A Simple Chili

We may have had some really nice sunny days here in the North West and tomorrow may be the first day of spring, but there's definitely still a chill in the air! Especially when the wind blows!!



We did a lot of work in the garden today and so ended up hungry as heck and chilled to the bone. I wanted to make something hearty and filling for our supper . . . and warming. Something that wouldn't be too high in fat though . . . and which would be somewhat healthy. I opted to make a simple and delicious chili.



Using extra lean minced steak, and an assortment of beans, chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic, herbs and spices . . . this is quite low in fat. I didn't use any to brown the meat, except one burst of a non stick cooking spray . . . and we used half fat cheddar and sour cream at the end.



Probably the most calorific part of the meal was the cornbread. But even that's not too bad. I used this recipe here, except that I added some chopped green chili peppers this time for an extra bit of a bite.



It really hit the spot and filled us up. We were most happy. I cut the recipe in half as there are just the two of us and that worked very well. We both had a nice full bowl of the stuff and there is enough left for Todd to have some for his lunch tomorrow.



My secret ingredient for this tasty bowl of red??? A tiny bit of Lindt dark chocolate with chili. It adds an extra depth of flavour and just a tiny bit of zip.




*A Simple Chili*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

Hearty, filling, tasty and low fat. Makes a wonderful weeknight supper.

low fat cooking spray
1 pound extra lean minced steak
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and pulverized with a mortar and pestle
1 TBS mild Chili powder
1 tsp ancho chili paste
1 tsp oregano flakes
1 tsp coriander flakes
1 400g tin of black beans, drained and rinsed (2 cups)
1 400g tin of spicy mixed bean salad, undrained ( 2 cups, this is a mixture of cooked beans and corn in a spicy sauce)
2 400g tins of chopped tomatoes in tomato juice (about 4 cups), undrained
250ml of beef broth, lager or strong coffee
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 (100g) bar of lindt chili chocolate broken up into bits (1 3/4 ounces)
the juice of 1/2 lime

To serve:
grated strong cheddar cheese
chopped spring onions
sour cream

Heat a large deep non stick skillet over medium heat. Spray with some low fat nonstick cooking spray. Crumble in the beef and cook, stirring to break it apart, until lightly browned, adding the onion and garlic in the last few minutes. Add the cumin, chili powder, chili paste, oregano flakes and coriander flakes. Cook and stir until very fragrant. Add the beef broth, beans (both tins) and the tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 35 to 45 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Break up the chocolate and stir it in until melted. Add the lime juice and stir again.

Ladle into heated bowls and serve with a dollop of sour cream, some grated cheese and chopped spring onions for sprinkling on top, along with some crusty rolls or cornbread on the side to mop up all those delicious juices!

A Simple Stew of Lamb

It may be almost spring, but there's still a chill in the air up here in the North. There have been no double digit temps here like they have been enjoying in the south, although it has been sunny. Not quite barbeque weather . . . but close. I'm still hankering for comfort food . . . something to take the chill out . . . we won't be able to enjoy these dishes for much longer . . .



It will soon be time to put these recipes away, like our woolie socks and mufflers . . . Spring is definitely in the air, and will soon be here to stay . . . but not just yet.



I love this simple lamb stew with it's simple ingredients . . . wholesome barley, deliciously tender lamb, leeks, earthy root vegetables . . .



Warming . . . comforting . . . wholesome and homey . . . yes, tis a bit old fashioned, but I'm an old fashioned girl at heart.



A delicious stew that bubbles away on the back of the stove all afternoon, tantalizing you with it's fragrance, and tasting better and better as the
minutes slowly tick by . . .



A tasty and simple stew that screams "home sweet home" from that very first deliciously moreish mouthful. .

I believe this is the cadillac of all stews. Thick . . . rich . . . and just stogged full of tasty pearl barley, winter root vegetables, tender lamb and aromatic herbs . . .



*A Simple Stew of Lamb*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Simple, tasty, hearty and filling. Comfort food at it's very best.

