Cooking a Belgian cuisine

This past weekend, we experimented in cooking a local Belgian cuisine that we often enjoy while visiting the Flanders region of Belgium:  Flemish-Style Beef Stew with Beer. 

 

 

The stew is pictured here with 2 slices of bread.  This is the last step before eating.  The bread is used to help soak up some of the juices and thicken the sauce.  

 

We poured a nice Chimay Rouge into the pot to simmer with the meat.  Any dark Belgian beer is acceptable.   Also, attached to the string is a handful of fresh herbs called a bouquet garni in French.   The bouquet was made up of fresh parsley, bay leaves, and thyme.   

 

While in my opinion the stew doesn't exactly have the best presentation, the taste of the beer and herbs more than makes up for it. 

 

 

Homemade Peasant Bread

 

For the recipe, click here

 

 

 

and a Strawberry Trifle for dessert!

 

 

We all went to bed with full and happy tummies!