"Apple Tree Day"

Hello everyone!

Today January 6th it's "Apple Tree Day"!

To celebrate this festivity, follow the tips given below!

Apple Tree Day

Casual: Have apples for breakfast, or for dessert.

Committed: Invite your friends to a picnic in your backyard and serve them apple pie, and other recipes that include apples in them.

Hard-Core: Make a family gathering during the afternoon and find a good spot to plant an apple tree. Make a ceremony to present the new addition to the family, and afterwards toast with apple juice!

Meatballs Monday Madness Presents Today’s Recipe

Meat and Peas

Serves 6 to 8

INGREDIENTS

• 3 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes, or about 4 1/2 pounds beef shank, meat removed from bone and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• salt
• ground black pepper
• 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 medium-large onions, chopped (2 cups)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup full-bodied red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Côtes du Rhône, Zinfandel, Shiraz or Barolo)
• 2 cups homemade chicken broth or low-sodium canned broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 4 large carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 1 cup (6 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Place meat in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a large nonreactive soup kettle; add meat to pan in two batches. Brown meat on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch, adding an additional 1 tablespoon oil if necessary. Transfer meat to a platter.

2. Add onions to pot; sauté until almost softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add garlic; continue to sauté for about 30 seconds longer. Stir in flour and cook until lightly colored, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits that may have stuck to pan. Add chicken broth, bay leaves and thyme; bring to simmer. Add meat and return to a simmer. Cover and place in oven, and simmer until meat is just tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. (Stew can be cooled at this point, covered and refrigerated up to 3 days.)

3. Before serving, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a steamer pot. Place carrots in steamer basket and lower into pot. Steam until just tender, about 6 minutes.

4. Add steamed carrots and uncooked peas to fully cooked stew; cover and let stand to blend flavors, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley, adjust seasonings and serve.

COLOR CHALLENGE

Today’s Color Challenge is “Color Yourself Cool” by wearing Tree Ornament (Silver) accessories. Tree Ornament is a very powerful and dominant color, but it’s still capable of keeping it cool and fresh. Wouldn’t we all want to be that? Wear something in this shade today so you can feel powerful, cool and fresh. When someone compliments your gorgeous Tree Ornament accessories, answer them: “Don’t I look delightful? I feel like a magnificent Tree Ornament!”.  

Enjoy today! Be happy!

- "Merry"