Showing posts sorted by relevance for query lamb. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query lamb. Sort by date Show all posts
I grew up in a home where dishes like this were not really served very often. My mother would make Pate Chinoise for my father from time to time, which we had to eat as well. Pate Chinois is a French Canadian version of Cottage pie, using minced beef, mashed potatoes and corn or peas. My mom always used peas, and tinned ones. She also used cheap ground beef, which I did not like at all. It was full of bits of gristle. It was never my favourite meal, but my father love LOVED it! Perhaps I was just too picky.
People often confuse the two, Cottage Pie and Shepherd's Pie. Traditionally both were dishes invented to use up the leftover gravy and veg from the Sunday dinner. With beef being used in the Cottage Pie and Lamb in the Shepherds Pie.
Most people just use the names interchangeably for the both. I can be a bit pedantic however . . . it is one of my weaknesses . . . for Shepherds Pie I use lamb and for Cottage Pie I use beef. It can be leftover or fresh ground, though. I am not quite that picky!
Basically both are casseroles with meat and a flavourful gravy on the bottom, a layer of vegetables and a lovely thatch of mashed potato on top!
These types of meals are my Todd's favourites. In fact today he had two helpings. He normally doesn't exceed his one serving of anything, but he was really enjoying this.
I have a secret ingredient for the potato thatch. I always add a tiny bit of cheese, which really helps it to brown to a nice golden brown and adds just a touch of flavour. Sometimes I will add a bit of horseradish to either the gravy or mash for a Cottage pie, because it goes so well with beef.
I like to make a pattern in the potatoes with a fork. Today it was a basket weave. Not hard to do at all. You don't have to do that, but do try to rough them up a tiny bit so that you can get some crispy golden edges!
I also use frozen petit pois . . . not tinned or leftover cooked. And I don't thaw them out before putting it together. I just layer them on frozen. The heat from the filling and the mash will cook them perfectly. (I have a real dislike of over-cooked peas. I can't help it.)
The gravy is also very simple to make. Of course if you happen to have leftover gravy from the Sunday lunch that would also work, but it is very simple to make your own from scratch.
I start by sweating a mirepoix of fresh vegetables in some butter . . . carrot, swede, onions and celery . . . aromatics and real flavour boosters! Especially when you have sweated them in a bit of butter.
A good beef stock made from a quality beef stock cube or gel pack. I like the Knorr ones. Some Tomato puree (tomato paste in the US), or yes even ketchup will work. If you are using ketchup leave out the HP Sauce. Just use a splash or Worcestershire.
I use herbs as well . . . to be specific, Summer Savoury . . . its an Eastern Canada thing. You can use Marjoram or thyme . . .
Today I made a delicious coleslaw to go along with it. Salad is nice also. Todd likes a slice of bread and butter with his. You could serve any vegetable on the side. Green beans and carrots are nice. I like salad.
Its a great way of stretching out leftovers. I do like a thick gravy with mine. I don't like it too soupy, but if you do, then you could certainly add more gravy, or make your gravy thinner, but do bear in mind that the potatoes will absorb some of the gravy, so you want your gravy to be a bit on the thick side and your potatoes as well. You don't want a soupy thatch!
Yield: 4
A Simple Cottage Pie
prep time: 20 minscook time: 45 minstotal time: 65 mins
Simple, delicious, and a family pleasing comfort food.
ingredients:
400g leftover roast beef, roughly chopped (about 3 cups)
1 TBS butter
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 stick celery, trimmed and chopped
1/2 carrot, peeled and grated
a cube of swede (rutabaga) peeled and grated
1 TBS tomato puree
1 TBS plain flour
1/2 TBS brown sauce (HP sauce)
400ml well flavoured beef stock (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 tsp summer savoury
salt and black pepper to taste
100g frozen peas (1 cup)
For the potato thatch:
6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
warm milk
a knob of butter
salt and pepper
2 TBS grated cheese (Parmesan or cheddar)
melted butter to brush (optionalinstructions:
Put the potatoes in a pot of lightly salted water and
bring to the boil. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes until soft. Drain well
and then return the potatoes to the pan. Shake the pan over the residual
heat of the burner to dry them out a bit and then mash the potatoes
well until smooth with some warm milk, and a knob of butter. Season to
taste with salt and pepper and stir in the cheese. Set aside and keep
warm.
bring to the boil. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes until soft. Drain well
and then return the potatoes to the pan. Shake the pan over the residual
heat of the burner to dry them out a bit and then mash the potatoes
well until smooth with some warm milk, and a knob of butter. Season to
taste with salt and pepper and stir in the cheese. Set aside and keep
warm.
Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the
onion, celery, carrot and sweet. Cook, stirring frequently over medium
low heat until softened and the onion is translucent. Stir in the
flour. Slowly stir in the beef stock and bring to the boil. Cook,
stirring constantly until the mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the
tomato puree, brown sauce, and summer savoury. Season to taste with
salt and black pepper and then stir in the chopped beef. Pour this into
the bottom of a buttered 1 litre (1 quart) shallow baking dish.
Sprinkle the frozen peas over top. Spread the mashed potatoes on top to
cover. Rough up the potato a bit with a fork. Brush with melted
butter.
onion, celery, carrot and sweet. Cook, stirring frequently over medium
low heat until softened and the onion is translucent. Stir in the
flour. Slowly stir in the beef stock and bring to the boil. Cook,
stirring constantly until the mixture boils and thickens. Stir in the
tomato puree, brown sauce, and summer savoury. Season to taste with
salt and black pepper and then stir in the chopped beef. Pour this into
the bottom of a buttered 1 litre (1 quart) shallow baking dish.
Sprinkle the frozen peas over top. Spread the mashed potatoes on top to
cover. Rough up the potato a bit with a fork. Brush with melted
butter.
Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas
mark 6. Bake the casserole in the heated oven for 45 minutes until the
potatoes are golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let stand 15
minutes prior to serving. Serve hot with your favourite sides.
mark 6. Bake the casserole in the heated oven for 45 minutes until the
potatoes are golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Let stand 15
minutes prior to serving. Serve hot with your favourite sides.
Created using The Recipes Generator
We are really going to enjoy the leftovers today for our tea! Dishes like this have a habit of tasting even better the next day! Bon Appetit!
One of the best things about being a food blogger is getting to review cookery books from time to time and I was recently sent a really nice one entitled My Family Kitchen, favourite recipes from four generations . . .
This is the debut cookbook from Celebrity Masterchef 2014 Winner, Sophie Thompson!
Sophie Thompson is a much celebrated, award-winning actress and the winner of Celebrity MasterChef, 2014. My Family Kitchen combines four generations of favourite family recipes, from Granny Annie's Orange and Ginger Chicken to Mum's Spare Ribs.
Sophie Thompson is a much celebrated, award-winning actress and the winner of Celebrity MasterChef, 2014. My Family Kitchen combines four generations of favourite family recipes, from Granny Annie's Orange and Ginger Chicken to Mum's Spare Ribs.
From Uncle James's Pineapple Tarts to Salted Caramel Cookies for her sons. As well as recipes from friends, such as chocolate truffles from the legendary actress Penelope Keith.
The recipes were photographed in Sophie's own kitchen - each one is relayed with her trademark humour, warmth and vivaciousness. They are fuss- free, easy-to-follow and delicious.
Beginning with it's introduction and Larder essentials, there are a further seven chapters and a full index, all accompanied with gorgeous photographs.
Soups Starters and Morsels, containing such delicious recipes as Emma London's Onion Soup with Blue Cheese Toasts, Portobello Mushrooms with Cheese and Pine Nuts, Corn Cheese and Chilli Bread, Richard's Guacamole and Ma's Deviled Cheese, plus a whole lot more.
Fish From the Briney Deep . . . with curries and Salmon and Dill Fishcakes, Salmon Steaks with Scotch Whisky and Brown Shrimp Sauce, Anu and Seve's Quick Fish Curry, and others . . .
Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken . . . with delicious entrees such as Orange and Ginger Chicken, Speedy Super Paella, Saucy BBQ Chicken, and a killer Garlic, Coconut and Chicken Korma to name but a few.
Lambs, Beefs, Pigs and Game brings some old familiars such as Slow Roast Sunday Lamb, a Fabulous Meat Loaf and a very interesting Lamb and Beetroot Curry, and that's only the tip of this meaty iceberg!
Vegetable Things . . . Melanzane (A delicious dish with aubergines, cheese and tomatoes), a fabulous looking Wild Mushroom and Pea Risotto, Martha and Dan's Napoli Peppers, Herby Boulangere Potatoes, Clapshot, etc.
Who's 4 Pud? ME ME ME!! and who can blame me when there are such offerings as State Skool Mess, Passion Pots, Malteser Chocolate Pots, Megsies Whim Whams, and Uncle James's Bavarian Orange Pie . . .
Cakes, Biscuits and Bites . . . James's Epic Walnut Slice, Anne's Irish Brack Bread, Toffee Apple Cake, HOney Hazelnut cake, Birchover Bakewell Tart, Granny Megsie's Millionaire Shortbread, Ern's Cinnamon Toast, Megsie's Dates . . . . and a lotta lotta more delights, such as this delicous Lemony Almond and Polenta Cake which I am showing you here today.
Coz the proof of any pudding is in the eating and I would never talk about a cookerybook without trying the recipes out.
I love lemon cakes . . . and this intrigued me . . . it's flourless, being only composed of polenta (fine cornmeal) and ground almonds, eggs, lemons, butter, sugar . . .
Baked and then topped with a sweet sticky lemon glaze which seeps into the warm cake . . .
With lashings of toasted almonds thrown on top . . . they stick to the glaze . . . I like to dust these types of cakes with icing sugar to show off the toppings . . .
Simple to make, well instructed . . . moreishly lemony unctuously buttery delish! What more could you want?
This is moist and very lemony. Adapted from My Family Kitchen by Sophie Thompson.
150g of polenta (14 TBS fine cornmeal, not self rising)
150g of ground almonds (1 3/4 cup, almond meal or flour)
200g butter, softened, plus extra for buttering the pan (3/4 cup plus 2 TBS)
3 large free range eggs
the zest and juice of 3 large lemonds
100g of icing sugar, sifted (3/4 cup, confectioners sugar)
20g of flaked almonds, toasted (2 TBS)
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Lightly grease and base line a 20cm/8 inch springform cake tin. Set aside.
Place
the polenta, ground almonds, caster sugar, baking powder and butter in
the bowl of a food processor. Blitz together for about 30 seconds to
combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, whizzing after each addition to
combine well. Add the lemon zest and blizt again for about 20 seconds.
(If you don't have a food processor you can do this by hand with a
wooden spoon in a large bowl.)
Spoon the mixture into the
prepared tin and smooth the top over. Bake in the centre of the
preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until golden and coming away
from the edge of the tin slightly.
Whisk together the icing
sugar and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth. (You should have about
100ml of juice, or a scant half cup) When the cake comes out of the
oven use a skewer to make holes all over the top of the cake and, whilst
still warm, pour the lemony syrup over the top. Scatter the flaked
almonds over top while the cake is still tacky and leave to cool in the
tin completely.
Remove from the tin when cold and serve on it's own or with a big dollop of cream on the side.
About the Author:
Sophie Thompson was the winner of Celebrity Masterchef 2014. Born in London and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, she is an Olivier Award-winning actress and has landed roles across film, television, theatre and radio. Her film work includes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Gosford Park, Emma, Persuasion and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Her theatre credits include Guys and Dolls and her television roles have included The Detectorists and Eastenders, for which she won the Inside Soap Best Bitch Award.
My Family Kitchen, by Sophie Thompson
Published by Faber & FAber
ISBN 978-0-571-32417-0
Hard back, full colour, 216 pages, full index
£22.00 UK
The book is also available on Amazon.uk for a lower price than the RRP.
Beginning with it's introduction and Larder essentials, there are a further seven chapters and a full index, all accompanied with gorgeous photographs.
Soups Starters and Morsels, containing such delicious recipes as Emma London's Onion Soup with Blue Cheese Toasts, Portobello Mushrooms with Cheese and Pine Nuts, Corn Cheese and Chilli Bread, Richard's Guacamole and Ma's Deviled Cheese, plus a whole lot more.
Fish From the Briney Deep . . . with curries and Salmon and Dill Fishcakes, Salmon Steaks with Scotch Whisky and Brown Shrimp Sauce, Anu and Seve's Quick Fish Curry, and others . . .
Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken . . . with delicious entrees such as Orange and Ginger Chicken, Speedy Super Paella, Saucy BBQ Chicken, and a killer Garlic, Coconut and Chicken Korma to name but a few.
Lambs, Beefs, Pigs and Game brings some old familiars such as Slow Roast Sunday Lamb, a Fabulous Meat Loaf and a very interesting Lamb and Beetroot Curry, and that's only the tip of this meaty iceberg!
Vegetable Things . . . Melanzane (A delicious dish with aubergines, cheese and tomatoes), a fabulous looking Wild Mushroom and Pea Risotto, Martha and Dan's Napoli Peppers, Herby Boulangere Potatoes, Clapshot, etc.
Who's 4 Pud? ME ME ME!! and who can blame me when there are such offerings as State Skool Mess, Passion Pots, Malteser Chocolate Pots, Megsies Whim Whams, and Uncle James's Bavarian Orange Pie . . .
Cakes, Biscuits and Bites . . . James's Epic Walnut Slice, Anne's Irish Brack Bread, Toffee Apple Cake, HOney Hazelnut cake, Birchover Bakewell Tart, Granny Megsie's Millionaire Shortbread, Ern's Cinnamon Toast, Megsie's Dates . . . . and a lotta lotta more delights, such as this delicous Lemony Almond and Polenta Cake which I am showing you here today.
Coz the proof of any pudding is in the eating and I would never talk about a cookerybook without trying the recipes out.
I love lemon cakes . . . and this intrigued me . . . it's flourless, being only composed of polenta (fine cornmeal) and ground almonds, eggs, lemons, butter, sugar . . .
Baked and then topped with a sweet sticky lemon glaze which seeps into the warm cake . . .
With lashings of toasted almonds thrown on top . . . they stick to the glaze . . . I like to dust these types of cakes with icing sugar to show off the toppings . . .
Simple to make, well instructed . . . moreishly lemony unctuously buttery delish! What more could you want?
*Lemony Almond and Polenta Cake*
Makes 8 to 10 servings
150g of caster sugar (3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp baking powder About the Author:
Sophie Thompson was the winner of Celebrity Masterchef 2014. Born in London and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, she is an Olivier Award-winning actress and has landed roles across film, television, theatre and radio. Her film work includes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Gosford Park, Emma, Persuasion and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Her theatre credits include Guys and Dolls and her television roles have included The Detectorists and Eastenders, for which she won the Inside Soap Best Bitch Award.
My Family Kitchen, by Sophie Thompson
Published by Faber & FAber
ISBN 978-0-571-32417-0
Hard back, full colour, 216 pages, full index
£22.00 UK
The book is also available on Amazon.uk for a lower price than the RRP.
I have always been a cook who makes good use of my leftovers. Casseroles, hashes, salads, sandwiches, pot pies, soups . . . there is no end to the uses I find for them. I often find the leftovers more delicious than the main meal, and I don't think I am alone in that! I cannot imagine anyone not liking leftovers!
So you saw that lovely roast pork I posted yesterday. I do love a roast dinner, don't you? I love the leftovers even more! They are a beautiful ingredient to use to create another delicious meal from. My mother was great at making pot pies from leftover roasts. I like to do that also, but if I can create a delicious casserole, so much the better! Delicious casserles like this Leftover Meat Escallope casserole! You don't need to use pork in this, lamb, beef or chicken work equally as well.
As most of you know I recently spent some time in Liverpool, the cultural centre of the North West here in the UK. Founded as a borough in 1207 and granted city status in 1880, it is a city of great diversity and culture. Chances are, if your ancestors immigrated to North America from Northern Europe, they left from the Liverpool Docks. It is a city with amazing history and talent, having spawned the British Invasion of Pop Music, with the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black, and Billy Fury amongst others.
Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also colloquially known as "Scousers", in reference to the local dish known as "scouse", a form of stew. I think it is a term of affection really. Our small community we live in here at the outskirts of Chester is filled with "Scousers." I just love their accent! At first I found it a bit hard to understand or make out what they were saying if they were speaking really quickly, but I am happy to say that most of the time I no longer have a problem with it.
Scouse was brought to Liverpool by Northern European sailors, it was originally called Labskause. This was finally shortened to Skause and over time the spelling changed to the more Anglicised version we have today, Scouse.
Scouse holds a place in the heart of most Liverpudlian's as the taste of their hometown and is still regulary eaten today by a great number of families. After spending the day there on Monday past (and the Monday before! tee hee) I thought I would honor my visit by preparing this very Liverpudlian Traditional dish for the Toddster.
He said he had had it in the past, but thought mine was the best he'd ever had. Apparently he hadn't enjoyed it those previous times. He is a man that likes a good and thickish gravy with his stews and the other's had been watery. Mine was in no way watery at all. It had a lovely flavour and a nice thick gravy. I do believe this is a winning recipe! I hope you'll try it. I can probably say with plenty of authority that the Beatles were weaned on this dish! I loved it, yeh , yeh, yeh!
*Scouse*
Serves 4 to 6 people
I cannot take credit for this recipe. It is one I found online. Scouse is a traditional dish hailing from Liverpool. Essentially it is a lamb/beef and vegetable stew. Deliciously simple!
half a pound of stewing steak, cut into large cubes
half a pound of lamb breast, cut into large cubes
1 large onion, peeled and cut into chunks
1 pound of carrots, peeled and coined
4 pounds of potatoes
2 Oxo cubes
2 tsp vegetable oil
Worcester sauce
salt and pepper to taste
water
Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the meat and brown it lightly all over. Add some Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper. Add the onion on top. Layer the carrot coins on top of this. Peel and finely chop 1 pound of the potatoes and place this on top of the carrots. Fill the pan half full of cold water. Crumble the stock cubes over top. (Oxo). Cover tightly. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. In time the onion will start to break up and the potato will become soft and make the final sauce thick.
At the end of two hours, peel the remainder of the potato and chop roughly. Add along with a few more splashes of Worcestershire sauce. Cover and simmer for 2 more hours. Serve piping hot with red cabbage, pickled beetroot, pickled onions and crusty bread!
Note: I added some chopped swede and finely chopped turnip. I also added some summer savory because I like that in a stew!
Shhh . . . I'm on holidays and not really supposed to be blogging, but I just couldn't resist showing you what we had for our dinner last night. This is Lamb Rump with a sweet Honey Roast Parsnip, Rosemary & Breadcrumb crust.
A part of the Cook Menu ready meals put out by Marks & Spencers. I picked up a few of them for us to eat while we are away. It gets a little bit expensive eating out everynight, but the cooking equipment in the cottage is a bit inadequate for anything other than heating things up . . . so I told Todd, if am going to have to eat ready meals . . . it has to be M&S ready meals . . at least there will be some meat in their gravy, unlike some I could mention but won't!
Our first night here we had their beef burgers in a cheese crust along with some of their chips and they weren't bad! I've always liked the M&S burgers. Pretty lean and moist, and the cheese on top was quite tasty.
This was our Sunday lunch and I have to say it was also very tasty. The meat was a little bit tough and not as tender as I would have liked, and the crust didn't get crispy like I would have liked either, but that crust was oh so very delicious. It had a delicious proportion of parsnips to bread crumbs and was nice and moist and very flavourful. I loved that the rosemary in it was not overpowering in the least. I am going to try to replicate that stuffing topping when I get home, because we both really liked it a lot!
I served it with some M&S mash and an assortment of their vegetables . . . some chantenay carrots and baby cabbages. Delicious.
I would give this meal a hearty 8 out of 10 for deliciousness, and ease of preparation. (I took off two points because the meat was a bit tough.)
8 out of 10 ain't bad! Beats the pants off of Mickie Dee every time!
One type of food that I have really come to adore since moving over here to the UK is Indian Food. It is a type of food which I had had a very limited experience with prior to that. Back when I was a much younger woman I had a British friend who had cooked a curry for us one night and I thought it was gorgeous, but that had been my only experience. I was of the opinion that it was complicated and much to difficult, and in all truth it sometimes can be, often using ingredients that are unknown and very difficult to find.
Over the past sixteen years I have become very fond of Indian food. My mouth waters at the thought of some gorgeous Onion Bahji's I had at an Indian friend's home one day . . . and I have made a few very delicious curries here in The English Kitchen as well. That's why I was really excited when I was given the opportunity to review this new cookery book, Indian Made Easy, by Amandip Uppal.
This collection of over 140 recipes presents a fresh approach to cooking Indian food, taking you on an amazing spice journey that fits a fast-paced lifestyle. You'll find quick, uncomplicated recipes for Butter Chicken and Prawn Curry, tempting vegetarian dishes, as well as Lamb Kofta with Saffron Creme Fraiche and slowly simmered Beef and Potato Curry. Complete your meal with homemade chutneys, pickles and infused rice, then finish off with a decadent dessert or spiced chai. Special features guide you through making paneer, yoghurt and flatbreads, plus there's a fabulous menu planner and information on pantry staples, must-have spices and alternative ingredients. Indian Made Easy has what you need to create everything from a simple, sumptuous dish to an opulent feast - all filled with the wonderful flavours of India.
I found the very indepth information on spices and other ingredients to be very informative. I like knowing about the ingredients I am going to use. Knowledge is power, and knowing how to use and store things is really important to me. I hate waste.
Blendingtraditional and contemporary Indian cuisine, Amandip's recipes breathe a new lease of life into well-known dishes whilst holding true to tradition at the same time. Broken into tasty chapters entitled Light Bites; Vegetables and Lentils; Fish, Meat and Poultry; Breads and Rice; Salads; Pickles and Chutneys; abd Desserts and Drinks, Indian Made Easy contains quick uncomplicated recipes for every occasion, as well as information on pantry staples, basics, and must-have spices, as well as a fabulous menu planner to help you put together opulent feasts and wonderful combinations of tastes, textures and flavours.
Cook up Lamb Kofta with saffron creme fraiche and Tamarind rice with onion; learn how to make coriander (cilantro) stuffed naan and sesame and ginger chicken skewers; please the veggies with dishes like Aubergine with Chilli Pomegranate Dressing (see above photo) and a cheat's Dhal Makhani; ad sate your sweet tooth with a pistachio kulfi or a Pomegranate and rosewater granita.
Everything is photographed beautifully and in all honesty I cannot wait to get stuck in and start cooking with it! Indian Made Easy is a beautiful and delicious cookbook that brings Indian cookery up to date for the modern and busy cook.
UK based author Amandip Uppal is a former stylist and writer. She worked for many years at The Times, and later became Deputy Fashion Editor of Conde Naste Traveler. Drawing on her life-long love of design and food, she created ChilliHotChocolate.com . . . an online kitchen and dining emporium.
Indian Made Easy, by Amandip Uppal
Photography by Lisa Linder
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Murdoch Books (8 Sept. 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1743368585
ISBN-13: 978-1743368589
Many thanks to Murdoch Books for sending me a copy for review. Although I was sent a free copy I was not oblidged to write a positive review. Any opinions are entirely my own.
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