A knob of butter
100g pearl barley (a generous half cup)
1 large onion, peel and chop
2 sticks of celery, chopped
2 leeks, the white and light green part only, cleaned well and sliced
1 large parsnip, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1/3 of a medium swede, peeled and chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
400g of diced lamb (about 1 pound)
(I use leg of lamb)
a few spring of thyme
2 bay leaves
salt and black pepper to taste
lamb stock to cover
a small bunch of parsley, chopped



Place the barley into a pot of unsalted water. Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 25 minutes. Drain well and set aside. Pre-heat the oven to 160*C/325*F.

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the lamb and brown slowly on all sides. When browned, add all of the chopped vegetables, stir to coat and then let sweat over medium low heat for about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place all the lamb and vegetables in a deep casserole dish. (make sure it is a dish that has a lid) Stir in the barley and all a spring of thyme and the bayleaves. Pour stock over to completely cover with about a half inch over. Cut a round of greaseproof paper large enough to cover. Cut a hole in the centre of it. (This is called a cartouche) Place on top of the stew and then cover with the lid of the casserole dish.

Place into the oven and bake slowly, without touching, for about 2 hours. Remove from the oven and take off the lid. Stir in the chopped parsley, adjust seasoning and serve. If you find most of the liquid has evaporated, you may add some hot lamb stock to thin.

You just know that the leftovers are going to taste even better after having sat in the fridge overnight . . . and you are not disappointed. They do.

Ham and Split Pea Soup

One thing that I love most about the Holiday Leftovers is that deliciously meaty ham bone left from the New Year's ham. In these days of austerity, it only makes sense to get as much bang as we can out of the money we spend on our food budget.



I had a mom who could make a delicious soup out of anything, and often did. We never ever minded having soup for supper. It was one of our most looked forward to meals and even now when we go home to visit . . . a visit isn't complete without having a feast on one of her homemade soups at least once. One of our favourite soups that she would make was her Pea Soup. She always used the whole dried yellow peas . . .



I can't get them over here, but I can get the split yellow peas and they taste pretty similar. Mom would simmer the hambone in her special mixture of boiled water, herbs, and peas all afternoon until it was soooo deliciously comforting and filling.



She always put some carrot into it along with some peeled potato. The carrot gave it a bit of colour and an extra depth of flavour . . . she claimed that the potato absorbed any excess salt from the hambone.



We used to love it if we got a piece of the carrot and the potato in our bowl. We saw them as a real treasure. I always made sure that when I made this delicious soup for my family that there was a piece of carrot and potato for each person's bowl.

Coz I'm like that. Fair. This is delicious. Most recipes that are handed down from our mom's are. That's coz there is love attached and a beautiful history.




*Ham and Split Pea Soup*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

This was always my favourite soup when I was growing up. My mother always used whole dried peas, but I haven't been able to find them over here. I just use the split and it always tastes pretty good regardless. It requires very little effort and more or less makes itself really.

1 ham hock, or leftover bone from a roasted ham
(make sure there are lots of meaty bits still clinging to the bone)
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise
and then cut in half again so that you have four pieces
1 large potato, peeled and cut into four large chunks
(my mom always said that the potato absorbed any excess salt from the ham)
1 bay leaf, broken in half
1 tsp of summer savoury (if you cannot find savoury,
use a combination of marjoram and thyme)
freshly ground black pepper
8 cups of boiling water
2 cups split peas (I prefer the yellow ones myself,
but you could also use green ones if you like)

Put all the ingredients into a large pot on top of the stove and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and then skim off any scum that may float to the top, and discard. Partially cover and simmer for an hour and a half or so, until the peas are quite soft and the meat is falling off the bone.

Remove the ham hock from the pot. Discard the skin, any fat and the bone. Cut the meat into large shinks and put it back into the pot. Skim any fat off of the top of the soup that you can and discard. Fish out the bay leaf and discard as well. Taste and adjust seasoning as required, adding salt and pepper to taste. I normally find it doesn't need any salt, but a healthy grinding of black pepper goes down well.

Spoon the hot soup into heated bowls, trying to give each person a piece of potato, carrot and some meat. Enjoy!!!

