Cooking up a storm.

OMG am I busy at the moment, it’s difficult with Mrs CB recovering as everything kind of falls to me at the minute, cooking, washing up, tidying, clothes washing, ironing etc.  Thank god we have a company of cleaners coming in every Monday to do the cleaning.  It does mean that everything else at the minute kind of takes a back seat when required, even the Xbox.  I have at least managed to start playing Fable II although I am nowhere near as far through as DM or Chad, I am however really enjoying it, although like Chad I do feel that something is not quite right.  Yesterday though I did take some time out of my gaming to actually do some proper cooking and do one of my absolutely favourite Sunday meals, Slow Roast Beef and I felt it had to be shared with my loyal reader out there, so here we go, the first in what is probably going to be a short run (probably this and one other recipes).

Ingredients

Joint of beef (nothing fancy)

Various veg (Turnip/Swede, 2 Parsnips, 2 Carrots, Leek, 2 large Onions)

2 cans of Guinness

Marmite, Stock Cubes, Gravy Powder

Dried herbs to taste

Potatoes

Ok now this one takes a while and you need to slow cook the beef for around 7-8 hrs (yes SEVEN to EIGHT hrs).  Heat a frying pan with a small amount of oil in it and seal the beef on all sides until no pink is showing.  Place the beef in the pre-heated slow cooker.  Dice the remaining veg, suggest Onion and Leeks in first and brown them then put into slow cooker, then add the remaining veg and allow them to brown.  Keep them in the pan and add a tbsp of  marmite and stir to allow it to coat the veg then add one of the cans of Guinness  to the pan and allow to simmer for about a minute.  Add the contents of the pan to the slow cooker and return the pan to the heat.  Add the final can of Guinness to the pan along with around 2-3 tablespoons of the Gravy Granules and 2 beef stock cubes.  Bring to the simmer and whisk to prevent lumps and to de-glase the pan.  Once it’s boiled for a minute add to the slow cooker and make sure than all the veg is covered by the liquid, adding water if needed.  Leave to cook for around 3-4 hours.

Half way through the cooking time remove the beef and using a hand blender (can put in a normal blender a bit at a time) blend the veg into a gravy, adding a sprinkling of herbs when blended.  Return the beef to slow cooker and leave for another 3-4 hrs.  Once the beef is litterally falling apart, boil up the potatoes and mash with a little butter or marg and simply serve together.  Keep the remaining gravy for use as soup, it’s worth it.

Well now that I have typed that all out, I’m almost drooling and I think it’s time to go to lunch.