Every once in a while it happens that we have nothing to do.  Like absolutely nothing.  We don't have to leave the house for an entire day.  I say this like it's something wonderful, magical, special... and it kinda is.
Usually there is something to be done.  Someone to be dropped off and/or picked up.  Something to be gotten.  An appointment to get to.  Work.  School.  You know... stuff.  This day... nothing.  What's more, we got up kinda early and by the time 2pm rolled around it already felt like the day was an eternity.  Yoga, laundry, bathrooms cleaned, beds made... you know, it was all done.  Weird.
On a day like that what do you do?  You cook if you're me.
On a rainy, long dark of winter day what do you cook?  Beef stew with biscuits of course.


You need a day for that kind of food.  It has to sit for a long time over a low heat and just 'be'.  That will make the stew sing.  It's not a quick thing.  It's a very very slow thing or it won't be the same.  So you need to have the patience to make it at lunch in order to eat it for supper.  But it's so worth it.  So gratifying.
Well everything that you've just read was exactly my situation just a couple of days ago.
It was beautiful.  It felt like the longest day ever.
We watched a movie because... we had so much time to watch.
We had a complete lunch AND supper.
After my last rant post I'm going to sit back and let things settle a little bit, so there's no controversy this time.  No pressing opinions that I'm going nuts sitting on and have to blather about.  No crazy goings on that are dominating my thoughts.  Nothing.   Today.
Just a beautiful, quiet, LOOOOOONG day... and stew.


Beef Stew with Biscuits adapted from Canadian Living
serves4 - 6

1 lb stewing beef
1 leek sliced thin up to the darker green part
1 large celery stalk, diced
2 lg carrots, coarsely chopped
2 small turnips, coarsely cubed
1 1/2 cups mushrooms, halved
2 lg cloves of garlic, minced
3 tbsp Worcestershire
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
4 tbsp ketchup
2 beef bouillon cubes
3/4 cup water or red wine
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 lg tbsp brown sugar
1 lg tbsp each, chives, oregano, thyme, basil, parsley

Blue Cheese Biscuits

2 1/4 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, COLD and cubed
1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/2 cup milk (or just enough to get the right consistency) or buttermilk
1/2 cup blue cheese
1/2 cup parmesan

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Butter and 9 inch square baking pan.
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.  Mix together.
Cut in the cubed butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or two knives.  Cut together until it forms a crumbly texture.
Add in the yogurt or sour cream and mix.
Add just enough milk to form a dough ball.
Add in the cheeses and mix.
Place onto a lightly floured surface and knead just a couple of minutes - until it forms a smooth, silky dough ball.  Roll out to about 1 1/2 inches thick (thicker if you would like) and cut into about 12 biscuits (round or square or whatever shape you want).  Place each biscuit in the buttered pan.
Sprinkle the top with a little extra parmesan if you would like.
Bake for about 30 - 35 minutes or until the biscuits are nicely browned on the top and they're not gooey on the inside.
Serve with the beef stew.