Note - If you find your soup is too thick, you can add some boiling water to it, adjusting the seasoning as required.



Over in The Cottage today some delicious Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies!

Cabbage Soup With Cheese

(canadatrip.co.uk)

Remember, Remember the 5th of November.

Tonight is Bonfire Night. A yearly event, on which we here in the UK comemmorate the capture of a mercenary named Guy Fawkes, who infamously tried to blow up Parliament back in the year 1605. His plot failed of course, and he was caught, tortured and executed summarily. Ever since then, every year on the 5th of November, people all over Britain gather together to celebrate this event in style.


Portrait of Guy Fawkes

For weeks now, children and grown ups have been gathering refuse and combustables in order to create a huge bonfire, as well as creating dummies, which are called "Guys," to throw onto the top of the bonfires. Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids then use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities.

On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the night sky. It's a much bigger night over here than Halloween is.



Traditonally, there are special treats prepared to go along with Bonfire night . . . baked potatoes, sausages, hot soups . . . cinder toffee. It's all good, and hearty fare . . . designed to warm even the most chilled noses, fingers and toes.

Funny how food eaten out of doors and next to bonfires always tastes pretty wonderful isn't it?

Or is it only me who thinks this???



*Cabbage Soup with Cheese*
Serves 4 to 6
Printable Recipe

My goodness but this is tasty. Just perfect for these cooler autumn nights when one has been out and about in the chill. Makes a sturdy lunch, and a delicious light supper, especially when accompanied with some crusty bread or homemade scones!

8 ounces streaky bacon chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 bunch spring onions, chopped
1/2 head of cabbage, coarsely chopped
2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
2 1/2 pints chicken stock
1 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried chervil
1/4 tsp dried tarragon
1/4 tsp dried chives
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 ounces emmenthaler cheese, grated
4 ounces strong cheddar cheese, grated
6 ounces double cream
1/2 tsp dried dill tops
a few dashes of tabasco sauce



Heat a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, until partially crisp. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the chopped onions and cabbage to the drippings. Cook and saute for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft, stirring occasionally. Add the potatoes and chicken broth. Stir in the parsley, chervil, tarragon, chives and potatoes. Bring to the boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are quite tender. Just before serving add the cheeses and cream. Stir to melt the cheese and heat without boiling. Add the bacon, dill and tabasco sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Serve hot. Do Not Boil.



*Cheddar and Chive Scones*
Makes 12
Printable Recipe

These are very easy to make and are very tasty. I like to use a good strong cheddar. I have also used Stilton in the past with excellent results. Delicious split and toasted and spread with butter, or cold and filled with ham and pickle for a tasty picnic lunch!

12 ounces self raising flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
2 ounces cold butter
1 1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
1 TBS freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup finely snipped fresh chives
5 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
250ml of milk
a few bits of extra cheese for sprinkling on before baking



Pre-heat the oven to 210*C/425*F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

Measure the flour, salt, mustard powder and baking powder into a bowl. Whisk well together. Add the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles fine bread crumbs. Stgir in the Parmesan and Cheddar cheese and the chives. Stir in the milk with a fork, just to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and give it a few turns. Pat out 1/2 inch thick and then cut into two inch rounds with a sharp cutter, giving the cutter a sharp tap, straight up and down. Don't twist the cutter unless you want lopsided scones. Place onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush with a bit of milk and then sprinkle with some extra cheese.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until well risen and nicely browned. Remove from the oven and serve.

A Slow Cooker with a wonderful Difference and some tasty Meals!

In October as a part of the Morphy Richards House Proud Innovator scheme I was sent a lovely 4.5 litre Flavour Savour Digital Slow Cooker. As a House Proud Innovator I am encouraged to put the appliances I am sent through their paces and to really give them a good work out, something which I am always happy to do.





I am no stranger to slow cooking. I often use my slow cooker and in fact have two sizes already, both Morphy Richard's as well. I use them most often on Sundays and will cook a meat dish in the larger one and then a side dish in the smaller one.

