Sweet and Spicy Beef

In cooler weather there’s nothing better than a crock pot meal. But why should the crock pot only being relegated to cooler weather. It’s great in warm weather too, as it doesn’t make the kitchen hot with cooking. Yes, you can tell where I’m heading with this can’t you? I have another crock pot meal to share with you. My new crock pot has been getting a huge amount of use since it arrived. Sweet and Spicy Beef Ingredients Tablespoon oil 16 ounces round or rump steak 2 cloves garlic 2 small Spanish onions Quarter cup red wine 1 teaspoon … Continue reading

Crock Pot Sweet Curry

Given the cheap bulk rump we bought recently here’s another crock pot recipe using beef. However if rump is not cheap in your area you can use blade, skirt steak or gravy beef. Just allow another hour in cooking time. This is one of those recipes that I made up on the spur of the moment. It is so easy because nearly everything goes in at the beginning and that’s it except for the yoghurt which is added in the last half hour. You will notice too it contains light agave nectar. This is a natural sweetener than can be … Continue reading

Beef and Mushroom Pie

I’ve been having fun since I discovered the gluten free pastry in our supermarket recently. So here’s another one for a delicious homemade meat pie. HINT This recipe contains one of my favored ingredients –lentils. Lentils are almost undetectable when added to soups, stews and casseroles as they will absorb the flavor of other ingredients, while still being are a great source of fiber and protein that contain little fat. There is no need to cook the lentils in this dish beforehand. Simply rinse them and pick out any lentils that are discolored. ONE NOTE OF CAUTION Do not get … Continue reading

Beef Curry

Since it’s still cold weather over the other side of the world, I’ve been trawling through my crock pot recipes for favorites to share with you. Here is one for Beef Curry. HINT. You could use round steak in this recipe and reduce the cooking time but I prefer to use the cheaper cuts. Thought the cheaper cuts of meat like chuck steak and gravy beef will take longer to cook, they are also full of flour so worth it and you’ll be helping your budget as well. Beef Curry Ingredients 16 ounces of chuck steak, or gravy beef, cubed … Continue reading

Spicy Vegetable Tagine

If your family thinks vegetables are bland and boring I suggest this recipe will help them get over this attitude. Mick is a big fan of meat and once would not have considered anything meatless a meal but he loved this. An advantage of this recipe is that it is wheat and gluten free as well as dairy free. Hint Don’t just cook up enough for one meal cook a huge pot of it and freeze the rest for quick meals. Vegetable Tagine Ingredients 1 tablespoon light olive oil 1 small aubergine sliced 1 Spanish onion sliced 3 cloves garlic, … Continue reading

Side Dishes For Those Barbecues

Summer often means barbecue time. Although we are in winter in Australia and looking for warming curries, stews and casseroles, I know in the Northern hemisphere you are in summer. If you’re like me you’re often casting around for different salads or side dishes to go with the barbecued meats. Here are two great side dishes using potatoes. Minted potatoes Ingredients 2 pounds boiled new potatoes 1 Spanish onion 2 ounces margarine or butter 1 tablespoon gluten free plain flour 1 and a quarter cups gluten free vegetable stock 1 and a quarter cups evaporated milk Half cup parsley chopped … Continue reading

Dairy Free Crock Pot Meal

As it’s getting colder here in Australia now that we’re into winter, the crock pot is going to get a lot more use. This is one that I made the other night which is warming, simple to make and tasty. It is both gluten free and dairy free. HINT The type of meat I use depends largely on what is on special. Sometimes it is just as cheap to buy rump steak or blade, than it is to buy chuck steak or gravy beef. So look for what is on special to get the best buy. Often buying in bulk … Continue reading

Veal Paprika

Veal is one of those meats people either love or they can’t stand. My mother couldn’t eat veal. It made her sick. I love it. I used to buy a side of veal for the freezer. That was back in the days before veal prices got ridiculously expense. These days I mostly buy a shoulder to roast in the barbecue. I might cut some of the shoulder to use in this dish before cooking the roast. Otherwise if I see veal steak cheap I buy it. You can also use veal chops if you find them on special. But instead … Continue reading

A Cardinal Rule When Cooking

There’s a cardinal rule we should abide by when using a recipe given to us by someone else or from a magazine or cook book. That is to remember that not everyone’s taste buds are the same. This is especially important when dealing with dishes that have curry, chili or other hot, spicy ingredients. Yes, I am speaking from personal experience. Just recently I was cooking Korma Chicken using a packet of ingredients I bought on a shopping excursion. I should have realized Indian people have a higher tolerance than most Western people do but I had it in my … Continue reading

One-Pot Cooking- A New Cook Book

If you’ve been reading my blogs and recipes you know I’m a no fuss cook, so when I saw a book titled One-pot Cooking how could I possibly resist? Along with the book came a copy of the March issue of Super Food Ideas magazine, which has been around for over 10 years and has a wide readership. I admit I didn’t even know it existed. But the Mexican Chicken Bake on the cover is enough to make me think it will be good too. As a bonus to Super Foods Ideas One-pot Cooking which tells me it has ‘ … Continue reading