Red wine beef and roasted pepper stew

You know when you have something itchy in your bra and you just automatically put your hand in there to rummage around and then notice that young Andreas from the Munich office is looking at you across the meeting room table and you then pretend you're fiddling with your necklace? No, me neither.

I once had an ant in my bra through an entire guided tour in an art museum. I was the guide.

But now it's weekend, nothing untoward in my bra to ruin my mood as I potter around in my kitchen.

We started the day with a healthy bowl of porridge, or I did. Husband refused as I had made it with fruit juice instead of milk, because we didn't have enough milk. The fucking princess wouldn't eat it, because it "tasted weird" (hear the whiny three-year-old voice?) so he had a bagel.

He then went to see Deadpool with the kids, I didn't join because I was pissed off about the porridge I had some work to do and dinner to prepare and I think if the world never saw another Marvel film we'd probably be OK.

Why do superheroes always wear tights? I'm not complaining, particularly if Ryan Reynolds (or Ronald Reagan as husband calls him) is the one in the tights. But just wondering.

But the answers are out there and they are very practical! Superheroes wear tights because
- tights allow for the greatest range of movement while providing the entire body with protection
- tights allow quick and easy costume change (providing the hero is wearing the spandex under their everyday clothes, every girl knows that wriggling into a pair of tights is not easy or quick)
- tights are easy to fly in
- they are really comfy

So while the boys were admiring Ronald Reagan's red tights I prepared us this red wine marinated beef stew inspired by a meal that mum and dad cooked for me last time I visited them in Finland. Mum did most of the cooking, but for some reason dad was summoned to check the seasoning at regular intervals and administer the red wine.

They used strips of beef that were sold already in a peppery red-wine marinade. They then just browned the meat added some red peppers, fond and red wine. It was awesome served with creamy garlic potatoes.

I decided to do the exact the same meal, red-wine beef, garlic potatoes and an apple tarte tatin with vanilla custard for dessert. I got some topside roast yesterday, cut it into strips and put it in a marinade trying to guess what was in the Finnish shop marinade. And I left it in the fridge overnight.

Red-wine marinated beef strip stew (serves 6)

1.2 kg beef top-side or silverside roast

Marinade
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp ground black or mixed pepper
2-3 bay leaves
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
4 garlic cloves
1 - 1.5 cups redwine
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cups liquid from a jar of red peppers (optional)

Stew
oil
1 onion
150g roasted red peppers
2-3 tbsp of game or beef fond (you can use 2 beef stock pots)
1 cup red wine
1/2 cup water
salt and blackpepper

Cut the meat into thin strips (kind of like stir fry size strips). Mince the garlic and mix all the marinade ingredients. You can use other herbs if you like, or fresh herbs. 1 tbsp for chopped fresh equals 1 tsp of dried. Mix in the meat making sure it's all covered. Marinade overnight in the fridge stirring it once or twice.

Take the meat out at least an hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature. Chop the onion. in a non stick frying pan heat a tbsp of vegetable oil. Brown the meat in batches removing to a dutch oven or other large pan. Once you have fried your last batch of the beef use the same frying pan to saute the onions until soft. Add the onions to the meat and place the dutch oven on medium heat.

Slice the roasted red peppers and add to the mix. Add the red wine. fond and water. Bring to boil, check seasoning and add salt and pepper if necessary.

Place in a preheated oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the meat is superbly soft. Do a final seasoning check, it should be quite peppery, so don't be shy with your peppermill.