Beef Stew and Panic Attacks

I should be writing about this crock pot beef stew:

and the way it filled my house with the most wonderful smells and made me wonder if there is such a thing as a beef stew scented candle. Instead of providing you with that literary gem, I’m sitting in bed watching Breaking Amish…

(Is anyone as obsessed with this show as I am?!)

…and sticking a million lollipops into this thing:

It will eventually become the centerpiece for the kids table at the wedding if it doesn’t topple over from the extreme weight of all these lollipops. I already went through 5 bags of dum-dums which means there are over 150 lollipops on this thing. And I still need about two more bags! Tutorial coming soon!

Our wedding is in 95 (!!!!!!) days and I am completely fah-reaking out! With the holidays right around the corner I know these next three months are just going to fly by and I still have so much to do. Today when I told the Mister the actual number of days until the big one he just stopped and gave me this wide-eyed look. I think it’s the first time he’s looked even remotely nervous about all of this, which makes me freak out just a little bit more. I need him to be calm! If he’s not calm there must be something to actually worry about!

Because it’s not like totally DIYing a wedding for over 100 people is anything to stress about. Piece of cake! Right?

Excuse me while I go have a panic attack. Oh yeah, here’s that beef stew recipe I promised…

Ingredients

1-2lbs stew meat
½ cup flour
2 cloves garlic (minced)
½ tsp each salt & pepper
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 cups beef broth
½ cup red wine (plus more for drinking!)
1 yellow onion (chopped)
1 bag baby carrots
2 large potatoes (peeled and cubed)

Directions

1. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl and add meat. Completely coat meat and add to a hot frying pan.
2. Brown the meat and remove from pan. Add onions to the pan and cook until slightly translucent.
3. Pour red wine in skillet to deglaze and transfer everything to the crock pot.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients to the crock pot (carrots, potatoes, W sauce, and broth) and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

*The meat was so tender that after 6 hours on low it started to shred slightly, but was still delicious. You may have to reduce the time if that is not what you want.