Beef and Vegetable Casserole

I made this recipe because my husband loves beef and the addition of tomatoes puts his two favourites together.This can be made in a large pan on top of the oven or made in a casserole dish in the oven. I use a cast iron casserole which I can start on the hob and then put into the oven. Or you could start in a saucepan and then transfer to an oven proof casserole dish.It is a meal in itself and only needs some good bread to go with it.
Ingredients
450 gm--1 lb--3 cups braising or stewing beef/steak cut into cubes
1 1/2 tablespoon of flour
1 teaspoon of hot paprika powder
1 1/2 teaspoon of chilli powder
1 teaspoon of ground ginger
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large red or white onion cut into chunks
3 garlic cloves sliced into fine pieces
3 celery sticks sliced
225 gm--8 oz--1 1/2 cups of chopped carrots
300 ml--10 fl ozs lager or other light beer
300ml--10 fl ozs beef stock(use a beef stock cube)
350 gms--12 oz--2 cups chopped potatoes
1 large red pepper with the seeds taken out and sliced
10 baby corn on the cobs or 2 corn cobs sliced into chunks
115 gm--4 oz--1 cup of fresh tomatoes quartered
115 gm--4 oz--1 cup of fresh or frozen peas
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh coriander
salt and pepper
Method
Mix the flour and spices together in a plastic bag.
Toss the cut beef in the flour until it is coated with the flour.
Heat the olive oil and fry the onions, garlic and celery for 5 minutes until they are soft. Do not do to hot as the garlic will burn.
Remove from the pan and put onto one side on a plate.
Add a spot more oil to the pan and add the beef, cook on a high heat for 5 minutes until the surface of the beef is brown to seal in the flavour. Stir the beef to cook all the surfaces. Turn down the heat.
Return the cooked onion, garlic and celery to the pan.
Add the carrots, lager-beer and the stock made with the stock cube and water.
Bring to the boil. Cover with the pan lid. If it is a casserole going into the oven I put a piece of tin foil on the pan first and then the pan lid.
Cook on the hob for 1 1/2 hours or until tender.
I cooked mine in the oven at gas 5, 190C or 375F for 1 1/2hours.
Add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes.
Add the red pepper and corn and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and peas and cook for 10 minutes more.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in the chopped coriander and serve.
This is great just on its own with some bread.
Why not try the Irish Soda Cupcakes with herbs or fruit that are on the Cupcakes Blogg--See the Link


Enjoy, Crazycupcakes

Beef Chilli Recipe

This really good recipe for Beef Chilli was given to me by my hairdresser Vicky in Bolton, England. It is the sort of recipe that I like. I can make this Chilli in bulk in my large Le Creuset pan and then divide it into portions for the freezer. The photo shows all the ingredients out in the kitchen ready to prepare. I then lift out the Beef Chilli in the morning to defrost and reheat in the microwave. This is a good way to economise on electricity in these days of Global warming when we are all being asked to cut back on carbon emissions. My bills are cheaper to. So help the planet prepare food in large quantities.
Ingredients
3 lbs best lean mince meat
2 tablespoons of olive oil for frying, add more if you need it for the onions
5 large onions chopped
6 cloves of garlic chopped fine
4 red peppers chopped
1 lb mushrooms sliced or chopped
3 tins of chopped tomato
1 jar of tomato puree
1 tin of Heinz baked beans(haricot beans in tomato sauce)
1 large tin of sweet corn
3 tins of red kidney beans
4 red/green chillis chopped fine and seeds kept
3 tablespoons of ground cumin
1 tablespoon of ground paprika
salt and black pepper to taste
Method
Fry the mince till brown.
Add the onions, garlic and chilli and continue to fry.
Add all the other ingredients and stir well together.
Bring to the boil and then turn down till the chilli simmers.
If the mixture is a bit dry add some water.
I sometimes add the tomato puree later in the cooking to prevent the mixture sticking to the pan.
Simmer for 1 hour or until it is all cooked and tasty

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Chicken and Apple Casserole Recipe

A friend gave me this tasty recipe for chicken with apples.
Ingredients
4 chicken breasts or portions
1tablespoon of olive oil
1 onion chopped
2 sticks of celery sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons of plain white flour
10 fl oz --1/2 pint apple juice
1/4 pint chicken stock--5 fl oz
1 cooking apple cored and quartered
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons of clear honey
1 yellow pepper cut into slices
1 tablespoon of butter
2 eating apples
2 tablespoons of demerara sugar
salt and pepper
fresh mint chopped to garnish

Method
Fry the chicken pieces in oil for 10 minutes and then put into the casserole dish.
Fry the onion and celery until soft add the flour. Add the apple juice slowly to the onions, celery and flour, stir and bring to the boil. Add the cooking apple, bay leaves, pepper and honey. Add to the chicken. Cook in the oven for 3/4 hour at gas 5, 190C, 375F. Check the chicken is cooked right through. Line the grill pan with foil, place on it the sliced apples, add half the butter and sugar. Grill. Turn over and add the rest of the butter and sugar, it should bebrown but not burnt. Garnish the casserole with this. Serve with a salad and pasta, rice or potatoes.