here are complete recipes for all four so you can make (or eliminate!) whichever you want.
🥩 Beef Stew (Classic Hearty Style)
Ingredients
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2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1½-inch cubes
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2 tbsp flour
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Salt & black pepper
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2 tbsp olive oil
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1 onion, chopped
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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3 carrots, sliced
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3 potatoes, cubed
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2 celery stalks, sliced
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2 tbsp tomato paste
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4 cups beef broth
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1 cup red wine (optional)
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1 tsp dried thyme
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1 tsp dried rosemary
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2 bay leaves
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1 cup peas (optional)
Instructions
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Toss beef with flour, salt, and pepper.
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Heat oil in a large pot. Brown beef in batches; remove and set aside.
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Sauté onion and garlic 2–3 minutes.
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Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
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Add wine (if using) and scrape browned bits.
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Return beef to pot. Add broth, herbs, bay leaves. Bring to boil.
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Reduce to low, cover, simmer 1½ hours.
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Add carrots, potatoes, celery; simmer 30–40 more minutes until tender.
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Stir in peas last 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning and serve.
🍜 Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 onion, diced
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2 carrots, sliced
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2 celery stalks, sliced
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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8 cups chicken broth
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2 cups cooked shredded chicken
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2 cups egg noodles
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1 tsp dried thyme
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1 bay leaf
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Salt & pepper
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Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
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Heat oil in pot; sauté onion, carrots, celery 5 minutes.
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Add garlic; cook 30 seconds.
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Pour in broth, thyme, bay leaf. Bring to boil.
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Add noodles; cook according to package (8–10 minutes).
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Stir in chicken; simmer 5 minutes.
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Remove bay leaf, season, garnish with parsley.
🥣 Clam Chowder (Creamy New England Style)
Ingredients
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4 slices bacon, chopped
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1 onion, diced
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2 celery stalks, diced
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2 cloves garlic
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3 cups diced potatoes
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2 cups bottled clam juice
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2 cans (6–7 oz each) chopped clams, drained (reserve juice)
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2 tbsp butter
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2 tbsp flour
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1 cup heavy cream
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1 cup milk
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Salt, pepper
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Fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
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Cook bacon in pot; remove and set aside (leave fat).
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Sauté onion and celery in bacon fat 5 minutes. Add garlic.
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Add potatoes, clam juice, and reserved clam liquid. Simmer 15 minutes.
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In separate pan, melt butter, whisk in flour (cook 1–2 minutes).
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Slowly whisk in milk and cream until smooth.
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Stir cream mixture into soup.
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Add clams and bacon; simmer 5 minutes (don’t overcook clams).
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Season and serve.
🌶️ Classic Beef Chili
Ingredients
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1 lb ground beef
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1 onion, diced
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3 cloves garlic
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1 bell pepper, diced
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1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
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1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
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1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
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2 tbsp tomato paste
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1 cup beef broth
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2 tbsp chili powder
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1 tsp cumin
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1 tsp smoked paprika
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½ tsp oregano
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Salt & pepper
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Shredded cheddar (optional)
Instructions
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Brown beef in large pot; drain excess fat.
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Add onion, garlic, bell pepper; cook 5 minutes.
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Stir in tomato paste and spices; cook 1 minute.
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Add tomatoes, beans, broth. Stir well.
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Simmer uncovered 30–45 minutes (longer = better flavor).
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Adjust seasoning and top with cheese if desired.
If you had to eliminate one… which are you choosing? 😏