Beef Casserole with Dumplings

We had a few slices of thin steak left over along with some beef chunks, so I decided to mix them together and make a casserole! 

Also, this is my 1st attempt at making dumplings!

Serves 2-4

4-6 hrs (Slow Cooker)

Ingredients:

Beef

Beef Stock

2Carrots

1 Onion

1-2 Potatoes

Salt

Pepper

Parsley

250g Self Raising Flour

125g Cold Butter

Method:

Casserole:

Chop all of your veg, including the potatoes into small chunks and throw into your cooking pot.

Add your meat, also chopped into chunks.

Add the herbs and stock.

Leave to cook for 4-6 on low (slow cooker).

Dumplings:

Place your flour into a mixing bowl.

Grate your cold butter into the bowl.

Rub gently with your fingers till like breadcrumbs.

Gradually add splashes of water till mixture is a dough.

Roll into about 12 small balls.

Add to the casserole 30mins before the serving time.

Chicken with Philadelphia and Bacon.

This dish is marvelous! A family favourite. Please give it a try.

Serves 2

30 mins

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
1 tub of Philadelphia spread (we chose garlic & herb)
bacon (as much as you like)

Method:
Preheat your oven to 200'C
Slice the chicken breast almost in half.
Spread a healthy dollop of Philadelphia and sandwich the chicken together.
Wrap your chicken in bacon
Place on a baking tray
Cook for 20-30 minutes.

Delicious Bacon & Potato Gratin

This is such a delicious meal. Everyone that I have made this for has loved it! Its simple and easy and soooo yummy. You must try it!

Serves 2-4

1 Hour

Ingredients:

Bacon (as much as you like- we used 2 packs for 4 people)

3 or 4 Large potatoes

1 onion

Thyme

Pepper

Salt

Cream

Cheese (Grated)

Method:

Preheat oven to 200'C

Slice the potatoes into thin slices and part-boil.

Slice the bacon into chunks and fry with the chopped onion and herbs.

Once boiled, drain the water from the potato pan and use half, making an even bottom layer in your oven dish.

Add the bacon mixture, making a second layer.

On top, add the rest of the potatoes, creating a third layer.

Pour the cream over the top, making sure it seeps into the cracks and down all the layers. 

Cover the dish in tin foil and cook for 45 mins.

Take out and sprinkle the grated cheese.

Cook for a further 15 mins, without the tin foil.

Enjoy this deliciously unhealthy meal.

We served it with Green Beans!

Nanna's Flapjacks

Here is another of my Nanna's recipes. These flapjacks are something she has been baking for me for many years now. You will love them!

Makes around 20

20-30 mins

Ingredients
100g Butter
75g Golden Syrup
75g Brown Sugar
225g Oats


Method
Preheat the oven to 180'C/280'F
Put the Butter, Sugar and Syrup in a saucepan and stir on a low heat til melted.
Stir in the Oats and mix well.
Spread onto a greased/lined 8x12 inch tin and smooth with a knife.
Bake for 20-30 mins.
Leave to cool, then cut into finger slices.

Nanna's Sausage Rolls

Having spent the weekend with my Nanna, it seemed only fair to share with you, our baking experiences!

This recipe is a bit of a cheat (we didn't make our own pastry), due to time.

20 mins

Makes 16-20 small

Ingredients
375g Sausage Meat
1 Puff-Pastry Pre-Rolled
1 Egg


Method
Preheat oven at 200'C
Lay out the Pastry.
Cut the Pastry in half horizontally.
Half your Sausage Meat (1 for each horizontal strip).
Stretch and roll the meat to fit the pastry strip.
Fold over the pastry and flatten the long side with a fork (like around the edge of a pie).
Cut your long sausage roll into bite-size pieces (or large ones if you like).
Lightly score the top of your rolls with a knife.
Transfer onto a lined baking tray.
Glaze them with beaten Egg.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Leave to cool.

Sausage Casserole

Today my darling J decided to make a sausage casserole for our dinner, once again we used the slow cooker. As you will notice, J likes to add a lot of...stuff to his food. Feel free to go with the basics! 

Another quick and easy meal!

Serves 2

6-8 hours (slow cooker)

Ingredients:

4 Sausages

2 Spring Onions

1 Stick of Celery

1 Red Pepper

1 large carrot

1/2 Sprig Broccoli

Dash of Salt

Dash of Pepper

1 tsp Mustard

Dash of Oregano 

1 can Chopped Tomatoes

Handful of finely chopped walnuts

200ml water

2 Pork Stock Cubes

Dash of Cumin 

Dash of Cinnamon

Chop all of your vegetables and Walnuts and them to your pot.

Cook off your sausages and chop them into bite size pieces before adding to the pot.

Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot, but keep the empty tin.

Now with the tin, add the boiling water, stock cubes, Cinnamon, Cumin, Oregano, Salt, Pepper and Mustard. (making a tasty broth)

Add your funky broth to the pot.

Stick your slow cooker on LOW for 6-8 hours.

J would like to warn you, that after making your broth in the Tomato tin, that it will now be hot, so please use a tea towel for protection! 

He calls this dish a wet summer warmer! 

Enjoy!

Pork Chop Chow-Stew

We have named this 'Pork Chop Chow Stew' because it is a cross between a stew and pork chow mein. It is ever so simple, but does require a slow cooker, however you could use a large crock-pot on the stove/oven.

It was absolutely delicious! I wish we had made double!

Serves 2-3

6-8 hours (slow cooker)

Ingredients:

2 Boneless Pork Chops

1 Sprig Broccoli

1 Celery Stick

1 Red Pepper

3 Spring onions

2-3 Handfuls of beansprouts

Handful of Baby Carrots (or 1 Large)

1 Pork Stock Cube

200ml Boiling water

125g Plum Sauce

Quick and simple- chop up all the veg and chuck it into your pot, add the Bean sprouts.

Chop your meat and mix it into the pot. 

In a jug, mix the stock with boiling water and add the plum sauce.

Stir it into the pot.

Put on a LOW heat setting on your slow cooker, for 6-8 hours.

Simple. Yummy. Perfect to come home to after a long day at work! Enjoy!