The new Flavour Savour Digital Slow Cooker though is a machine with a big difference. You can use it in three different ways, which makes it very versatile and useful for more than just slow cooking. The Flavour Savour has 3 in 1 cooking functions, meaning you can seal, fast stew and slow cook all by using the one machine. The pan heats to around 200 degrees giving you an excellent sealing functionality, which means that you are able to brown any meat you are cooking without having to use a separate pot for that purpose. You can now brown and slow cook in the same pan. That is one function that I really loved with this machine.

It has a beautiful glass lid, which means that you are able to look inside and see what's going on without lifting the lid, with cool touch handles which makes it very easy to transport from one location to another. With the older models that have a ceramic insert, this just isn't easy to do. The cooking pot is also dish washer safe, which is a real bonus!

I found the instructions very easy to follow, which is also a bonus. I find that as I am getting older I often have a difficult time understanding instructions . . . blame my menopausal mind! I had no problem with this. The instructions were clear and concise.



Here it is plugged in and warming up to brown some meat in the cookpot. That function worked really well. I was well pleased.

The first dish I cooked in it was a proper slow cooking recipe, using pieces of chicken and a sauce, called Crock Pot Barbeque Chicken. As you can see it turned out quite deliciously scrummy! This I served with rice and a vegetable on the side.



*Crock Pot Barbeque Chicken*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Tender, sticky delicious chicken. You can use only breasts or a combination of breasts and thighs. Delicious.

4 to 6 pieces of boneless, skinless chicken
1 bottle barbeque sauce (I used the Jack Daniels one)
1 ounces white vinegar (1/4 cup)
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 ounces soft light brown sugar (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 tp 1 tsp garlic powder

Place your chicken pieces into the slow cooker. Stir together the barbeque sauce, vinegar, pepper flakes, brown sugar and garlic powder. Pour this over top of the chicken and give it a stir. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

The next recipe I tested on it was for a Crock Pot Beef Dip Sandwich. I love Beef Dip Sandwiches. It was always one of my favourite things to order when I lived in Canada and we would go out for supper. I remember having a particularly delicious one in Winnipeg Manitoba back in 1977 whilst we were waiting to board a train for Calgary. (You know something is good when 30+ years later you are still thinking about it!)

This recipe is one I found online (forgive me as I can't remember where right now). The meat turned out deliciously tender and we both enjoyed this very much. I will make again. It was almost as good as that one back in 1977, and I loved that I could brown the roast a bit first by using that function in the Flavour Savour.



*French Dip Sandwiches in the Slow Cooker*
Serves 6 to 8
Printable Recipe

Easy to make and oh so delicious with meltingly tender beef tucked into a soft roll, topped with cheese and then served with a beef broth for dipping.

1 medium brown skinned onion, peeled and thinly sliced
6 fluid ounces beef broth/stock (3/4 cup)
2 fluid ounces dark soy sauce (1/4 cup)
4 fluid ounces water (1/2 cup)
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 TBS grainy mustard
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
3 pounds beef roast for braising (I used a rolled brisket)
Salt and pepper to taste

To serve:
6 to 8 soft sandwich rolls
6 to 8 slices of provolone cheese, or an equivalent
amount of grated emmenthal cheese
one pint of beef broth (about 2 1/4 cups)



Rub the beef all over with some salt and pepper. Place the onion slices in the bottom of the crock pot. Stir together the beef broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, mustard, garlic and water. Put the beef into the crock pot on top of the onions. Pour the broth mixture over top. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until meltingly tender.

To serve, warm the rolls and cut open. Shred the cooked beef and pile onto the warmed rolls, top with some of the onion and a bit of the juice from the pan, along with a slice of cheese. Close over, cut in half diagonally and serve along with a small bowl of beef broth for each person to dip their sandwich in.

I then decided to test out it's normal cookery function and did a tasty stew in it. I was able to brown my meat and vegetables perfectly and then proceed as per the recipe. At the end we were rewarded with a deliciously tasty Irish Lamb and Barley Stew.



As you can see the lamb was beautifully browned. Stews gain a lot of their flavour from the browning step. All those rich caramelized meat juices really add a lot of taste and colour to the gravy.



