Beef Stroganoff, or "Don't crowd the mushrooms!"

Hi, I'm Rachael, Michael's wife. I'm one of the lucky ladies to marry into the Carlson clan, and mom to a toddler. I also work as a nurse three days a week, so when I'm home I want fairly simple stuff I can cook quickly, and have plenty of leftovers for the nights I work. This is one of those meals that tastes just as good the next day, and really wasn't a lot of effort. Oh, and did I mention it's DELICIOUS?

Beef Stroganoff

(Ready in 30 minutes)

Ingredients:

• 1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles, cooked and drained
• 6 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped (I also added a little bit of garlic to punch up the favor)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 lbs beef, cubed (you can play around here- I used stew meat which was slightly tougher, but inexpensive- ask your butcher for recommendations)
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup sour cream
• salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook egg noodles in boiling water until done, about 8 minutes. Drain.

2. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. In a large skillet, cook mushrooms and onions (and garlic if you choose) in 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat until soft; remove from pan

3. Using the same pan, melt remaining butter. Cook beef in melted butter until browned and cooked to liking. Mix in flour. Stir in beef broth slowly, and cook until slightly thickened. Add mushroom and onion mixture; stir in sour cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until sauce is hot, but not boiling (seriously, don't let it boil, it'll curdle the cream. Don't worry about microwaving the leftovers though, it's not a problem). Serve sauce over egg noodles.

Thoughts:

Two reasons this version is my favorite. First, it doesn't use ground beef. You can, and the original called for it, but trust me, the beef chunks make it taste so much more upscale. Second, the mushrooms! I felt like Julia Child in Julie/Julia as I sat there cooking my mushrooms, thinking "Don't crowd them, don't crowd them..." (if you haven't rented it, do!). Honestly, they add tremendous flavor. Don't leave them out. Puree them into oblivion if you need to disguise them, but USE them!

And finally, a suggestion. Don't fear the butter. Don't substitute something else. This meal is meant to be hearty and warm and rich. Indulge yourself!

Love, Rachael