Recipe: Easy Beef and Leek Stew in Chive Popovers

EASY BEEF AND LEEK STEW IN CHIVE POPOVERS

"I quickly put together this stew one evening before I left the house for a meeting, leaving my husband and son home to stir and eventually enjoy it for dinner. I arrived home to find all kinds of notes on my scribbled recipe, including "Really tasted good" and "Gravy was nice and rich," but alas there was no stew. The two of them had eaten every bit of it and I had to test it again. It goes very well in the popovers (like having gravy on Yorkshire Pudding), but you can enjoy it with crusty bread instead if you like."

1 1/4 lb stew beef
2 tbsp olive oil
4 small leeks, thickly sliced
4 carrots, cut in 1-inch chunks
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 1/2 cups beef stock
1 cup water
1/3 cups sun-dried tomato strips
1 tsp dried thyme
Pinch hot pepper flakes
Chive Popovers (for serving, recipe follows)

Cut beef into 2-inch cubes. In large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown beef all over, about 10 minutes.

Add leeks and carrots; cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Sprinkle with flour, and salt and pepper to taste; cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in vinegar, then stock, 1 cup water, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme and hot pepper flakes; bring to boil, scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding a bit more water if necessary. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Split open popovers and serve stew on top.

CHIVE POPOVERS
Makes 12 popovers

"Popovers are really easy to make. I remember my daughter, Anne, making them often for breakfast when she was a child. You can, of course, substitute other herbs for the chives, or leave them out altogether."

2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp snipped fresh chives or green onions
1/2 tsp salt

In large bowl, beat eggs, stir in milk, flour, chives and salt until blended. (Don't overmix; ignore a few lumps.)

Fill 12 well-greased muffin cups three-quarters full with batter. Place in cold oven. Turn oven to 450 degrees F; bake for 25 minutes. Remove and prick each popover with point of sharp knife to release steam. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.

TO MAKE POPOVERS AHEAD:
Popovers can be baked, cooled, placed on a cookie sheet, covered with clean towel and set aside at room temperature for up to 8 hours. Reheat in 350 degree F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

VARIATION:
If you wish to make and serve popovers as a breakfast treat, just leave out the chives and pass butter and your favorite jam or honey with the hot popovers.

Makes 4 servings
Adapted from source: 125 Best Casseroles and One-Pot Meals by Rose Murray