Au jus prep beef concentrate

I have to tell you about products that I did not find at Trader Joe's.  Carfagnas is our Italian market where many wonderful items present themselves in a small amount of space.  Three or four butchers take your number and cut your meat to order.  I try to bring home something I have not tried before and Minor's au jus prep beef and also chicken base give dishes a great appeal. It is so good.  I have added it to almost everything, well, not ice-cream.  It is a thick paste-like substance with no jiggle and it is perfect. I keep it in the fridge.  You won't believe what it does for soups and stews and casseroles.

We've had no winter to speak of and that suits me just fine.  We are planning dates of special occasions and that includes Easter.  We will celebrate 61 years of marriage, Easter, Carly and Brooks marriage, Andrew and Brittany's coming nuptials, the green grass, the sun, and the gathering of family. You can bet Minors au jus prep beef and chicken will appear in some form or other.  

I look forward to Monday nights at 10:00 on public television when Escape to the Chateau is on.  I LOVE that show and discovered you can watch episodes on Youtube.  From there I discovered a different show called the same or nearly so that features other families that have bought these run-down chateaus in southern France for nearly nothing and are in the process of fixing them up to offer weddings, tea rooms, tastings, cooking lessons...ways to make money for restorations and living expenses in a place where there are 28 or even 45 bedrooms. On my favorite is a red-haired designer and her multi-talented husband who seems to be able to do anything.  It is amazing to see all that he is capable of doing and she is really special.  Don't miss this show. Oh, they also visit flea markets and find the most wonderful items to fill their rooms at very low give-away prices.  I remember those flea markets well in France and England. Sigh. I must say Escape is about over for this season (I think one more to go) but catch up on Youtube.