Beef Pot Roast

With work, kids, and driving them around, it is really difficult to cook. I aim to cook about 5 days a week, eat leftover for lunch and one night for dinner, then eat out one day. That's why I've gotten to LOVE the Instant Pot. With it, I can still feed my kids nutritious meals while I am on the go. On my day off last Friday, this is was my schedule:

8am Drop kids off at school
8:30am Go on a run
9:30am Eat breakfast and do volunteer work for elementary school
10:30am Host prayer meeting
12pm Pick up elementary school and make lunch
1pm Drop off J at a friend's house for playdate and stop by Ranch 99 to pick up a few things for tonight's dinner
2pm K's doctor's appt 3pm Middle school pick up
3:30pm Pick up second child from playdate
3:45pm Sear pot roast and pop in Instant Pot
4pm Drive C to piano lesson and then run errands
5pm Pick up from piano lesson
5:30pm Check on pot roast and added in potatoes, carrots, etc.
6pm J has basketball practice, but a neighbor will take him. So then I made a veggie for myself 6:15pm Dinner for half of the family
7pm Small group Bible Study

Usually my work day is also this pack. I have to drive them to their activities three out of five weekdays. So Instant Pot is my go to equipment to put food on the table fast. They all loved this Pot Roast recipe. I hope you enjoy this recipe and are inspired to make healthy food for your family.  This recipe is also good to bring to potluck because you can put in as many potatoes as you want.

Beef Pot Roast

Ingredients

3-4 lbs Beef chunk (any cut)
2-3 lbs Potatoes (or any amount you like)
3 Carrots
Some mushrooms small onion diced
2 clove garlic minced
2 TBS oil
2 TBS Tomato paste
1/4c Red Wine
2c Beef broth
1-2 TBS cornstarch with water
Green onion or parsley for garnish

1. In the morning or day before, rub salt and pepper over the beef.
2. In the IP, put on "Saute" mode, when the display says Hot, it’s ready. Put in oil or butter, sear the beef on both side until it’s mostly brown. Take the beef out.
3. Add more oil and saute 2 cloves of minced garlic and one small diced onion.
4. Then add in 2 TBS of tomato paste. Add in 1/4 red wine, 2 cups of beef broth to deglaze the pot.
5. Then put the beef back in and then close the lid and set on meat function and cook for 50 mins.
6. After that, see if you like the texture of the meat.  If you do take it out.  I took it out because I like to have some chew to it.  If you want it softer, leave it in and all in potatoes, carrots, and mushroom to cook for another 3 mins. After that remove the beef, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms.
7. Taste the liquid and season it if it is needed.
8. Turn the IP to "Saute" again and use cornstarch with a bit of water to make gravy with the liquid. Then serve and garnish with parsley or green onion.

Chinese braised beef with tendons

I've been so busy this year that I haven't update this blog.  Since so many people want this recipe, I thought this is the best place to share it.  I didn't take pictures while I cooked since I didn't plan to share it.  Make a comment here if you have questions about the instruction.

This dish is truly Chinese comfort food.  If cooked correctly, the tendons are soft and beef can be broken apart with a fork.  This is normally eaten with rice, but can be eaten with noodles or french bread.

Chinese Braised Beef with Tendons

Ingredients
1.5 lbs      Beef tendon (cut into 2" cube)
2.5 lbs      Beef (any kind good for stew)
15 oz        Beef broth (approx)
10 slices   Ginger
3 stalks     Green onion (chop one stalk for garnish, the rest cut into 2" section)
3 carrots   Carrots (cut into BIG chunks, can be more if you like them)
1               Tomato (slice)
2 TBS       Tomato paste
alittle        Shaoxing wine
1 TBS       Oil

Instruction for Instant Pot (IP):
1. Boil a pot of water with 5 slices of ginger and the 2 stalks of green onion. Blanche tendons for 3-5 mins.  Do not throw away the water, we will need it to blanche the beef.
2. Remove tendons and season with a bit of salt.  Add tendons to IP and add enough beef broth to cover the tendons (it can be more or less that the 15 oz indicated).  Set it on meat mode and cook for 25 mins.
3. When tendon is about done, blanche the beef in the same pot of water you used for tendons until no more blood on the beef.
4. In a wok or a pot, heat oil.
5. Add in the ginger to fry it a bit.  Then add in the tomato.
6.  Then add in the tomato paste stir fry until warm and then add in a little bit of Shaoxing wine.
7.  Add in the blanche beef so that the tomato paste will coat the beef.
8.  When the tendons are done, pour out the meat juice into the tomato beef pan to deglaze that pot.
9. Pour the tomato beef pot into IP where the tendons are.  Add a tiny bit of salt.
10.  Add in carrots.
11.  Set it on meat mode and reduce time to 25 mins.
12.  After it is done, do quick release and taste the sauce.  Add more salt if needed.  If you like thick sauces, you can set it on saute mode to bring the content to a boil and add in a cornstarch and water mixture.  I usually think that the sauce is thick enough since the tendon is a thickening agent.

Enjoy!

