Creamy Beef and Bellpepper

I was in the mood for Beef Stroganoff last night but did not quite have the right ingredients, so I came up with this alternative recipe. It was flavorful and creamy and I will definitely make it again! It also works well with chicken cut into thin strips.

Creamy Beef and Bellpepper

Ingredients:

Canola or Olive oil for sauteeing
1 lb lean beef cut into strips (stirfry cuts are great)
2 large bellpeppers (I used red)
1/2 large leek
12 oz fresh mushrooms
1 1/2 cups beef or chicken broth, divided


8oz sour cream (I used full fat, but you can probably use light if you want)
1 Tblsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried thyme
2 Tblsp all purpose flour
1 Tblsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste

Serve with rice or noodles and a salad

Directions:
- Wash the bellpeppers, remove the seeds and stems and cut into strips. 

- Clean the leek by cutting it lengthwise and rinsing it well under running water to remove   and dirt or sand in between the layers, then cut it into thin slices

- Clean the mushrooms (either rub the dirt off with a dry paper towel or rinse them under   water) then cut them into quarters (or smaller if they are large mushrooms).

- Heat a tablespoon of oil in pot and saute the mushrooms and bellpeppers for a few 
  minutes until almost soft. Remove from the skillet and put aside.

- In the same pot add a the leeks and 1/2 cup of broth and let it cook until the leeks are     translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove the leeks from the skillet and put aside   with the rest of the vegetables. 

- Add another drizzle of oil to the pot and saute the beef until brown. You might have to     do it in a couple of rounds so it does not get too crowded in the skillet which will keep it   from browning properly.

- Once the beef is done, add the vegetables back in and add the remaining 1 cup of broth.     
- Cover and let simmer while you mix the rest of the ingredients for the sauce.

- In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, tomato paste, thyme, all purpose flour and               Worcestershire sauce until well combined and without lumps.

- Stir the sour cream mixture into the beef and vegetables and let simmer for a few             minutes to slightly   thicken the sauce and let the flavors blend together. Season with       salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with rice or noodles and maybe a salad. Enjoy!