Many, many thanks for your exceedingly kind words on yesterday's post. I can't tell you how much they moved me. I have many emails to reply to, but it's going to take a few days to be able to do so. I am truly blessed to know all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my soggy heart.
Over the weekend, I watched Julie and Julia. I had read the book and liked it, excessive use of the f word (so says my mom) nonwithstanding. I don't know if I liked it because of the blogging thing, or because I just liked it. I have to admit, it was kind of fulfilling to see something that I love so much - blogging - that is so often disparaged, actually saluted.
I love blogging. I also love cooking, in particular tricky, multi step dishes that take lots of time and effort but taste amazing when finished. I can't help it. It's like a sickness with me. Part of the fun of cooking is doing all of the stuff that the recipe calls for, and part of the fun is experimenting with what can be left out. I've had some SPECTACULAR cluster****'s of disaster - French bread that had such a hard crust you could slam it on the wall comes to mind.
But mostly, I have good results.
I had some extra money this month - the stars lined up just right - and I bought myself some kitchen supplies that I've been wanting for quite a while. The two skillets I mentioned, some baking stones from Pampered Chef, some tongs and spatulas, and this dutch oven deal. I've had my eye on a Le Crueset piece for quite a while, petting it and whispering sweet nothings in its ear whenever I saw it, but then a food blogger that I love mentioned that the Staub was even better for oven cooking. I have been trying like mad to figure out why I'm unable to make a great brisket/potroast/meat type dish and I think it's the dish I'm using. So I found a great deal on a casserole dish on Ebay and ordered away.
And watching the movie, I observed that Julie had the EXACT SAME DISH, even down to the orange color - I love colorful stuff, and many of my dishes are turquoise/orange/green/pink/red etc. So when I heard the recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon repeated over and over and over, I felt like it was kind of a sign. So I made it today. I vowed that I'd follow the recipe precisely...
but the first step of Remove rind from bacon, and cut bacon into lardons (sticks, 1/4 inch thick and 1 1/2 inches long). Simmer rind and bacon for 10 minutes in 1 1/2 quarts of water. Drain and dry caused me to scratch my head and vow to skip - but I decided I was going to do this EXACTLY.
Hey, what do you know, Julia was right - if you blot the meat very well before tossing it in the oil, it actually DOES brown better?
At this point, I'd spent about an hour on this recipe, and I was NO where near to being done. I started to question my sanity...
Especially when I had all of this going on at one point, and still needed to make noodles, which ultimately became fettuccini alfredo for the kids and to serve under the beef...
but with this cast of characters who could go wrong? (Especially when my husband blew a gasket that I'd used a $20 bottle of wine for the dish - in my defense, I don't drink wine but was given TEN bottles for my birthday, and just chose one...)
But my mouth sobbed, just a bit, and I drooled the teeniest bit, when I tasted this - heaven on a plate - even though the color is off and I'm too full to alter it...
Mmmmm... save me some. I'll be right over...
Posted by: Karen | December 29, 2009 at 09:56 PM
OMG - I was given a La Creuset pot like yours for Christmas, in red, and I was given the movie Julie/Julia. There was a Julia Child cookbook included in the movie package that has some of the recipes in the movie. I SO want to try the boeuf bourguignon too!!! Maybe this weekend. There are so many steps that it looks kind of intimidating, but seeing how delicious yours turned out, I will follow all the instructions.
Posted by: Cheryl | December 29, 2009 at 09:58 PM
WOW... I just posted about making Boeuf Bourguignon myself about a second ago - then began to coast around to my regular reads and BOOM - there you are with Boeuf Bourguignon too! (Do I hear the twilight zone music?)
Ahhh but you have the POT.... how AWESOME! I wonder just how many people saw Julie and Julia and made the very same dish like we did.
I was actually sad when they mentioned Julia didn't like the blog - it really killed the magic of the movie for me. But it motivated me enough to ask my mom if I could borrow her Julia Child cookbooks. They are fun to read. Your dish looks FABULOUS!
