comfort food...

...and a new toy! :-) Well, not really a new toy -- a new ginsu knife. And, it works great! For this dinner, I sliced through the veggies and beef like --buttah! :-) We picked up a set of 2 of these at Sears this weekend -- on sale for $17.99 and we got a $10 discount for applying for their store credit card -- so my 2 knives cost us $7.99 (plus tax). Wee hoo! Go get yourself a couple -- and then make your favorite comfort dinner. Here's the recipe for mine:

1 pound bottom round cut into small 1" pieces

1 small onion

1 carrot

4 medium sized russet potatoes

1 can low sodium beef broth (14.5 oz)

1 small can tomato paste (6 oz.)

pinch of dried basil

pinch of dried oregano

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons extra light olive oil

Slice onion and brown in olive oil. Add dried basil and oregano to onion while it is browning. Just as onions are beginning to caramelize, add bottom round. Brown beef on at least two sides. Add beef broth. Lower heat to a simmer. Peel and wash carrots and potatoes. Chop them into the same size pieces as the beef. Set aside. Fill empty beef broth can with warm water and mix together with tomato paste in a measuring cup or bowl until the tomato paste is liquifed. Add tomato paste mixture to simmering pot. Add carrots and potatoes to simmering pot. Your pot should be narrow enough so liquid covers all the meat and vegetables. Add teaspoon of sugar and stir gently. Cover and simmer until you can pierce the potatoes with a fork. About 45 minutes. Enjoy with crusty italian bread.