The Five B Dish

To the mix of five B ingredients, you can add as many as you like of the optional ingredients. Make it a little different each time.
 

INGREDIENTS
2          strips of thick Bacon, or 3 thin
5          ounces of Beef, cut to ½ inch cubes
1          small head of Broccoli, cut into small pieces
½         Bell pepper – any color - diced to ½  inch
1          cup Broth, chicken or beef
 

OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS

1          cup thin sliced celery – about 2-3 stalks
1          cup chopped red or green cabbage
1          cup sliced mushrooms
1          small bulb fennel, chopped (about 1 cup)
½         cup Arborio rice and 1 cup of broth (cooked separately)
3-4      green onions, chopped

METHOD
Cut the bacon into ¼ inch thick strips crosswise and add to a large skillet. Put over medium heat and cook the bacon until it is fairly stiff. Add the beef cubes and stir them around until they are browned on all sides.

Add the optional fennel and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the broccoli, bell pepper, and optional cabbage and celery. Stir around to thoroughly coat with the bacon fat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the broth and any other optional vegetables. Add the optional flavorings from below, cover, lower the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.

If using the optional rice, bring the broth to a boil in a small sauce pan, add the rice, cover and lower the heat to the barest minimum. Cook for 15 minutes and then add it to the vegetable and meat mixture. Continue to cook that for another 5 minutes, covered. Serve immediately, garnished if you wish with chopped parsley or chives. Depending on your optional choices, this will serve from 4 to 6. Serve with a lighter style red table wine, such as Guglielmo Private Reserve Grignolino, Carignane, Barbera or Sangiovese.

FLAVORINGS

For Italian, add ½ tablespoons of dried basil and oregano
For Asian, add 2 tablespoons soy sauce and/or 1 tablespoon hot sauce
For New Orleans, add 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper and 1 pinch of red pepper flakes.