Beef Bites in Yummy Pan Sauce

Ok, So I didn't know how to title this one.  It was a create-as-you-go type thing, so here it is.  My husband kept coming in saying, "Man, what smells so good?" 

You Need:

About 2 lbs. beef  (I had a rump roast.  I would have liked to have had a chuck roast, but any will do.)
2 T. Olive Oil
1 lemon
3/4 c. white wine*
1/4 cup balsalmic vinegar
1/4 c. honey (not pictured, because I added it when the sauce needed something else.)
2 t. minced garlic (fresh or jarred)
2 T. chopped rosemary (though about 1 T. if you only have dried.)
3-4 T. chopped basil (2 T. if you only have dried)

*Cooking and reducing the wine takes the alcohol out of it.  So, if you do not drink, it's still a safe dish to eat!!

Start any side dishes you want with this meal.  Regular Old Mashed Potatoes, Easy Au Gratin Potatoes, or a rice pilaf would complement this dish very nicely.  The recipe below only takes 15 to 20 minutes, so be sure to note that in side-dish preparation.

Cut the beef into bite-sized pieces, and heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet.

(I didn't do very good at taking pictures this time, but it's super easy!)  Brown the beef in the skillet.  Be careful not to overcrowd the skillet because it will get all soupy in there, and you want the beef browned, not stewed.  Drain out any excess liquid that accumulates in the pan.

Once the beef is almost all browned (about 5-7 minutes), add in the white wine and stir around, scraping up the bits that get stuck to the bottom of the pan.  To that, add the garlic, balsalmic vinegar, honey, and juice from the lemon.  If you are using dried herbs, put them in as well.  Let it cook and reduce for a few minutes.

At the very end of cooking (the last 30 sec. to 1 min), add in the fresh herbs.  Stir around to incorporate.

Whole Rosemary is on the far left.  Remove the leaves from the stem and chop.
Basil is on the right.  Remove the leaves from the longer stems and chop.
It is so worth getting fresh herbs, if they are available.  They add such a great brightness to a dish!

Scoop a helping of mashed potatoes onto a plate, and put the beef bites on the side or top of the potatoes.  The sauce is lovely with rice or potatoes.