Instruction for regular pot
1. Boil a pot of water with 5 slices of ginger and the 2 stalks of green onion. Blanche tendons for 3-5 mins.  Do not throw away the water, we will need it to blanche the beef.
2. Remove tendons and season with a bit of salt.  Add tendons to another pot and add enough beef broth to cover the tendons (it can be more or less that the 15 oz indicated).  Cook on medium high for 30 mins, then turn down the heat to medium to stew for at least 30 mins.  I usually use cast iron pot as it retain heat and stew very efficiently.  Add more beef broth if liquid is low.
3. When tendon is about done, blanche the beef in the same pot of water you used for tendons until no more blood on the beef.
4. In a wok or a pot, heat oil.
5. Add in the ginger to fry it a bit.  Then add in the tomato.
6.  Then add in the tomato paste stir fry until warm and then add in a little bit of Shaoxing wine.
7.  Add in the blanche beef so that the tomato paste will coat the beef.
8.  Pour out some of the meat juice from the tendons into the tomato beef pan to deglaze that pot.
9. Pour the tomato beef pot into the pot where the tendons are.  Add a tiny bit of salt.
10.  Add in carrots.
11.  Set it on medium high heat to stew for about 45 mins.  How long you cook this time depends on your pot and stove.  Check to make sure the beef and tendons are as soft as you like it.
12.  After it is done, taste the sauce.  Add more salt if needed.  If you like thick sauce, you can add in a cornstarch and water mixture.  I usually think that the sauce is thick enough since the tendon is a thickening agent.

A Desperate Plea for My Boy

There seems to constantly be bad news about C's teeth.  We started his orthodontic journey two years ago and till this day, there is no end in sight.  In fact, it got worst.  I couldn't sleep for the past few days and got up at 3 am this morning.  

On Saturday, H took C to see the Endodontist recommended by Harry regarding his permanent tooth that has been loose for over a year now.  It turned out that his own body has been attacking that tooth and causing the root to erode away.  Apparently, there was trama to that tooth.  It was either from the side way canine or the many oral surgeries that he had, of course, doctors don’t want to tell us so they won’t be liable.  We waited for so long after the surgery for the tooth to stabilize and it didn’t.  But in the mean time it is eroding away.  The orthodontist doesn’t know how to move forward with his treatment at this point since she can’t use the front teeth as anchor to pull the jaw out.  Then, she thought that she can push the jaw back.  However, if this is done, he will have lots of spaces that need implants, which can’t be done until he is 18.  She originally took out some teeth in the front so she can pull everything forward.  It seemed like taking C to the orthodontist is causing more harm than good.  My lack of judgement and not speak up more for him has brought this onto him and cause him to suffer unnecessarily. The Endodontist's plan is to give him a root canal and inject calcium something into the root to stop the erosion and hopefully promote bone growth.  Will this save his tooth?  She can't promise.  Will it be strong enough for the Orthodontist to continue treatment?  She doesn't know.  But this is the only thing she can think of to do.  So now all orthodontic work will cease until further result from the Endodontist.   How will we finish his oral treatment? No one knows.  I feel so hopeless.  One thing I am thankful for is that his issues are not life threatening.  

On my morning run is past Sunday, I was so emotional that I couldn't run much due to all the crying. I said to God, "I prayed the very first time C had surgery and every time after that.  How come you didn't hear me?"  I went to church feeling emotional and burdened.  H led worship that day. Not knowing that I was distraught, he started out saying, "Sometimes we treat God like a Santa Claus, we expect Him to bring us gifts.  If He is not going to answer our prayers from this day forward, would we still love Him and worship Him?"  Tears streamed down my face, thankfully no one saw me, and I knew that I have no right to expect anything from God.  He already gave me the ultimate gift of His Son.  Jesus died on the cross for me and brought me unconditional love and acceptance from my heavenly Father.  What right do I have to demand anything?  In fact, I owe Him everything.  Yes, He is still worthy of my all.  But I begged that He would step in to help C. Even though, I shouldn't have spoken to God that way, He forgave me, sympathized with my pain, and offered me comfort.  It felt as if He spoke to me and me alone.

At the beginning of last week, I was working on Sunday School homework in the book called Women of Simplicity.  There was an exercise to find verses that would keep us grounding in God’s word and truth.  Somehow, I stumbled across Exodus 14:14.  So I tucked this verse away. At Sunday School, I forgot to bring my book, but we went around sharing those verses that we found, of all the verses, this verse came up in my mind.  When I read it that day, it seems as if God used it to speak to me.  Exodus 14:13-14 says “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt and in front of them was the Red Sea and behind them the Egyptian army in pursue.  They had no where to go.  God fought for them and opened up a way.  I felt so comforted by this verse.  Although I don't know what else to do, God will fight for C and lead me.  He knew I needed this verse today, so He gave it to me in advance.  He is so good. 

I am writing to ask you all, who are my prayer partners and faithful friends, to pray for C with me.  Please pray that the root canal method will stabilize his tooth and make it strong.  Also that the Orthodontist would be able to complete her work of pulling his teeth and jaw forward or whatever method that will cause the least amount of discomfort and also preserve his good teeth.  I believe God can still work miracles even though the situation may not be so bright.  Just like when Lazarus was sick, Jesus could have said a word and healed him.  But He didn't and waited until Lazarus died before He went to save him.  Because raising the dead was a miracle that only God can perform.  That act not only saved Lazarus, but it also showed His power.  If his tooth healed on its own, the doctors would say that the body healed itself.  If God heals him now, it is a work of a miracle.  May God be glorified and His power shine through in C's journey.