*Irish Lamb and Barley Stew*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

A delicious stew that cooks either on top of the stove or in the slow cooker.

2 TBS olive oil
1 kg (2 pounds) diced lamb shoulder
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped coarsely
2 sticks of celery, trimmed and chopped coarsely
1 large parsnip, peeled and chopped coarsely
1/2 small swede, peeled and chopped coarsely
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 litre of chicken stock (4 cups)
1/2 litre of boiling water (2 cups)
200g of pearl barley (1 cup)
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped coarsely
1/2 of a small savoy cabbage, finely shredded
a handful of flat leaf parsely, coarsely chopped



Heat half of the oil in a large saucepan; cook the lamb, in batches until browned. Remove from the pan. Add the remaining oil and heat. Add the vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften. Return the lamb to the pan, along with the stock, water, barley and thyme. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, for 1 hour, covered. Add the potato and simmer for 20 minutes, uncovered, until tender. Add the cabbage and simmer for about 10 minutes longer, uncovered, or just until the cabbage is tender. Discard the thyme. Serve the stew ladled out into heated bowls and sprinkled with the parsley.

Note: if using the slow cooker, brown the meat and vegetables and then put them into the cooker along with the barley, hot stock and water and the herbs. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Add the potatoes and recover. Cook on high for 35 to 40 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook, uncovered on high for 10 to 15 minutes.

Finally I decided to try making some buttery toasted nuts in it. This is the time of year when these are really handy to have around. People will be dropping by off and on during the holidays which are coming up all too quickly and savoury nuts are a delicious little bite to serve along with a drink. (Next time I am going to try a sweet variety) As you can see they turned out fabulous in the Flavour Savour!



*Crock Pot Butter Roasted Pecans*
Makes 6 cups
Printable Recipe

Moreishly buttery and scrummy.

4 ounces butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 pounds pecan halves
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Optional ingredients:
garlic powder
onion powder
dried herbs (savoury, basil, oregano)

Place the butter into a 4.5 litre slowcooker. Heat on high for about half an hour to melt the butter. Add the pecans and toss to coat with the butter. Cover and cook on high for 1/2 hour. Uncover and cook on high for another 2 1/2 hours, giving them a stir every 1/2 hour. (You want to keep an eye on them and stir them often so that they don't catch as you are cooking them on a high temperature.) At the end of that time they should be nicely roasted. Spread out onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with the sale and pepper, and any optional ingredients you wish to use. Give them a good stir together and allow to cool. Store in an airtight container.

All in all I am very pleased with this machine. It has a lovely round shape which fits well into my kitchen. The cord is of a nice length and also stores very easily in the base when you want to put it away. I love that the cooking pot and lid wash up beautifully in the dish washer. I love that I can brown and stew with it, as well as slow cookin on a low, medium or high temperature . . . and I just adored the keep warm function, which means that it will hold your food for a further 2 hours at a warm temperature without over cooking it.

I would give the Morphy Richards Flavour Savour Digital Slow Cooker a full 10 out of 10 points for ease, looks and functionality.

Many thanks to Chris and the Morphy Richards people for having afforded me the opportunity to put it through it's paces. I would highly recommend this machine to anyone, absolutely.



Over in The Cottage today, some delicious Maple Glazed Ham Steaks.

Chili with a Difference

Brrrrrr . . . it was a very cold day today. Autumn has arrived and summer is definitely over! Between the cold and the rain, we were definitely in the mood for some warming, stick to the ribs, comfort food!



We like Chili in this house. They always refer to any spicy stew as a curry over here . . . but this isn't a curry, it's a c-h-i-l-i. There is no curry spice in sight. I have always thought that a curry should have at least some curry powder in it . . . but to each their own. ☺



The Toddster likes his a bit on the spicy side, but you can adjust the heat by upping or downing the amount of chili powder. I use a mild American blend, so it's not as hot as the chili powder over here. If you are using a regular chili powder from over here, do taste and add as required. The chili powder over here is knock your socks off hot!



This chili is deliciously different . . . it has a smoky sweet almost barbeque tang to it . . . and it bakes in the oven until it is richly thick and scrumdiddlyumptiously fantastically good!



