Who’s in the kitchen:DMV…Delectable Meat and Vegetable stew

The DMV is something of a cliché. DMV jokes are so numerous, that the government has actually changed the name in various states. The list of jokes have gotten so long it’s actually longer than the actual lines at the DMV.

So, needless to say, I wasn’t happy when I had to go to the DMV to renew my registration, which came about in a humorous way. My husband handed me a ticket for an expired inspection of his car. All at once I lost my temper. “Jerry” I exclaimed, “you did the same thing last year and the year before. You don’t wait till you get a ticket, you actually check the month it’s due and get it inspected before then. This better not happen next year,” I warned. The next day I noticed a ticket on my windshield. Turns out it was a ticket for an expired registration. I sheepishly called Jerry and asked if he needed a laugh and relayed my story. Boy did I mess up….boy am I never going to reprimand my husband again….unless he wears that jacket that has the blood resistant nylon lining in the back pockets for use when fishing or hunting……which of course he does neither of. Although, it’s really hard to get angry at him. Just ask the cop who stopped him for a broken light while on the way to Maariv to say Kaddish for his father. After putting his license through the computer he told Jerry his license had been revoked for not paying a parking ticket on his kid’s car. He could have had him arrested. Jerry innocently said he didn’t mind spending the night in jail, but he had to get to Maariv first, then he would go to jail. He explained that he had never missed saying the prayer for his deceased father all year. The cop retorted, “You can’t drive there, your license is revoked, remember?” To which Jerry, and only Jerry, replied, “Ok then officer, can you drive to me to the synagogue in Teaneck? It’s the only place where I can still make Maariv, which starts in five minutes. They have a late minyan, um prayer service, then you can drop me off at the police station.” The cop actually sheepishly said, “I’m going to walk away, you do what you have to do and then make sure you take care of your ticket and license.”…hmmm I never had such luck…..

So off I was to the DMV. The last time I was there was to renew my license, which I lost while on vacation a few years back. After waiting an eternity, I was called up to the window and told my Social Security number was incorrect. ”Really?” I said, “I’m sure it’s you who’s incorrect as I’ve been using this same SS number for my entire life.” “Well,” she said, “It’s not listed under your name.” “Oh,” I said, “that’s because it’s under my maiden name, Feig.” She explained the new rule that your SS card has to have your correct legal name listed. “OK, what proof do you need?” She said I would need to show proof my last name was Pollack. How ironic! I was married for 20 years and never changed my last name on my SS card and now that I was divorced and about to remarry in three months I would have to change my name, for three months, then change it again, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get a driver’s license. I called the SS office and asked what proof of ID I needed. I was told to bring my driver’s license, or my original marriage license… well, I didn’t have my driver’s license and couldn’t find my marriage license so I had to bring my passport to the SS office. Imagine my horror when I found out my passport expired the day before. So I had to go to the City Clerk’s Office and wait on line for two hours to get an official stamped copy of my marriage certificate to prove my last name was Pollack to bring it to the SS office to get a new card so I could renew my passport and receive a new driver’s license. Chad Gad Ya….

So what does my recipe have to do with the DMV? Simple….It’s Delectable Meat and Vegetable stew, enjoy ;)

Ingredients:

•2 pounds stew beef cubed

•1 cup chopped onions

•1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

•2 to 3 teaspoons vegetable oil

•2 cans beef broth

•hot water

•2 ½ cups diced potatoes

•2 ¼ cups diced carrots

•1 stalk celery, chopped

•2 tablespoons flour

•1/3 cup cold water

•2 cubes Dorit crushed garlic

•black pepper and salt to taste

Preparation:

Heat oil in a pot; add beef, salt and chopped onions. Cook over medium heat for about 12 minutes, until the meat is browned on all sides and onions are tender. Drain off excess fat. Add beef broth and enough hot water to the pot until liquid level is about 1 inch above the contents. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Add the potatoes, carrots, and celery. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 30 minutes longer, until vegetables are tender. To thicken the stew, combine the flour with 1/3 cup cold water; stir until smooth. Gently stir flour mixture into the pot a little at a time, using as much as needed to make the stew as thick as you prefer. Add pepper and taste for seasonings, adding more salt if necessary.

Judy Joszef is a pastry and personal chef as well as a party planner. She spent 18 years as a pastry chef, before launching her current business, Soiree. She can be reached at judy.soiree@gmail.com