This may not be much to look at, and it may sound like an unusual combination, but I just have to tell you that this is one of the most delicious casseroles you could ever make for your family. Not only that, but it's also economical, easy and sure to become a fast family favourite!
All you need is an onion, a tin of baked beans, a pound of steak mince, a few odds and sodds and a couple slices of streaky bacon . . . seriously. It's amazing what you can do with just a few bits!
I do want to say though that you will want to use the best quality and leanest minced steak your money can buy here . . . you don't want a lot of fat in your beef when you are using bacon on top. I have used streaky bacon here, but you can use back bacon if you would rather.
To round out the meal I like to serve it with some fresh baked cornbread. We love cornbread in this house. It's not something that Todd ever ate before he met me, but he's a convert now and it is a simple bread that goes very well with these types of casseroles. You can find my recipe for that here.
A tasty coleslaw vinaigrette wouldn't go amiss on the side either. Just to add a touch of green. I have a really tasty Pineapple version here. I happen to think it's rather scrummy too. In any case Beef and Beans, Cornbread and Coleslaw is a real favourite meal around here. I do hope you'll give it a try.
*Beefy Beans*
Serves 4 to 5
Printable Recipe
Cheap and cheerful, hearty and most delicious. Don't let the unusual list of ingredients put you off. This is a winner/winner chicken dinner! I like to serve this with cornbread.
1 TBS olive or sunflower oil
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
450g of extra lean minced steak (about 1 pound)
1 (415g/15 ounce) tin of baked beans, undrained
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
50g of soft light brown sugar (1/4 cup packed)
1 TBS Dijon mustard
5 thick slices of streaky bacon
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a shallow 1 litre casserole dish. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently until it begins to soften. Add the garlic. Cook for a few minutes longer and then crumble in the minced steak. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking it up with a fork, until the meat is beginning to brown and there is no longer any pink remaining. (To peel the tomatoes, cut a cross on the bottom and place into a bowl of boiling water for about 60 seconds, or until the skin begins to peel back where the cross is cut. Remove from the water and peel off the skin. It should come off very easily.) Season with the salt and pepper. Stir in the brown sugar, mustard and tomatoes. Cook for several minutes and then taste. Adjust seasoning as required. Stir in the tin of baked beans and mix to combine well. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cut the slices of streaky bacon in half and arrange over top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the heated oven for 45 minutes, or until thick and bubbly.
Heat the grill. Uncover the casserole dish and then pop it under the grill for a few minutes to crisp the bacon. Serve hot, with or without cornbread for sopping up all of that tasty goodness.
My sister shared this recipe with me on facebook the other day. Lassy Buns. Delicious scone type/baking powder biscuit type of buns made with the goodness of molasses, cinnamon and a bit of cloves. This is a down East recipe and the type of bread which might be offered at baked bean suppers!
Bonfire Night, falling on 5th November each year, celebrates the foiling of Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder plot as we all know. Traditionally marked with blazing bonfires and fantastic fireworks, it’s the perfect excuse for a feast for friends and family as you wrap up warm and head outside for an evening of rockets and sparklers.
Blitz the cornflakes until they are crumbs in a small blender. Pour into a bowl. Put the onion, milk, 4 TBS of the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder and egg into the food processor and blitz until smooth. Pour into the bowl with the cornflake crumbs and mix together. Crumble in the beef and mix well together. Divide the mixture between the buns, spreading it out with a fork to cover all of the surface, right to the edges to an even thickness.
Put the onion, oil and 2 tsp of water in a flameproof casseroe and cover with a lid. Cook gently over low heat for about 10 minutes, without allowing the onion to take on too much colour. Add the garlic, brown sugar, treacle, mustard, paprika and vinegar. Stir to combine. Stir in the beans and tomatoes, as well as the stock. Bring to the boil and cook for two minutes. Cover with a lid and then transfer to the oven.
Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours. If at the end of that time you think the consistency is too liquidy, you can simmer over gentle heat and reduce the liquid to your desired consistency. Season to taste and serve hot with crusty bread or corn bread.
Here we are again with another Meals of the Week Post. Usually on Sundays I do a round up and share with you, my readers, all the delicious meals I cooked for myself over the past days. I didn't eat at home very day, but wherever possible I have provided a "like" substitute from my recipe archives to share with you.
With the summer months my eating gets a bit lighter and not so much "comfort food." There are a lot more salads, and cold coalitions. Quick and easy, as always is the order of the day, because, lets face it, who wants to be chained to their kitchen in the summer time!
