Beef Tips-LeAnn Style

On tonight's menu, we have beef tips over rice. I got the rice (Uncle Ben's, of course)started while the Intruders were singing Love is like baseball (3 strikes you're out, but apparently I didn't learn this lesson, and went for a 4th and even possibly a 5th. Time to get a clue, huh?)
Then on to a pound of pretty stew meat that I cut into small pieces while War wondered Why Can't We Be Friends? Next I diced an onion, and sauteed in a little olive oil. I then set the onion aside and tossed in the meat, while Stevie Wonder serenaded me with Sir Duke. Once the meat was browned, I removed it and let it mingle with the onions (how you durrin?), and hearing Diana Ross (accompanied by the Temps) crooning Someday We'll Be Together (keep dreaming, sister), I added 2 cups of water to the pan to deglaze, and dumped in 2 pkgs brown gravy mix, whisking fervently to remove lumps. Toss in a small palmfull of dried bell peppers, and let simmer a few minutes, whisking as needed. At this point, Cheryl Lynn is singing Got To Be Real (and I wholeheartedly agree). Meat, onions, into the gravy! I had to add a little extra water, because you don't want it too thick with all that beef, as it has to distribute well over all that rice.
Now we simmer for about 10 minutes or so, just to make sure all the flavors marry. You may add mushrooms at this point, but since they went on the pizza last night, I'm fresh out.

Wondering about that aforementioned pizza? Let me give you a quick rundown:

Frozen pizza from Target (Buffalo mozzarella and sun-dried tomato). I added marinated artichokes, pepperoni, fresh basil and rosemary (all supplied by Dan), grated cheddar (because I didn't have any mozzarella), fresh grated parmesan, and sliced mushrooms. Onto the pizza stone and into the oven. 8 mins later, into our stomachs! Got all my pictures, sconces, etc. hung on my walls and my apartment is now my lovely home! Thanks, Dan. You're a peach. Even my landlord, who came over with his little german helper lady, said it looks beautiful. Think I'll light some candles tonight just to see how pretty it is.

Ok, the rice is almost done, the tips are done, I have a glass of cabernet/shiraz (this is from one of Target's cubes--love those!), and James Brown is grunting on the TV. Time to change the channel, lol.

L