When I was a kid, my mother occasionally made what she affectionately called “Boozy Beef.” It is basically a beef stew made with red wine, and is more famously known as “Beef Bourguignon.”
The recipe is simple. I had it in mind as I went to the grocery store, but, alas, it’s been easily 20 years since I made it last, and I forgot that I would need pearl onions. It’s not really a problem. My family will adjust to yellow onions, if necessary.
I tried to find a bottle of Burgundy. My grocery store has a pretty amazing wine section, and I browsed through it, looking for a Burgundy. Unfortunately, it seems that Burgundy has lost its cache. Not a bottle was to be found.
I came home to look at Elegante Mother’s recipe, and it actually says “red wine.”
I surfed on-line to see what other kind of wine might be used, and found chianti, Côtes du Rhône, Bordeaux, zinfandel, or Pinot Noir were all suggested. I have a Cabernet Sauvigon that I hope will work.
So, it’s French peasant food, elevated to French cuisine, for dinner tomorrow.
If you’re interested in a simple, elegant, hearty beef stew, here’s a link to what looks to be a great recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_25938,00.html