Vampire Bat Stew

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds lean pork stew meat (buy whatever cut is on sale and cut into chunks to save some money!)
1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, sliced
2 cups baby-cut carrots
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with chile peppers, undrained

Pastry:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons cold water
Chili powder or seasoning to taste

Instructions:

Brown pork and onion in skillet over medium to high heat, stir occasionally to get an even brown (just browning, not cooking and if you want you can skip this step since we’re headed to the crock pot anyway *wink*). Put meat, carrots and corn in crock pot. Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, and garlic. Stir in the diced tomatoes. Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours (or high for 3 to 4 hours).

To make the pastry bats:

Combine flour and cheese in large mixing bowl. Cut in butter until it looks like coarse floury butter crumbles. Using a fork, fluff in the water to moisten the mixture. Shape dough into ball and flatten, grab a rolling pin and roll it out (remember to flour your rolling area). Cut out dough using bat shaped cookie cutters! Sprinkle with chili powder for added color and flavor (optional step). Bake at 450 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly brown. When serving, place a biscuit bat on top of each bowl of stew!

Vampire Bat Stew

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds lean pork stew meat (buy whatever cut is on sale and cut into chunks to save some money!)
1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, sliced
2 cups baby-cut carrots
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with chile peppers, undrained

Pastry:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons cold water
Chili powder or seasoning to taste

Instructions:

Brown pork and onion in skillet over medium to high heat, stir occasionally to get an even brown (just browning, not cooking and if you want you can skip this step since we’re headed to the crock pot anyway *wink*).  Put meat, carrots and corn in crock pot.  Sprinkle with chili powder, cumin, and garlic.  Stir in the diced tomatoes.  Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours (or high for 3 to 4 hours).

To make the pastry bats:

Combine flour and cheese in large mixing bowl.  Cut in butter until it looks like coarse floury butter crumbles.  Using a fork, fluff in the water to moisten the mixture.  Shape dough into ball and flatten, grab a rolling pin and roll it out (remember to flour your rolling area).  Cut out dough using bat shaped cookie cutters!  Sprinkle with chili powder for added color and flavor (optional step).  Bake at 450 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly brown.  When serving, place a biscuit bat on top of each bowl of stew!

 

Heritage Beef Stew

Ingredients:

3 slices bacon
1 lb. lean stew beef
1 (16 oz.) can diced tomatoes
2 C. beef broth or bouillon
1 C. water
2 celery ribs sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. flour
Salt and pepper to taste
4 medium carrots, sliced thick
4 small potatoes, cubed

Directions:

Fry bacon in stew pot. Remove bacon and drain on paper towel. Add stew meat to pot and sear. Lower heat and add tomatoes, beef broth, water, celery, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder. Simmer for 2 hours or until beef is tender. Remove 1/3 C. broth from stew and cool. Mix with flour. Stir until smooth. Add flour mixture to stew to thicken. Add salt, pepper, carrots, and potatoes. Cook 30 minutes or until carrots and potatoes are done. Crumble cooled bacon and add to pot. Good served with cornbread and green salad.