a new beef stew boxty
A time will come when the memory will fade like the fabric on the old wing chair sitting in the sunny window. Memories are all we have. Blogging is a way of preserving those memories. It took me by surprise when some old memories of William inspired last night’s dinner. The memories are happy and the food is comforting like a warm hug from someone well-loved.
In 2009 while attending a medical conference in San Diego I spent several days with William as he was stationed there and working at the US Naval Hospital, Balboa. We shared some fun adventures as he showed me all his favorite spots including “The Market” on the pier and the Irish pub known as “The Field” in the gas lamp district. The raw bar guy at the Market knew him by name.
However, it is delicious dinner memories of The Field which sends my culinary creativity into action. William insists I order the beef stew in a boxty. What the heck is a boxty? It’s like a crepe marrying a potato pancake. Wrap it around some Guinness beef stew and you have a match made in heaven. It makes for a most memorable St. Patrick’s Day feast.
I love you William. You continue to inspire me every day. Thanks for such wonderful memories. I am so very proud to be your mom and grateful to have had you in my life.
PrintBoxty and Guinness Beef Stew
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Boxty
1 (8 oz) Yukon gold potato, peeled, cubed
1 (4 oz) Yukon gold potato, peeled, grated and squeezed dry in paper towels
¾ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
Guinness beef stew, warmed (recipe follows)
Guinness Beef Stew
1 ¼ pounds beef for stew, cut into bite-size pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons all purpose flour, divided
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 sweet onions, chopped
1 ½ cups carrots, bite-size
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14 oz) can chicken broth
1 ½ cups Guinness beer
½ tablespoon dark brown sugar
¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
Instructions
- Heat oven 200F. Cook cubed potato in salted water until tender. Drain potatoes and mash. Mix mashed potato with grated potato, flour, baking soda, salt and buttermilk; blend well.
- On a medium hot greased skillet, pour 1/3 cup of potato mixture into center of skillet spreading with the back of a spoon to form a 6-inch pancake.
- Cook about 2 minutes or until edges are dry and pancake is golden brown. Flip and cook other side.
- Transfer pancake to baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
- Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet between pancakes.
- To assemble, place one pancake on serving plate. Spoon ½ cup of stew down center of pancake; fold over.
Guinness Beef Stew
Season beef with salt and pepper; toss with 1 tablespoon of flour. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in oven-safe Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown half the beef; transfer to plate. Add remaining beef; brown and transfer to plate. Add remaining oil to Dutch oven. Add onions and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes or until onions are golden brown. Add tomato paste, garlic and remaining flour; cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and Guinness, stirring to scrape up any browned bits. Stir in sugar, half the parsley and all the thyme; bring to a boil. Transfer, uncovered, Dutch oven to 325F. oven. Bake 60 minutes or until beef is tender, stirring after 30 minutes. Stir in remaining parsley.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: soups and stews
- Method: stovetop
Keywords: stew, guinness, beef, potato pancake, crepe, dinner, main dish
“the memory will fade like the fabric on the old wing chair sitting in the sunny window”
That’s some impressive wordsmith-ing for a person that was a science major. 🙂
trying to use my creative brain these days–is that the left or the right side?
What fades in the mind thrives in the heart.
beautiful–I’d like to think this is true
St. Patrick’s day pretty soon, so that is a good recipe. JJ
what’s great about both recipes is that they can both be made a day ahead and then warmed up separately and serve on a buffet–party style!
I am so glad you had that time with William. It sounds like you have a great time together. I discovered boxties a couple of years ago. I love them and yours look wonderful. Thanks for sharing this memory with us.
Very easy to have a great time in San Diego. I’d love to have your recipe for boxty!
Love that picture of William and Alexis, such a tender moment between them. If I ever get back to The Field, I will be sure to order that dish, looks delicious!
I think he would have been a great dad! Try my recipe and you won’t need to go across country
Was thinking the same thing (about him being a great dad). Might have to give this one a try!
It’s funny how so many memories are connected to food shared with loved ones. William would surely get a kick out of you making a dish he introduced you to. What a great memory. 🙂
So many happy times happened around a table. The food, the making of food and the sharing is what gives me comfort now.
All of your posts speak volumes of love, but Will holding the baby with that look on his face is priceless. What a beautiful man you raised. And that recipe- what a cool idea to have beef stew wrapped in a potato crepe!
Thanks for the continued encouragement as this is harder than I thought 🙂
my mouth is watering just thinking about it!!!! The Boxty idea is brilliant!
Thanks, Betsy. It is great for a party because everything can be made a day or two in advance
I love these special memories you share with us. But I have never heard of a boxty…will have to try them this St. Patty’s Day!
maybe your next trip will be to Ireland—hope you had a great time in Paris