Ozark Living

French OniOn BeeF Stew (Serves 4) For the winter months, I love this easy slow cooker recipe, inspired by classic French Beef Burgundy! Tie a piece of thread or kitchen twine around 8 sprigs fresh thyme and place in 5-6 pot slow cooker. Add 1 – 14.5 oz can chicken broth, 1 cup apple juice, 4 medium chopped carrots, and 2 thinly sliced onions. Mix to combine. Season 1.5 lbs beef stew meat cubed with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper, and a generous flour dredging. Add to mix. Cook covered, till beef and vegetables are tender, about 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high. When the stew has 10 minutes le to cook, heat the broiler and place 4 thick slices country bread on a foil-lined baking sheet, sprinkling with 1 cup grated gruyere or Swiss cheese and a sprinkling of thyme leaves. Broil til cheese starts to melt, about 1 minute. Spoon stew into bowls and top with cheese toasts. DOuBle chOcOlate PePPermint cOOkieS (6 dozen) So Christmas-y in look & flavor that the whole family will love! Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In medium bowl, whisk 1.5 cups all purpose flour, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp salt. Melt ½ cup chocolate chips in the microwave on low. Using an electric mixer, beat 1 stick unsalted room temperature butter and ¾ cup sugar in a large bowl til light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in 2 large eggs, one at a time. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add melted chocolate and then flour mixture, mixing til just incorporated. Stir in ¾ cup chocolate chips. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake, rotating position of pans halfway through, til cookies are puffed and set, about 8-10 minutes. let cool on sheet two minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Now in medium microwave safe bowl, microwave 6 tbl heavy cream on high, about 30 seconds. Add ¾ cup chocolate chips to cream and let stand 1 minute. Stir til chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Spread the chocolate mixture (about ½ tsp each) on top of each cookie, then top with smashed candy canes (totaling about ¾ cup or 8 crushed candy canes). Refrigerate til set, about 20 minutes. 5 Serve One Cocktail & Move it Along: I love the idea of a signature cocktail, especially if it can be batched. Since I'm oen a one-woman show without a hot hipster bartender (aah someday!), I love serving that special themed drink from a pitcher, punch bowl or dispenser. You can always set up a bar too with gin, vodka and a few basic mixers. But I think to control costs (and sobriety) the premade cocktail is a win-win! Just add in a couple beers or wine per guest and you have your alcohol allotment. 6 Make Ahead as Much as you Can: What's the secret art of a true caterer? Prep, prep and did I mention prep? Any little step you can save, even pre-dicing an onion will save you so much in the long run. As caterers, we prep and then make it all look good last-minute. Write a to-do list that spreads out all the mini-tasks over the week so you won't be overwhelmed. It may sound like overkill, but it's honestly the key to a frazzle-free party. You can send me a thank you card later! I love mail! 7 Set a Doable Pacing: You'll be running the party well by releasing the food in stages, like passed apps at a wedding reception. Start with cheese, nuts, and other nibbles, placed around the room to encourage guests to mingle right away. en wait to serve the high value items (read hot or pricey stuff ) at peak time, which is about an hour into the party. 8 Relax: Maybe the most important step, but oen overlooked, is that you don't need to let your guests know you just burned the crostini or 10 extra folks arrived without an RSVP. Just roll with it and act like you're having a good time, (if you must pretend), or just relax. You've done all you can so you might as well enjoy the party and however it goes at this point. And remember, it's just food, not a 911 call. It'll be alright. ey came to see YOU anyway, not your food! OZArK LIVING • December 2021 • 11

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