Posted by: Katherine | December 29, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Le Creuset....the best you can ever buy. Koodos to you for trying the recipe. I bet it was great!!!
Posted by: Frances | December 29, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I just found a dutch oven on the clearance shelf (at unnamed store) and have been enjoying cooking again. Equipment does make a difference (no double meaning meant -- ha ha!)
I enjoyed the book and the movie - both different, and both so good in their respective ways.
I will have to try to make this - got Julia's book on hold at the library...need to try some of this serious stuff! I have an idea for my New Year's blog...
Posted by: elizabeth | December 29, 2009 at 10:36 PM
very odd. i made beef bourguinon for christmas dinner, using the recipe from elise (simplyrecipes). i did skip the blanching of the bacon, because i just couldn't bother. it was wonderful. i used my dutch oven pot from ikea, which is similar to my smaller le creuset one, and both seem to work very well. i still want to read the julie/julia book and see the movie since i read the blog waaay before all of this! (i hope i can say that about you one day in the future!)
Posted by: chris | December 29, 2009 at 11:10 PM
I love to hear a smile in your writing!
That sounds delish!
Posted by: Headless Mom | December 29, 2009 at 11:57 PM
We love cast iron, but had never heard of Staub. My hubby is checking them out as he has been looking for a certain piece of cast iron for quite some time. Thanks for doing a review.
Posted by: Shelly | December 30, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Awesome! I got her cookbook and the movie for Christmas! I can't wait to try it...look up her recipe for Braized Cucumbers (if you like them)...it is heaven on a fork!
Posted by: Katie | December 30, 2009 at 09:02 AM
my mom makes this dish and OMG! FAV! I have one of those pots too and you will LOVE it. Had it for years and looks new! (and I actually use it)
Posted by: mary | December 30, 2009 at 09:44 AM
i have the yellow le creuset pot, but only by mistake. when i moved in with my husband, i found in his pile of crap pots and pans this yellow le creuset pot. i thought perhaps it was his moms, but i found out it was a neighbors who left it at his house a few years before. LOL
i loved the movie julie/julia. i'm not so sure i would try the dish you did though. too much mess making. i bet it tasted divine. yummo!
Posted by: Sandra | December 30, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I was inspired by the movie too! I loved, loved the movie. Especially Amy Adams' clothes-super cute! We bought a le creuset shortly after I saw the movie (on super sale-woo hoo). I am set to finally make my beef burg this weekend. Wish me luck.
Posted by: elz | December 30, 2009 at 12:25 PM
OMG that looks SO good. Maybe after I finish the book I will be inspired enough.
Posted by: Rayne of terror | December 30, 2009 at 06:46 PM
yumm! love your blog :) wanted to share this video of Despicable Me the cartoon trailer with you: http://bit.ly/5fDDpC
just thoguht it was cute
Posted by: mary | December 30, 2009 at 06:55 PM
I saw the movie in the theater while pregnant and my stomach growled the whole time! I got the DVD for Christmas and again the growling! I need to gather up the courage to make this recipe...
Posted by: Abby | December 30, 2009 at 07:07 PM
We saw the movie over the weekend too! I have beef bourginion (sp???) on my brain and was going to make it this week but Safeway was out of stew meat. Everyone must have seen that movie over the weekend!
A very late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!!!
Posted by: LizP | January 01, 2010 at 03:33 PM
I just made this recipe a few weeks ago. I loved it. It did take longer than expected. Have you tried her pot roast recipe? I think it's easier and just as tasty. Her braised beef and cabbage is also very good.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 03, 2010 at 07:58 PM
I just watched that movie this weekend and now, I, too, want to make the Boeff dish. All my cookware is Le Creuset; I never pay full price, as I live in a city with an outlet. I only buy the seconds and only when I have a 30% coupon, so I've built up my cookware. I have all I need now. And for baking? Pampered Chef stones in every shape and size; I used to sell it and still own all my pieces from 14 years ago!
Posted by: Stephanie c. | January 03, 2010 at 10:54 PM