and made the effort to shop and cook (and brought flowers, too). I’m a sucker for someone who goes the extra mile and he certainly did that.
Since my sister cannot make corned beef and cabbage on my birthday this year, I was thinking about that Guiness Stew. I have no recipe but have been playing with different versions. Try this one.
Guiness Stew: Generously salt 2 lbs. trimmed 2” cubes stew beef. Toss in 1 tbs. oil. In bowl place 3 tbs. flour, salt, pepper, pinch of cayenne and beef. Toss well.
Heat 2 tbs. oil in large skillet over medium heat. Brown beef on all sides. Add 2 cups coarsely chopped onions, 1 crushed garlic clove, 2 tbs. tomato paste dissolved in 4 tbs. water. Cook 5 minutes.
Transfer to Dutch oven. Add 6 oz. Guiness beer to skillet, boil, stir bringing up stuck on bits. Pour over meat. Add another 6 oz. Guiness, 2 large sliced carrots, sprig of fresh thyme, 6 peeled potatoes, quartered. Stir. Cover, simmer in 300 degree oven until meat is tender, 2-3 hours.
Add green peas if desired. Garnish and serve.
