I have spent most of the day out with my daughters, who are still enjoying their Easter break.  We played in the playground of the city park, ate out, and went shopping.  A small fortune was what I spent at the Disney Store.  This reminds me how wonderful it is to have girls, but also how incredibly expensive it can be, too.

Well, when we finally got home, it was time to prepare my next post.  In my head: a dilemma!  To make, or not to make?  That is the question….

OK, for days I had a dish in mind, although I ended up changing my mind at the very last minute.

I intended to make Banana Empanada (Deep-Fried Bananas)– something different, I bet, from any other fried bananas that you have ever seen or eaten.  I just want to let you know that I haven’t given up on the idea of making them.  Oh, no!  Actually, since I did not make them this time around, I will have to do them for my next post.  I just thought that a Beef Stew with Vegetables would be a more suitable dish for dinner — a stand-alone dish that is a complete meal in and of itself.

This stew is a rustic dish which is especially perfect to eat with a hard-crust bread (e.g. french bread, fresh or toasted) — to soak it in.

In Brazil, this beef stew is usually served either with beans, rice, and farofa or with rice and shoestring potatoes.

Whatever dish(es) you choose to eat it with, you won’t be disappointed.  The stew itself is worth the time taken to prepare it.  Enjoy!

 Brazilian Beef Stew with Vegetables
Serves 4 – 6

Segment: Brazilian cuisine

Ingredients:
2.5 or 1.1 kg beef stew, cubed
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 large yellow onion, small diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 cups beef stock
1 teaspoon tomate paste
1 teaspoon annatto powder (achiote), optional
1/2 medium butternut squash, deseeded and cubed
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 large Yukon potato, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:
Season the cubed beef with cumin, both the garlic and onion powder, salt, and pepper.  Let rest for about 30 minutes.
In a large heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat and sauté the onion for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds.  Add the seasoned beef and brown for about 5 minutes.
Add the vinegar and let evaporate a bit.  Then, add the stock, the tomato paste, and the annatto.  Stir.  Bring to a boil, cover the pan, and reduce heat to low.  Let simmer for approximately 50 minutes.  Then add the potato, carrots, and squash and let the stew simmer, covered, for an additional 20 minutes.
Remove from heat, add the cilantro, and serve piping hot.

____________________________________________________________________________

Receita em Português:

Picadinho de Carne
Serve 4 – 6

Ingredientes:
1.1 kg patinho, em cubos grandes
1/2 colher de sopa de cuminho
1/2 colher de sopa de alho em pó
1/2 colher de sopa de cebola em pó
1 colher de chá de sal
1/4 colher de chá de pimenta preta moída
2 colheres de sopa de óleo
1/2 cebola amarela grande, picada
3 dentes de alho, picado
1 colher de sopa de vinagre de vinho tinto
2 xícaras de caldo de carne líquido (dissolva de acordo com a instrução no pacote)
1 colher de chá de extrato de tomate
1 colher de chá de colorau
1/2 abóbora pequena, sem sementes e cortada em cubos
2 cenouras grandes, despelada e em rodelas
1 batata grande, descascada e cortada em cubos
1/4 xícara de coentro, picado

Modo de Preparo:
Tempere a carne com o cuminho, o alho e a cebola em pó, o sal e a pimenta. Deixe tomar gosto por meia hora.
Em uma panela grande em fogo médio-alto, esquente o óleo, doure a cebola por uns 2 minutos mexendo de vez em quando, depois acrescente o alho e doure por uns 30 segundos. Adicione a carne já picada e temperada e doure por uns 5 minutos mexendo de vez em quando.
Acrescente o vinagre e deixe evaporar por 1 a 2 minutos. Adicione o caldo de carne líquido, o extrato de tomate e o colorau. Mexa e deixe levantar fervura. Depois tampe e reduza o fogo. Deixe coxinhar em fogo baixo por uns 50 minutos. Em seguida, adicione a batata, a abóbora e a cenoura e deixe as verduras cozinharem tampadas em fogo baixo por 20 minutos.
Retire do fogo, acrescente o coentro picado e sirva com arroz branco e batata palha ou com feijão, arroz e farofa. Eu pessoalmente gosto de comer com pão francês torrado amanteigado.

______________________________________________________________________________________________