beef stew, how I love thee

Am I losing my mind or has beef prices gone through the ceiling?  I asked Andy to pick up a chuck roast, expecting to have him come home with buy one get one free or at least inexpensively, but he brought in a roast about the size of a greeting card envelope and it was expensive even on sale.  Looks like more pork for the Lechlers.  We like it anyway, so until prices even out again, we will be having pork or chicken.  Nevertheless, with that tiny roast the dish looks delicious with large potatoes and carrots and peas.  (I am making some Basmati rice for those shying away from potatoes now days.) I put red wine in the slow cooker with the things I described and it mellowed into a lovely sauce with fairly tender chuck roast.

Andy likes Kroger and we have a growing list almost every day, so off he goes.  He does really well unless it is something hauntingly rare and elusive such as oyster sauce.  He has never come home with that yet. He did really well with 2 large heads of radicchio for $5.00 last week.  I used one head in with the cabbage dish that I made for Beth yesterday. It turned out pretty and delicious.

Brooks has arrived in the Middle East, I guess I am not supposed to say where and even if I knew they sometimes are not where they say they really are. Prayers would be appreciated, with thanks.  I hope your winter is pleasant.  David sent a message to remind me to let the water drip this weekend in the mother-in-law suite so the pipes won't freeze.  That bathroom is one cold mother!