< Kitchen
< Winter Warmers

Chicken Stock
Pancakes
Cranachan
Hedgehog Cake
Speculaas Biscuits
Austrian Apple Cake
Plum Squares
Apple and Sausage Loaf
Orange and Walnut Loaf
Pumpkin Pie
Beef and Guinness Casserole
Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Soda Bread
Pumpkin and Orange Muffins
Quince Vodka
Mash O’ Nine Sorts
Pork Sausages with Beans
Posh Polenta Pancakes
Basic Muffins
Dainty Toasties
Awesome American Pancakes
Orange and Rhubarb Crumble

Beef and Guinness Casserole

This rich, tasty stew is blindingly easy to make – you just leave it in the oven for three hours. A great winter warmer.

4 tbsp oil
800g lean stewing steak, cut into cubes
4 medium onions, cut into quarters
6 carrots, cut into quarters
100g streaky bacon, cut into small strips
2 tbsp plain flour
1 x 400g tin plum tomatoes
1 large can Guinness or stout
300ml beef stock (hot)
1 tsp dried marjoram or oregano
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper


Heat the oven to 150 degrees C/Gas Mark 2.
Heat the oil in a metal casserole dish. Brown the stewing steak to seal in the flavour. Add the onion, carrots and bacon and fry for a further 5 mins. Stir in the flour and add the tin of tomatoes, followed by the Guinness, stock, herbs and seasoning. Make sure that the casserole is bubbling before placing it in the oven for 3 hours.
This is delicious served with seasonal greens, mashed potatoes and Spiced Quinces.