I love doing these posts because they help me to take a realistic look back on how I have been eating and help me to plan my week ahead. I hope that they will do the same for you.
Nobody who lives on their own should be consigned to eating frozen ready meals or dinner from a tin! That's my goal anyways. I love to cook and I love to eat and I love simple uncomplicated food.
Food doesn't have to be fancy, fattening or complicated to taste good!
SUNDAY, July 2nd - Chicken and Ham Lasagne
Because we had had a family dinner at my sisters on the Saturday for Canada, we did not share a meal together on Sunday. Cindy fancied a day off and I don't blame her! We decided to have supper together on Monday instead. I had supper at home for myself. I heated up a portion of Chicken and Ham Lasagne that I had in the freezer.
The original recipe makes 4 - 6 portions and freezes beautifully in single sized portions. I tell you how to do this on the recipe page. It is filled with plenty of chicken and ham, spinach and has a lush rich creamy sauce. This is one of my favorite kinds of lasagne.
I enjoyed it along with a side salad and was a very happy camper.
MONDAY, July 3rd - Dinner at Cindys
We had our Sunday family dinner on Monday at my sister's. She cooked a pork tenderloin in the air fryer which she served along with some roasted potatoes, onions and carrots and she cooked these Presidents Choice Stampede Corn Ribs to go along with it. We had both been wanting to try those. She was the first person brave enough to take the step.
Prognosis, they were okay. Not as good a corn on the cob for real, but not bad either.
If you want to cook a delicious Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin Dinner, just click on the link. There are roasted pieces of pork tenderloin, squash and brussels sprouts, all roasted together on a sheet pan. The whole thing is done in about half an hour. Some fluffy mashed potatoes go well on the side.
TUESDAY, July 4th - Low Carb Turkey Burger
I played it safe on Monday and made myself a delicious low carb Turkey Burger. Every bit as delicious as a burger in the bun, this tasty burger is beautifully flavored with parsley, onion, salt, pepper, garlic and mayo. The may helps to keep it moist, as does the pat of butter sealed in the center.
A slice of cheese is melted on top and the burger is served atop a thick slice of ice berg lettuce that has been spread with a lush garlic aioli mayonnaise. I promise you won't miss the bun. This is fabulously tasty!
WEDNESDAY, July 5th - Dinner out with Dad
On Wednesday nights I always go out for dinner with my dad and his friend Hazel. This week my sister Cindy joined us. We both had the Haddie bits, which are broken bits of haddock deep fried and served with chips and coleslaw. Dad and Hazel both had the fish and chips.
I'll be honest. Haddie Bits are not my favorite thing. I should have just had fish and chips. But it was nice to be there with dad and everyone.
The recipe I am sharing for this night are these fabulous Cornmeal Crusted Cod Cheeks. Cod cheeks are a tasty little nugget of cod fish found, you guessed it, in the cheek area of the Cod. Very tender and juicy when cooked properly. They cook very quickly. You could do the same thing with cubes of cod fish. There is also a delicious coleslaw recipe on the same page
THURSDAY, July 6th - Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
My sister and I were supposed to go to Jonny's for lunch on Thursday as it was her Birthday, but when we got there the kitchen wasn't open, just the ice cream part. So we decided to do it next week.
Instead I went home and made myself an Air Fryer French Bread Pizza using a leftover ciabatta I had in the freezer. It is a fabulous recipe, sized perfectly for only two people and it cooks in the air fryer without heating up the kitchen! I had a simple salad on the side.
FRIDAY, June 7th - Spanish Cod
On Friday I had some Cod in the freezer which I wanted to use up and so I made myself a tasty dish of Spanish Cod that I served with some brown rice and steamed green beans.
I love cod done this way. It is lightly dusted with flour and lightly pan fried til golden brown on both sides with a few sprigs of thyme, and then served on a bed of a lush Spanish Tomato sauce made with good tomatoes, onions and chopped peppers. This is truly a beautiful dish. Healthy as well!
SATURDAY, July 8th - Easy Chicken Gyros
Had the family over to celebrate my sister's 65th Birthday. We dined on the grilled chicken from my Easy Chicken Gyros, done on my Cuisinart grill. We did not do the flat breads. Instead we had Baked Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, a mixed green salad, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, and garlic bread.
For dessert we had a Traditional Victoria Sandwich Cake. Family times are the best of times!
So there you have it, my meals of the week. As you can see, once again, I ate really well. There was no waste and I got in a lovely variety of things. Some healthy and some not! Hopefully this will give you some ideas of how to plan some meals for yourself!
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
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