A Special Meal...Beef Stew w/Mashed Potatoes and Flourless Chocolate Cake

Papa Ron is in town for our "Christmas.."  I consulted one of my go-to cookbooks...Deliciously G-Free by Elizabeth Hassllebeck; she doesn't know it, but she has been one of my gurus in this process. If you are gluten free, read her book...she has GREAT recipes AND tips on organizing your kitchen.  We made a delicious meal, modified from her "Beef Stew" recipe....
Beef and Sweet Potato Stew w/Mashed Potatoes

2 lbs stew meat, diced/chopped (Angus is best)
1/4 cup brown rice flour
 salt and pepper
1 TBSP canola oil
2 TBSP tomato paste or ketchup
2 slices of g-free bacon, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
4 cups g-free beef broth
1/2 cup red wine (dry)
 1 large onion, sliced
One large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
4-5 carrots, peeled and cubed
parsley for presentation

Salt the stew meat.
Mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Coat the stew meat in the mixture.
Brown the stew meat in hot oil, about 5-8 minutes.
Remove the meat and put on a plate.
To the oil, add onion, garlic, and bacon. Let it soften and simmer.
Scrape the beef bits, and then add the wine.
Let simmer for 5 mins. or so. It is the best smell !!!!!
Add the stew meat back in, then add beef broth...simmer at med/high heat for about 30-45 minutes.
Add your carrots and sweet pots.
Simmer for an additional 30 minutes, until everything is fork-tender.

G-Free Mashed Pots
I winged this....
4 russet potatoes
4-5 TBSP Greek yogurt
3 TBSP butter
Oklahoma Joe's fry seasoning....oh yeah, baby
garlic salt
salt
pepper

Peel and chop your potatoes.
Boil in salted water for about 15-20 minutes.
 Drain the water and blend, with a mixer, with the yogurt and butter.
Add garlic salt, OK Joe's seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.

Top the mashed pots with your stew, then sprinkle with parsley to look all official-like.

Flourless Chocolate Cake 

Ummmmm...delicious.  That's all I can say.
4 oz. baking chocolate (we used Ghiarrdeli...yummy)
8 TBSP butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. sea salt
3 eggs
2 TBSP cooled, strong coffee
1/4 cup baking cocoa

Follow package directions to melt the chocolate.
Add butter and whisk until smooth.
 Whisk in eggs, then cooled coffee.
Mix and whisk the cocoa.

Butter a spring-form pan. Pour the mixture in.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until the top looks dry.





Strawberry Topping
We cut strawberries and tossed with 4-5 TBSP of sugar. Then we let it "marinate" for about 2 hours. Uh, yum.

Top the cake with powdered sugar and strawberry topping.
Whisk sugar and salt