Belgian Carbonade Flamande – Beef and Beer Stew

A rich Flemish beef stew slow-cooked with onions, dark beer, and mustard — sweet, savory, and traditionally served with fries or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

* 800g beef chuck, cubed
* 3 onions, sliced
* 2 tbsp Dijon or whole grain mustard
* 500ml dark Belgian beer (e.g. dubbel or brown ale)
* 2 slices bread (for thickening)
* 2 tbsp butter
* Thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper

Instructions:

1. Brown beef in butter and set aside.
2. Sauté onions until caramelized. Return beef, add herbs and beer.
3. Spread mustard on bread slices, place on top.
4. Cover and simmer 2–3 hours until beef is tender. Stir in soaked bread as it dissolves into sauce.
5. Serve with fries or mashed potatoes.

Belgian Tip:
For authenticity, use Pain d'épices (spiced bread) instead of plain bread.

Pasta Fagioli

Hearty Italian Pasta and Bean Soup

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow macaroni)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.

Stir in the oregano and basil and cook for 1 minute.

Add the diced tomatoes, beans, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes to let flavors meld.

Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or basil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 35 minutes | Total Time: 50 minutes
Kcal: Approximately 320 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings

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Warm your soul with this classic Pasta Fagioli — a hearty Italian soup loaded with beans, pasta, and veggies! Perfect for cozy dinners.

Coconut and Squash Soup

Creamy Coconut-Infused Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients:

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk

3 cups vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add ginger, cumin, and cinnamon; cook for another minute until fragrant.

Stir in cubed butternut squash, coconut milk, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until squash is tender.

Using an immersion blender (or regular blender in batches), puree the soup until smooth and creamy.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro or parsley.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes
Kcal: Approximately 180 kcal per serving | Servings: 4 servings

#coconutsoup #butternutsquash #souprecipes #veganrecipes #comfortfood #healthysoup #glutenfree #dairyfree #fallrecipes #plantbased #easyrecipes #squashsoup #creamysoup #warmmeals #souplovers #healthycomfortfood #vegancomfortfood #freshingredients #homemadesoup #delicious

Cozy up with this creamy Coconut and Squash Soup—rich, flavorful, and perfect for chilly days! A tropical twist on fall favorites.

HYPER ITALIAN BEEF DEEP DISH FURY

Ingredients:
2 cups thin-sliced Italian beef (au jus style)
½ cup giardiniera (spicy pickled veggies)
1 cup provolone, shredded
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
Deep-dish pizza crust or thick dough
¼ cup beef jus or broth for drizzle
Optional: oregano or crushed red pepper

Instructions:
1⃣ Press dough into deep-dish pan, layer provolone, beef, giardiniera, then mozzarella.
2⃣ Bake at 375°F for 25-30 min till golden & bubbly.
3⃣ Drizzle with warm jus, sprinkle herbs or red pepper.
4⃣ Slice into that hot, tangy, beef-loaded fury!

Prep: 10 min | Cook: 30 min | Total: 40 min | Serves: 4-6

Scientists at the University of Sunderland, led by Dr. Maria Teresa Borrello, have developed two experimental drugs—DR-3 and FDR2—that target the enzyme HDAC6.

These drugs have shown promise in halting or reversing liver fibrosis, a condition characterized by the accumulation of scar tissue in the liver.

Research Overview

The research, published in The FEBS Journal, focuses on the role of HDAC6 in liver fibrosis.

HDAC6 is involved in regulating inflammation and the activation of hepatic stellate cells, which are responsible for producing collagen and contributing to scar tissue formation.

By inhibiting HDAC6, the experimental drugs aim to reduce inflammation and prevent the activation of these stellate cells, thereby mitigating fibrosis progression.

Laboratory Findings

In laboratory settings, the HDAC6 inhibitors DR-3 and FDR2 demonstrated high selectivity for HDAC6 over other histone deacetylases.

They effectively reduced markers of hepatic stellate cell activation and fibrogenic gene expression.

Additionally, these compounds increased acetylation of α-tubulin and suppressed TGF-β1-induced SMAD signaling, which are key pathways in fibrosis development.

Ex Vivo Human Liver Models

The efficacy of DR-3 and FDR2 was further validated using human precision-cut liver slices (hPCLS), an ex vivo model that closely mimics human liver tissue.

Treatment with these inhibitors resulted in reduced fibrogenic protein levels and collagen deposition, indicating their potential to reverse existing fibrosis.

Importantly, these effects were achieved without significant toxicity to the liver tissue.

Clinical Implications

The British Liver Trust has welcomed these findings, highlighting their potential to transform care for the UK's estimated two million liver fibrosis patients, many of whom are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease.

While these results are promising, the drugs are still in the experimental phase and have not yet undergone human clinical trials. Nevertheless, they offer a targeted therapeutic approach that could eventually become a lifesaving treatment worldwide.