Amber Ale Beef Barley Soup (Prep time 2 hours stovetop. Serves 12+.)

2 Tb. Olive oil

1 lb.  stew beef

1C. prepared mirepoix (chopped 1 small onion, 2 ribs celery, 1 large carrot)

2 cloves garlic, crushed & rough-chopped

1 bottle amber or dark ale

salt

pepper

1 Tb. each basil and parsley

1 tsp. oregano

1 Tb. Worcestershire sauce

pinch red pepper flakes

1 quart beef stock

2 C. water

2/3 C. barley

Heat 1 Tb. olive oil on high heat.  Add beef cubs (make sure they are cut to the size you want) and sear on all sides.  Get the meat dark brown to lock in the juices.  Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.  Add the other Tb. olive oil and the mirepoix, reduce heat to medium high and cook the vegetables until just starting to get tender. Add the garlic.  Saute another 1-2 minutes and deglaze the pan with at least half the bottle of beer, stirring to get all the brown cracklings off the bottom of the pot. Add the stock and water.  Bring to a boil.  Add the beef back in along with the salt, pepper, herbs, Worcestershire sauce and pepper flakes. Taste and adjust seasonings if you need to add any salt, pepper, Worcestershire or pepper flakes.  Reduce heat and low simmer, covered, about an hour.  Stir in about 2/3 cup of barley (I like a lot of barley, but adjust as you want) and simmer another 30 minutes. Serve with a splash of red wine vinegar or sherry on top and a side of crusty bread for dunking.

*For a vegetarian version, substitute sliced baby portabella mushrooms for the beef and briefly cook the mushrooms with the mirepoix. You, obviously, don't have to go through the searing process with the mushrooms. Substitute vegetable stock for the beef stock. You can also substitute soy sauce for the Worcestershire since Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies. Since you don't have to cook the vegetarian version so long as you do to get the beef really tender, the prep. time on the mushroom version is about 30-45 minutes.

Thanks to Down to Earth Whole Foods for sponsoring Foodie Fridays.  The little shop on Grant Ave. in Endicott is chock full of great ideas for tweaking your recipes to make them more healthy and eco-friendly.  Speaking of friendly, the staff at Down to Earth Whole Foods are not only friendly but can give you well-informed advice about food, supplements and even hair and skin products!

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