Always a family favorite: beef stew and warm rolls.

Beef stew and warm rolls are a great finish to a fun-filled spring weekend.

Your Menu: Serves 6

Beef Stew
Four-Grain Rolls

Vanilla yogurt topped with sliced strawberries

Ice water with lemon slices

Test Kitchen Tips:

Save time by purchasing beef stew meat already cut up from your grocery store's meat department.

Late spring and summer are great times to purchase fresh herbs. Make sure not to refrigerate fresh basil (the colder temperature will cause the leaves to darken. Place the bunch in a jar filled with enough water to reach the stems. Store on the counter at room temperature. If using dried herbs, crush after measuring with a mortar and pestle or rub herb between your thumb and index finger to crush.

When making yeast rolls, create a warm place for the yeast dough to rise by placing a bowl filled with hot water in the cold oven. Place the covered bowl and then the covered, shaped rolls in the oven. The hot water will create a warm, moist environment perfect for allowing the roll dough to rise.

Store extra rolls in a covered container at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze in a freezer container up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving, or wrap in foil and reheat in a 350 degrees F. oven for 10 minutes.

Shopping List:

For Stew

• 1 pound boneless beef chuck roast
• 2 14-ounce cans beef broth
• 1 package fresh oregano (or 1 container dried oregano)
• 1 package fresh basil (or 1 container dried basil)
• 2 Yukon gold or other potatoes
• 1 16-ounce package frozen cut green beans
• 1 1-pound package carrots
• 1 bunch celery
• 1 15- to 16-ounce can great Northern beans
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 small yellow summer squash or zucchini
• 2 8-ounce containers vanilla yogurt
• 1 pint strawberries
• 1 lemon

For Rolls

• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1 dozen eggs
• 1 package rye flour
• 1 container regular rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
• 1 package whole bran cereal

Pantry Items:

For Stew

• cooking oil
• Worcestershire sauce
• ground black pepper

For Rolls

• granulated sugar
• cooking oil
• salt
• all-purpose flour
• shortening for greasing

Equipment Needed:

For Stew

• cutting board and knife
• measuring cups and spoons
• can opener
• kitchen scissors for snipping fresh herb, if using
• colander or fine mesh sieve
• 4-quart Dutch oven with lid
• wooden spoon

For Rolls

• measuring cups and spoons
• 2 large mixing bowls
• wooden spoon
• electric mixer
• rubber spatula
• wooden board or pastry cloth
• dish cloth to cover bowl with dough
• 2-1/2-inch muffin cups or baking sheets
• wire racks

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