The year 2014 will be different for me than any year to this point. I’m going to do something I’ve never attempted: write a cookbook.
Just in case you didn’t hear me, I said, “I’M GOING TO BE WRITING A COOKBOOK!”
I’m so sorry I yelled. It seemed you were trying to fall asleep on me. My sincere apologies for my rudeness.
Yep, it’s going to happen. At least I think it’s going to happen. I hope and pray this isn’t one of those deals that happened to Pam in CBS’s Dallas, a 1978 TV series. She had a dream that lasted the entire season. Poor thing.
If it is real, I’m under contract with Skyhorse Publishing, located in NYC. I hope you follow along with me as I learn the publishing industry while I attempt to meet deadlines to get this book published. I sincerely appreciate the risk Skyhorse was willing to take on this unknown author. Actually, I’m so excited I’m about to burst wide open.
What I can tell you now is that the book ‘s scheduled for a Spring 2015 release date. So, there’ s lots of work between now and then to get done. I’ve already gotten my manuscript started and, from the looks of the flour all over my kitchen floor, some significant cooking is underway.
Well, what in the world does Stewed Beef have to do with writing a cookbook? The recipe won’t be included in the cookbook. Stewed Beef, a “pop in the oven and let it go” sort of dish is a fine example of the only non-cook book cooking I ‘ll be doing from now until July 10, 2014. That’s when my manuscript and photos are due. You’d think it’d be easier to keep yourself fed when writing a cookbook but actually it’s harder. So much attention’s directed toward planning, buying groceries, cooking, photographing and writing about many dishes in a compressed time frame, that it’s hard to find time to sit down to a regular meal. I just know that 7 months will come and go so quickly and the manuscript and photos delivery date will be here before I can turn around good. I’m not going to have a hard time remembering the date, either. July 10 is my birthday. What a nice present I will give to myself when I turn in the manuscript for my first published cookbook.
Ain’t life grand?
Y’all come see us!
Stewed Beef and Rice
yield: 4 to 6 servings
Stewed beef, not to be confused with Beef Stew, is simply chunks of stew meat braised in stock and vegetables until it’s ridiculously tender. Some people may know it as Beef Tips. In my family, it was always called Stewed Beef. I don’t even bother cutting the larger pieces of stew meat into bite size pieces before cooking. This stuff cooks up so tender you don’t need a knife.
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon Season-all seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 pounds stew meat
1 heaping tablespoon bacon drippings
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 sweet onions, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
cooked rice
minced parsley for garnish
Place flour and next three ingredients in a gallon size ziplock bag. Shake a few times to mix.
Heat bacon drippings and cooking oil in a Dutch oven.
Add beef to bag with seasoned flour and shake well to coat each piece of the meat.
When oil is heated, cook the meat in two or three batches, until browned on all sides. Remove each batch and set aside.
Add onions and celery to Dutch oven and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 or 6 minutes.
Add meat back in Dutch oven.
Mix beef stock and Worcestershire, pour over meat.
Cover tightly and cook in a 300 degree oven for 2 to 3 hours until meat is falling apart tender. Serve with cooked rice.
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richsgoodfood says
Woohooo!!!! Congratulations , and good luck :)))
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Rich!
Mary says
I’m so excited about your new venture. Best wishes.
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Mary!
Valerie Gardner says
YAY! So happy for you, Jackie! I’ll be standing in line to buy your cookbook!!
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Val! You’ve been such a sweet FB friend. 🙂
Candi says
Well, I’m so danged excited for you, I already got my charge card out ready to be the first to buy a book!!!! Jackie, this is wonderful! You go, girl!!! I’m looking forward to following this to completion. AWESOME!
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Candi! It’s going to fun, exciting, meaningful and whole bunch of other adjectives. 🙂
Karen Helton Marsal says
WOW! I’m soooo excited for you although not one bit surprised! Can hardly wait to get one!!!! Autographed??
Jackie Garvin says
Karen,
I would be honored to autograph a cookbook(s) for you. 🙂
sandradavisalltheway says
I can’t wait to have your cookbook on my shelf Jackie!! You’re a natural at this, so have fun and don’t get too stressed out! Yay!!
Jackie Garvin says
Sandra,
I think of you and your sweet family all the time. Happy New Year!
Amy Wren says
I’m so happy for you, Mom!
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Amos! <3
nettie says
I am so thrilled for you and can’t wait for my copy! Nettie Moore or Less Cooking
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Nettie!
Jackie P. says
Congratulation Jackie! What a great adventure for you! Best of luck as you write your book.
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Jackie!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy every single second of the enormous amount of work involved in putting out a book. 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Maureen! I’m up for the challenge and not afraid of hard work. I’m a goal driven individual so meeting deadlines puts me in my comfort zone. Some people may even go so far as to describe me as a Type A personality. 🙂
Chris Thomas says
Congratulations! I don’t believe in luck, so may I wish you God’s blessings on your endeavor. ^_^
Jackie Garvin says
Chris,
God’s hands are all over this project. Thank you for the well wishes.
Cathy Riggs says
You are one of my favorite food bloggers with your “recipestories” and I am absolutely thrilled that you are writing a cookbook. What an exciting adventure and I can’t wait to get a copy to add to my cookbook collection. Congrats, this opportunity for you is well deserved!
Jackie Garvin says
Cathy,
Thank you so much for your sweet words of encouragement. 🙂
lolasanrose says
Congratulation! Wishing you the very best! A cookbook. Go girl!
Jackie Garvin says
Lolasanrose, thank you so very much!
Shari Keen says
I’m so excited about your venture and I plan to “live it” along with you…..if one of those deadline times you don’t have time for a quick, pop in the oven meal……or even PB&J…..just give me a call. I’ll deliver!!!!
Jackie Garvin says
You are such a sweetheart! So blessed to call you friend.
eryl hadler says
CONGRATULATIONS JACKIE… YOUVE WORKED HARD & DESERVE IT. HAPPY NEW YEAR
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you so much, Eryl! I took a photo yesterday, that I hope gets included in the cookbook , that had two sets of cups and saucers that both came from you. Happy New Year!
Jill Van Vlack says
Wishing you much success on your cook book! I am super excited for you. I hope you can fell all of the well wishes.
Jill Van Vlack says
I hit the send key too quickly before I could correct my misspell (I hope you can feel the well wishes is what I wanted to say) I look forward to your recipes and the stories and the love you will be sharing in this book
Jackie Garvin says
Awwww, thank thank you so much, Jill! You have been very supportive all along. It means the world to me. 🙂
Mary ann says
Congratulations!!! How very exciting. One of the things I love about your blog and your recipes is that its so real.You share real recipes real families eat. I am never disappointed and always enjoy the results!! I will look forward to the cookbook, I hate all these printed recipes shoved into a binder!
Jackie Garvin says
Mary Ann,
Thank you for your constant support! You’re comments are always uplifting! :
Mary says
What exciting news…….great way to start 2014! Wishing you all the success, you truly deserve it. Love the recipe!
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you so much, Mary! I always enjoy your comments. 🙂
glyndaGlynda says
I still haven’t figured out how to print your recipes in Print Friendly print. Please tell me how this works so I can print the recipes. Thanks
Jackie Garvin says
Glynda,
If you click on the Print Friendly button and a new screen doesn’t appear, it’s either because your browser is outdated or your firewall is blocking it. So you have someone on your end that can look at your security settings and make sure your browser is update? What are you using for a browser?