Recently, Whole Foods and Le Creuset co-sponsored a pre-Thanksgiving fundraiser at our Second Harvest Food Bank. For a mere $5.00 donation to Second Harvest, you got to sample quite the array of T-Day mainstays and sides, as cooked up by the Whole Foods catering department.

Tasty stuff, too–including free-range heritage bird and gravy, green bean casserole, potatoes au gratin, sour cherry and pecan pies.

And, you got a raffle ticket–for which, Le Creuset donated a 5 1/2 qt. Dutch Oven as The Prize.

The luck of the draw: I won the raffle! I couldn’t believe it. Happy, happy. I was so tickled by this, I felt like a big goofy kid. Sometimes, it’s really nice to win.

The Le Creuset store manager, Joseph, let me pick out the color. I had get the Fig. Isn’t it gorgeous? This is my second raffle win in as many years (in the spring of ‘08 I won 2 blueberry bushes in a drawing at our farmers market) so, I guess you could say that I’m on a roll…

And, I must say that this wondrous Dutch Oven came into my possession at the most timely of moments–our Third-Thursday Community Pot Luck Dinner was coming up, and I had wanted to make some winey-frenchy-stewy dish using beef rump roast I purchased from Walnut Hills Farm. The recipe is part Boeuf Bourguignon, part Boeuf à la Mode–we’ll call it Boeuf à Ma Mode..(that’s beef, my style)

The heavy enameled cast iron pot went right to work, marinating the meat overnight.

Marinade (for about 5 lbs. Beef Roast)
2 cups Red Wine
1/4 cup Olive Oil
4 cloves Garlic, crushed
several sprigs fresh Thyme
Salt and Black Pepper

Mix up these ingredients and pour over the beef. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning the meat at least once, after several hours.

The next day: Remove the beef from the marinade—save the marinade—and brown it well on all sides. While it’s browning, you can get your veggies ready.

Boeuf à Ma Mode
Marinated Beef
2 Shallots, chopped
2 large Onions, diced
3 ribs Celery, small dice
4 Carrots, small dice
2 Bay Leaves
Reserved Marinade
2+ cups Red Wine
2+ cups Vegetable or Beef Broth
1 lb. Cremini Mushrooms, chopped
2 T. Butter
Salt and Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons Dark Roux
Fresh Thyme and Rosemary

Sauté the vegetables in the browned drippings left by the meat–add a little more olive oil, if needed. These sturdy ones will go far in forming a rich flavor foundation for this stew, and will actually cook down so far —over time with the meat—as to almost disappear.

After you return the meat to the pot, pour in the wine and broth, and toss in the bay leaves.

Then, just cover, turn the heat down low, and forget about it for four hours. In the meantime, you can get your mushrooms ready.

Brown the mushrooms in butter, salt, and black pepper in a separate pot. Enhance with red wine.

When the meat is tender, remove it from the pot and cut into bite-sized pieces. (discarding any fat or gristle.)

Thicken the stock with your roux, stir in mushrooms and meat. Simmer and serve.

This rich savory stew served a lot of folks at the Third-Thursday dinner.

Delicious spooned over noodles or rice, this beautiful beef stew also makes a special, hearty meal when served with this colorful roasted winter vegetable medley. A real winner!

1. Christine@FRESH LOCAL Says:
   November 24th, 2009 at 11:52 am

   How exciting!!! I’m so happy for you! Le Creuset is my favorite pot to braise meats. This looks like an excellent recipe!

2. rachel Says:
   November 24th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

   I like the le creuset and the name Fig is perfect – I never knew. I am just a little jealous as my bright orange le creuset are still in England and sadly missed EVERY DAY while I am here in Italy.
   The beef looks just delicious…I am a little intimidated by a roux though.

3. goodfoodmatters Says:
   November 24th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

   rachel–If the roux feels daunting–never mind! mix up a slurry of flour/water, and cook that into broth. It will thicken, no doubt, and still have great flavor—not as dark in color, or nutty-toasty in taste.

4. Maggie Says:
   November 24th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

   This looks delicious! Love the new pot – especially that its color is “fig!”

5. rhonda Says:
   November 25th, 2009 at 8:34 am

   well, i’ve been disappointed that i’ve been unable to attend the last few third thursday dinners, but now i’m devastated!!!! that looks wonderful and with my distaste of turkey, i believe this dish will be on my thanksgiving table! thanks for the timing!!!

6. goodfoodmatters Says:
   November 25th, 2009 at 8:38 am

   rhonda—we have missed you guys, a lot!!!!

7. claudia @ ceF Says:
   November 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

   nothing like a finely made beef stew. just beautiful.

   i have the same dutch oven but in dark green… but yours? yours would be perfect in my kitchen. i LOVE the color. i suppose you wouldn’t want to trade… of course mine is OLD as well…

8. Wendy Says:
   November 28th, 2009 at 10:52 am

   I want a “fig” Dutch oven!!!

9. Barb Says:
   December 9th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

   I am interested in more info about these fundraisers – where? when? I’ll be there!

10. Good Food Matters » Blog Archive » Swiss Chard-Butternut Squash Gratin Says:
    May 2nd, 2014 at 8:51 am

    [...] in olive oil on medium heat in a deep skillet or saucepan for 7 minutes. (I used my now-beloved Fig LeCreuset! What ever did I do without it?) Add minced garlic, and sprinkle with sea salt and red pepper [...]