Chef Curmudgeon

It was really great here in cold snowy northern Ohio.

It was so-so. Perhaps I used the wrong sauce. It was too wet for me and tasted a little sour. I will give it another try with a different sauce.

It was nothing spectacular but good comfort food. A great use for my cast iron dutch oven. Much less messy than my skillet. I will just continue to use my own recipe which is whatever I want to put in it with now need to follow a written recipe.

It was a little heavy on potatoes for me. The taste was delicious. The next time I will cut back on potatoes, increase carrots and reduce the cooking time. Overall it was very food. Still delicious reheated in the microwave.

I did not have mixed veggies. Used frozen corn and frozen peas. Fresh carrots and celery. A little garlic. Beef was cubed previously roasted. I had cubed fire roasted tomato’s so that is what I used. Forgot the sugar but added some dried tomato’s. Put it all in the crock pot except barley. Added 4 additional cups of water as it looked too thick. Used 3/4 cups of barley. Will use 1 to 1 1/4 next time. Absolutely delicious. Made one giant bowl for dinner and three quart containers for later.

Second time I used this. Baked smaller at 350 for 60 minutes, larger an additional 15 minutes. Got started late so jacked the temp up a little. These are a big hit with butter, bacon and shredded cheese. Served with toast beef from slow cooker.