I always serve this with some steamed rice and corn muffins . . . but you can serve it with whatever floats your boat. Sometimes I serve it with this Custard Filled Cornbread, which is really scrummy too!



This also freezes really well, and if you like you can bake it up to two days ahead of time . . . you know how that goes. Somehow things like this taste even better when ripened for a couple of days. Oh so luverly!!



*Chili with a Difference*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This sweet and tangy spicy chili is a bit different in that you bake it in the oven, the end result being a deliciously thick chili. I like to serve it with some steamed rice and corn muffins.

7 slices lean streaky smoked bacon
1 pound extra lean ground beef
1 large red onion, peeled and chopped
1 (425g) tin of chopped tomatoes (about 2 cups)
1 (425g) tin of kidney beans, drained and rinsed (14 ounce)
1 (425g) tin of baked beans (14 ounce)
1 fat clove of garlic, peeled and minced
3 ounces of distilled vinegar (1/3 cup)
2 TBS soft light brown sugar, packed
1 TBS golden syrup
1 TBS dark treacle
(Can use 2 TBS mild molasses)
1 tsp dry mustard powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1 heaped TBS mild chili powder (or to taste)
1 tsp dried oregano flakes
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce

Fry the bacon until crisp in a dutch oven. (You will want to use one that is good on top of the stove and in the oven.) Crumble and set aside. Add the ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook, breaking it up, until the beef is no longer pink, and the onions have softened. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer while you heat the oven.

Preheat the oven to 150*C/300*F/gas mark 2. Cover the dutch oven tightly and bake for 2 hours. Uncover and stir. Bake for a further 1 hour, until thickened. Serve hot, spooned over white rice and accompanied with corn muffins if desired.



Over in the cottage today, Chocolate Chunk Sundae Delight.

Lazy Man's Beef Stew

(This is after the initial baking period of 4 hours as I was stirring in the
frozen peas and mushrooms.)

Again, here I am using up all the fresh veg etc. that I can from the fridge before I go on holidays. The Toddster is a meat and potatoes kind of a guy. As you know all I have to do to please him is throw some meat and potatoes on to a plate and he is quite happy . . . AS IF! I would never just throw some meat and potatoes on to a plate!!!


(The finished product.)

On his Birthday this week, I baked him a lovely cherry almond cake, AND a fruit cake AND I made him this lovely stew. He was one very happy camper. You just can't beat a good stew can you?



Fruitcake, cherry cake . . . meat and potatoes!
This is a very easy stew to make. All you do is throw everything into a casserole dish and bake it in the oven. No browning. No mess. No fuss. Easy peasy as can be!



I love it when things are easy and yet come out tasting gloriously delicious and as if you'd spent all day slaving over a hot stove, don't you? (Tis called Lazy Man's Beef Stew, coz who'd ever believe a woman would be lazy? tee hee!)



*Lazy Man's Beef Stew*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

An oldie but a goodie. Delicious, easy and quick to throw together. Beef and vegetables baked in a slow oven until the meat is meltingly tender and the accompanying sauce, rich and delicious.

2 pounds of stewing beef, trimmed of all fat and cut into cubes
4 large carrots, peeled, quartered and cut into pieces
1 tin of cream of tomato soup
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp savoury
freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
8 fluid ounces of red wine
2 leeks, trimmed, washed and thinly sliced
8 ounces of frozen peas (1 small package)
1 punnet of fresh mushrooms, sliced and browned in a bit of butter, or 1 tin of sliced mushrooms, drained
(about 1 cup)

Oven temperature 140*C/275*F/ gas mark 3.

Grease a large casserole dish. Put into the beef, carrots, tomato soup, leeks, potatoes, bay leaf, black pepper and 1/2 of the wine. Stir well together. Cover tightly and bake for 4 hours. Remove from the oven and stir. Add the frozen peas, mushrooms and remaining red wine and if necessary a little water. Cover tightly and cook for 1 hour longer.



There's some tasty Lunch Box Oatmeal Cookies baking over in the Cottage today!