French Onion Beef

French Onion Beef

Ingredients:

1 ½ to 2 lbs beef stew meat or sliced sirloin

2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp flour (for thickening)

1 cup beef broth

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup shredded Gruyère or mozzarella cheese (optional, for topping)

Instructions:

1. Sauté onions: In a large skillet, heat butter and 1 tbsp oil over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring often, until golden and caramelized (about 20–25 minutes).

2. Brown beef: In a separate pan, heat remaining oil over medium-high. Add beef, season with salt and pepper, and brown on all sides. Don’t overcrowd the pan—work in batches if needed.

3. Combine: Add garlic to the onions, cook 1 minute, then sprinkle in the flour and stir. Slowly stir in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Add the browned beef back in.

4. Simmer: Cover and let simmer on low for 20–30 minutes (or longer for tender stew beef), stirring occasionally. It should thicken slightly into a gravy.

5. Cheesy top (optional): Sprinkle cheese on top and broil for 2–3 minutes until bubbly and golden.

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Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 lbs potatoes (Yukon gold or russet), peeled and cubed

4 tbsp butter

½ to 1 cup milk or cream (adjust to your texture preference)

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: 2 tbsp sour cream or cream cheese for extra creaminess

Instructions:

1. Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (about 15–20 minutes).

2. Drain and mash with butter and warm milk. Add salt, pepper, and optional sour cream/cream cheese.

3. Whip until fluffy and smooth.