Meat-and-potatoes: Elsa's Cider Beef with Cheddar Smashed Potatoes
This is a perfect fall recipe using fall flavors. I made it as soon as I brought home my 50 pounds of Kennebec potatoes and 50 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes from the family farm of my childhood friend, Debbie (Davis) Crawford. I wrote about the Davis sisters at the Davis Bros. Farm last year and reprinted the story here . The cider makes the beef incredibly flavorful. I'm sharing this so you can savor it too. I also like how the stew is served in a bowl of mashed potatoes. This is food for meat-and-potatoes men, but the cider and white-cheddar potatoes give it a gourmet flair. My business partner told me her husband would love it. I have to plan to have them over for dinner. ELSA'S CIDER BEEF WITH CHEDDAR SMASHED POTATOES 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 3 tablespoons butter 2 pounds top sirloin, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 large onion, chopped 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 1 pound turnip...