Beef Bourguignon

2 pounds topside or round steak, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
flour, salt and pepper
3 slices bacon
1 tblsp vegetable oil
12 pickling onions
1 cup red wine
2 cups beef stock
1 tsp dried thyme
6-8 oz button mushrooms
2 bay leaves

Coat meat in a flour, salt and pepper mixture.
Cut bacon into small dices and quickly cook in oil. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add meat into pan and brown it on all sides, you may have to do this in batches.
Remove all meat, add onions and cook until golden.
Add everything to the pot, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook covered for 1 1/2 hours.

Can be served over potatoes, rice, or noodles. Or with good crusty bread.

*This is another one of Tyson's favorite. I think he requests it for every birthday dinner.!!

Vegetarian Chili

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoons dried oregano
Salt to taste
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
1 (12 ounce) package vegetarian burger crumbles or 1/2 to 1 cups of TVP
2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
1/4 cup chili powder
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained


Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in the celery, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and green chile peppers. When vegetables are heated through, mix in the vegetarian burger crumbles. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 5 minutes.
Mix the tomatoes into the pot. Season chili with chili powder salt and pepper. Stir in the kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 50 minutes.

*crush can tomatoes in hand
*corn can be added last 5 minutes
*yummy with cheese and chips
* so so good as left overs