How to stretch a tough piece of meat

Before I had the baby, I thought I was getting a great deal on some roasts. It was buy one get one for 1 penny! Who could resist that? The first one I did in the crockpot with the traditional onions, carrots and potatoes. A little tough much....

So, I finally defrosted the other one this week to do something with. I was going to cut it up and do beef stew or stroganoff, but I just really wanted something different. Then I remembered when I did the Jewish Feast meal at my church, the first time, I used beef instead of lamb because I couldn't get it, and did a middle east spice rub. Hmmm, that sounds interesting. That's what I did and it was yummy!

Here's the recipe:

Blend together approximately a tablespoon of garlic powder, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, a splash of cayenne pepper, powdered ginger, 1/2 t cinnamon and I guess that's it. Rub on the meat, heat a large pot on medium high, add 3 T olive oil and sear meat on both sides.

Chop some onions and carrots while the meat is searing, then add to the pan. Dice about 1/3c dried apricots and add that to the pot with a handful of golden raisins. Add enough liquid to come up half way up the meat. I used a combo of water and chicken stock that I had. Cover and simmer a few hours. Since this meat was so tough I sliced it after awhile and then added it back to the pot to simmer until it would shred easily with a fork. We ate this on brown rice garnished with chopped cilantro.

So, this was so good I ate just meat when the rice was gone :) Anyways, there was still a good bit of meat left, around 2 cups, and I decided it would work well for chili. I had frozen cooked beans in the freezer and a brand new container of chili powder, why not?

This morning I chopped more onions and some bell pepper, threw that in the pot with extra garlic powder, cumin and chili powder, then added 1 small can of tomato paste and probably two cups of cooked pinto beans. Then I added the liquid- water and chicken stock and started cooking it. I just had a taste and it was really good. I will serve it with sour cream, cheese, chopped tomatoes and avocado and tortilla chips.

On another note, I was super woman this morning! I cleaned the ENTIRE house- not just basics- the dusting, windex, vacuum all rooms, sweep and mop all hard floors, bathrooms, trash, changed sheets/bedding, refilled soap dispensers, bleached the kitchen sink, AND, did kid laundry AND baked cookies. Oh, that includes the usual make beds, tidy up, give Sarah a bath because she covered herself in diaper rash cream and feed baby Samantha several times. Wow- amazing what some coffee and a vitamin and a real breakfast will do. Well, honestly, it was God, because it's a miracle.

Samantha slept all night Tuesday! She went from 11pm to 6am without feeding! She did wake up last night, but I couldn't get her to take a full feeding at 10:30, so that could be why. Sure was nice to have continuous sleep.

Sorry there are no pictures- I didn't think of writing this post until after I started the chili. Maybe I can take one later...don't hold yer breath!