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Ingredients

2 pounds lean stew beef
1 cup red wine
4 sprigs fresh parsley
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
4 tablespoons butter
1 onion, sliced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 cup beef broth
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
4 ounces bacon, chopped
12 small onions
4 ounces button mushrooms, sliced

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine beef, wine, parsley, thyme and bay leaf. Let marinate for 3 hours.

Remove beef; strain and reserve marinade. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Saute the sliced onion until tender. Stir in beef, and cook until evenly brown. Remove beef and onion; set aside. Add flour to pan, and cook, stirring, until brown. Slowly stir in beef broth, then the reserved marinade. Return the beef mixture to the pan. Cover, and simmer for 3 hours.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium high heat, Stir in the bacon and small onions, and saute until onions are tender. Add mushrooms, and continue cooking until mushrooms are golden brown. Serve as a garnish.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons Dijon-style prepared mustard
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 cups seedless green grapes

Directions

Combine mustard, soy sauce, honey and vinegar. Set sauce aside.

In a 9 x 13 inch pan, combine garlic and oil. Place chicken in pan skin side down.

If using thighs, bake covered at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 minutes. If using breasts, bake covered at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Uncover, and turn chicken pieces over. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until no longer pink in center, about 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle grapes over chicken, and bake 5 minutes longer. Remove from oven, and arrange chicken and grapes on platter. Pass sauce when serving.

Ingredients

1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch slices
3 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2/3 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, and salt. Mix in cucumbers, and marinate 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Gently toss tomatoes, onion, mint, and olive oil with the marinated cucumbers. Season with salt and pepper.

Ingredients

1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup rice wine
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
1/2 small red onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
3 tablespoons sliced lemon grass
3 tablespoons crushed peanuts
3 tablespoons chile paste
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 pounds flank steak

Directions

In a large bowl, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, lime juice and sesame oil. Stir in onion, basil, mint, lemon grass and crushed peanuts. Season with chile paste, coriander and garlic salt.

Layer flank steak with marinade. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat, and lightly oil grate.

Spray a large sheet of aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray. Drain liquid from marinade. Layer meat on foil with the remaining non-liquid marinade ingredients. Fold edges of foil to seal, then grill for 20 minutes.