Beef with Shiitake Mushroom Sauce

INGREDIENTS

2 (4 ounce) beef tenderloin steaks (1 inch thick)
1 1/2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced and divided
1 1/2 cups water
1 (.5 ounce) package dried shiitake mushrooms (about 1/2 cup)
cooking spray
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
2/3 cup sliced green onions
2 cups hot cooked long-grain rice

DIRECTIONS

Trim fat from steaks. Combine hoisin sauce, wine, ginger, and 1 garlic clove in a shallow dish. Add the steaks; cover and marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning steaks occasionally.

Combine water and mushrooms in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 30 minutes. Remove mushrooms from pan with a slotted spoon, reserving liquid. Discard mushroom stems; cut caps into quarters, and set aside. Bring mushroom liquid to a boil; cook until reduced to 1/3 cup (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat. Remove steaks from marinade; add marinade to reduced mushroom liquid; set aside.

Prepare grill or broiler.

Place steaks on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray; cook 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Set aside and keep warm.

Heat the sesame oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, green onions, and 1 garlic clove; saute 2 minutes. Add marinade mixture, and cook 2 minutes.

Cut the steaks diagonally across grain into thin slices. Arrange steak on each of 2 plates, and top with mushroom sauce. Serve with cooked rice.

Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

INGREDIENTS

2 (1 1/4 - 1 1/2 lb.) flank steaks
1/2 c. soy sauce (low sodium)
1/2 c. oriental sesame oil
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Fresh ground pepper
2 med. garlic cloves, crushed

DIRECTIONS

Place in non aluminum pan. Whisk soy, oil, vinegar and generous amount of pepper in medium bowl. Cover pan tightly and refrigerate 24 hours, turning steaks occasionally. Barbecue high heat 4 minutes per side (medium rare). Transfer to platter and let rest 5 minutes.

Beef and Guiness Stew

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds lean stewing beef
3 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons flour
Salt and freshly ground pepper and a pinch of cayenne
2 large onions, coarsely chopped
1 large clove garlic, crushed (optional)
2 tablespoons tomato puree, dissolved in 4 tablespoons water
1-1/4 cups Guinness stout beer
2 cups carrots, cut into chunks
Sprig of thyme

DIRECTIONS

Trim the meat of any fat or gristle, cut into cubes of 2 inches (5cm) and toss them in a bowl with 1 tablespoon oil. Season the flour with salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch or two of cayenne. Toss the meat in the mixture.

Heat the remaining oil in a wide frying pan over a high heat. Brown the meat on all sides. Add the onions, crushed garlic and tomato puree to the pan, cover and cook gently for about 5 minutes.

Transfer the contents of the pan to a casserole, and pour some of the Guinness into the frying pan. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the caramelized meat juices on the pan.

Pour onto the meat with the remaining Guinness; add the carrots and the thyme. Stir, taste, and add a little more salt if necessary.

Cover with the lid of the casserole and simmer very gently until the meat is tender -- 2 to 3 hours. The stew may be cooked on top of the stove or in a low oven at 300 degrees F. Taste and correct the seasoning. Scatter with lots of chopped parsley.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings