Thursday 24 April 2014

Chilli Beef Stew

A spicy stew that makes a nice change from chilli with mince

Chilli Beef Stew

Serves four

Gently heat a tiny drop of oil and dot of butter/spread in a heavy casserole pan that will go in the oven (if you don't have one, use an ordinary pan and transfer it into a oven dish later or just do on the hob) and lightly brown 1lb of stewing/casserole/shin beef.

Add some crushed cloves of garlic (I usually use about half a bulb) and a couple of onions (I usually chop finely to disappear into the sauce) and soften for a few minutes.

Add (according to how hot you want it to be) a total of three teaspoons of cayenne pepper/paprika (I usually use one-and-a-half teaspoons of each and that is quite spicy), stir through then add a tin of chopped tomatoes, a large pinch of oregano, some black pepper, about a tablespoon of vinegar, about a tablespoon of tomato puree and then add some water (about three-quarters of the empty tin of tomatoes).

(If you like you can add chopped peppers with the onions, or kidney beans when cooking)

Bring it to the boil and let it simmer for about half an hour, before putting it in the oven for a couple of hours, about 130c/GM3.

If you are making it in advance, you can either put it straight in the oven and then just reheat tomorrow, or switch it off and do in oven tomorrow. (Or you can leave the oven off all together and just leave it on a very low heat with the lid on for a couple of hours, stirring every 15-20 mins.)

This is really nice with baked potatoes, crusty bread, garlic bread, pasta or rice.


You might also like

Beef in Beer

Chicken and Bacon Casserole

Loaded Skins


Stuffed Peppers



teaspoon = 5ml
tablespoon = 15ml
1lb is about 450-500g


For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas




Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Monday 7 April 2014

Chilli Prawn Curry

Curry quicker than a takeaway 


Chilli Prawn Curry

Serves four. Lovely with rice or naan bread and natural yoghurt

Chop an onion, a bunch of spring onions, crush three or four cloves of garlic and finely chop one or two green chillies (I usually stick my hand in a sandwich bag, cut the stalk off, cut in half lengthways, scrape the seeds out and then use a rocker-chopper (mezzaluna) to chop without getting covered).

Gently soften for about three minutes in a tiny amount of oil in a big pan, stirring (I use a wok for this).


Add 1tsp turmeric, 1tsp cumin, 1tsp ground coriander and 1.5 tsps of curry powder (I usually use Schawartz 'mild') and cook gently, stirring for a minute then add a tin of (chopped) tomatoes and 1/4 pint of water. Bring to the boil then simmer for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is reduced down to thicker than before you added the water (I wouldn't recommend trying to save time by leaving the water out and missing out the simmering, as the spices will taste gritty and the flavour won't be quite right either).


Add about 1lb of prawns (I usually use half and half big and small prawns, frozen defrosted) and a handful of chopped fresh coriander and gently heat through for three or four minutes. (Try not to have the prawns too wet or the sauce will go too sloppy and the prawns will boil tough if you try to reduce it back down. Also bear in mind frozen prawns can be a bit salty, so you probably won't need to add any salt to the sauce)


Serve with some natural yoghurt for people to stir in to taste.


(If you want to use cream, rather than serve with yoghurt, add about 1/4 pint after you have reduced it and before you add the prawns and fresh coriander, simmering for about five minutes first.)





You might also like:

Things to have with poppadoms


Chicken Kebabs


Spicy Prawn Salad



1tsp = 5ml

1/4 pint = 150mls

1lb = about 450g





For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas





Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )

Sunday 6 April 2014

Very Chocolatey Easter Nests

Just in case Easter isn't chocolately enough...


Easter Nests

Melt cooking chocolate and add cornflakes/rice crispies/coco pops in the usual way. Line a plastic mixing bowl with cling film and spoon the chocolate mix in up the sides to make a nest or basket. Once it's set, lift out and peel off cling film (if it sticks in bowl, you can loosen it by quickly plunging the outside of the bowl into warm water). Fill with more chocolate treats - mini eggs are good!


Other things to do with kids


For more ideas, follow me on twitter @Tyne_Teas




Please visit my Intro post for more about my blog and me - I hope you enjoy my recipes : )