Okra Stew with beef

It's been a while since we posted....sorry about that.  Life has a way of getting in the way. We hope you are all well and ready to get back into some serious cooking with us.  This post will feature one of our favorite vegetables, okra...yes really!
Okra is not too popular with the general public.  It is, however a main ingredient in Southern cooking as well as Indian foods.  May we suggest you give this dish a try and let the okra do the talking.  This dish can be made with beef or chicken, the okra will taste great with any meat.

Okra Stew with Beef

1.5 pounds of stewing beef
1 onion chopped fine
3 garlic cloves grated
1 -2 bags of frozen baby whole okra
1 14oz can of chopped tomatoes
3 fresh plum tomatoes, chopped
Salt, pepper and marak off according to taste
1.5 tsp turmeric

1. Chop the onion, start sauteing in a tablespoon of olive oil, gradually add the grated garlic
2. While the onion and garlic are cooking, add 1.5 tps turmeric, salt and pepper
3. Add the beef and cook well with the onions and garlic
4. Add the chopped tomatoes now and let them wilt, add 3 cups of boiling water with a tbsp of chicken stock powder (we prefer Osem or Telma)
5. After about 10 minutes add the can of chopped tomatoes, you can also add a tsp of hot pepper flakes for a nice kick
6. Meanwhile, defrost the okra, run some water over them and throw them into the stew
7. Let everything cook together, stir every now and then, adjust the seasoning to your taste
8. Serve over white Persian style rice

Here is a typical Israeli dairy dessert that you are going to love once you have mastered it.  Beautiful to look at (sorry no photos yet) and delicious to eat.  Don't let the instructions intimidate you. Just go step by step and let it come together.....

Israeli Three Layer Cake

1st layer - 1 chocolate pudding, 5 eggs, 4 tbsp white sugar
(this layer can be a boxed cake mix, just use milk instead of water )

1. Separate the eggs, mix the pudding into he bowl of yolks
2. Whisk the whites with he sugar until stiff
3. Fold them together...slowly
4. Bake at 325 for 25 minutes and then let it cool

2nd layer - 1 Instant vanilla pudding, 1 container of heavy cream 4oz, 1.5 cups of milk

1. Whisk together everything together and put on top of the 1st layer
2. Refrigerate

3rd layer - 4oz semi sweet chocolate (we like Elite), 1 container of heavy cream 4oz, 3 tbsp milk
                   1 tbsp corn starch

1. Melt the chocolate in double boiler method
2. Mix the milk and corn starch in a little dish and add it to the chocolate mixture to thicken,
    remove from heat
3. Let it cool down for a few minutes and then pour it into the cake
4. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving

Enjoy

Hagit and Dafna