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#Low-fat version of John's Disappearing Beef

##Author: John Dillon / Eliz## Serves 4

###Ingredients###

• 8 medallions of beef
• Madeira
• brandy
• beef broth
• evaporated skim milk
• orange juice (or orange zest)
• beef boulion cubes

##Cooking##

1. If the beef is not a very tender cut, pound it to tenderize. Put the beef in a crockpot, and cover with beef broth and a healthy dose of the Madeira. Let it stew on medium heat for several hours, until the beef is cooked and tender. (If the beef is of a very good cut, just marinate it in the broth and Madiera.)
2. After the beef is cooked. remove it from the crockpot and set aside. Take the liquid from the crockpot, and use a gravy separator to skim off the fat. Place the skimmed liquid into a saucepan on the stove and reduce it by half. (Use the marinade if you didn't use the crockpot)
3. After the liquid is reduced by half, add brandy and orange juice and reduce by half again. Check it and see if you want to add more Madeira.
4. Add a boulion cube or two. Once it's disolved, add the evaporated milk and turn down the heat to avoid curdling. Reduce again to let the sauce thicken, and add the medallions back in to reheat them before serving. If needed, thicken the sauce with breadcrumbs. If it separated or curdled, whiz it through a blender to smooth it out. (If you didn't pre-cook the medallions, cook them to your taste in another pan and then add them just before serving, or serve them with the sauce on the side).

John Dillon makes a full-fat version of this in big pans for potlucks using heavy cream in place of the evaporated skim milk.

#Full Fat Version#

###Madeira Sauce:###

• 1/2 cup Madeira
• 1/2 cup Burgundy
• 1/4 cup Brandy

Reduce by half

• add 1 1/2 cup OJ

Reduce by half

• add 1/2 pint heavy cream

Reduce by half

• whisk in 2 Tbsp cornstarch

Let cool

• add 3 Tbsp Sour Cream

Reheat and serve

###Beef:###

• 3-4 lbs top round or tenderloin sliced in half horizontally
• 2-3 Tbsp grey poupon mustard spread on beef
• 1-2 tsp cracked pepper spread on beef

###Stuffing:###

• 6 strips bacon fried and removed
• 1 cup shallots fried in bacon grease till translucent
• 2 cups mushrooms chopped and fried with shallots until tender

crumble bacon and mix with shallots and mushrooms in mixing bowl

####Add the folowing:####

• 2 kosher dills choped fine
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 2 Tbsp fresh chopped thyme
• 2 tsp fresh shopped sage
• 2 tsp fresh chopped marjoram
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp salt

1. add water until it has a smooth consistency
2. place stuffing in beef
3. decorate top with pats of butter and bay leaves

• Bake in a metal or glass pan for 35-45 minutes at 375 oven
• Slice, pour sauce over beef and serve.