There is a tale behind this simple dinner. We had about 250g of raw mince Beef in the freezer from a previous meal and thought a simple Cottage Pie would be good. So I fished the mince out and popped it on the hub top to the thaw. Nothing too strange so far. But….. We’ve cleaned the cooker so many time over the last couple of years than the hob symbols have disappeared. Sue has a mental plan for which knob turns on which ring, but it won’t stick in my head. So when I’d pealed the Potatoes and cut them ready to boil I turned the ring on as Sue was chopping Onions etc. on the other work surface. I set about washing up the bits and bobs we had used so far. Strange Plastic smell – Argghhh!!! I’d turned the back ring on and melted the Plastic tub the mince was in!!!!
Off to the local convenience store for more not Plastic infused mince I trundled! It was good in the end…..
Ingredients:-
500g of minced Pork
2 large Onions, finely chopped
Soy Sauce (GF if required)
Tomato Puree
2 Carrots, finely chopped
Potatoes, boiled and mashed
Gravy Granules (Bisto Best are GF)
Cheese, grated to top
Oil
Vegetables of your choice
Method:-
(1) Heat a little oil in a large pan. Add the mince and fry to brown all over, stirring to break up any large chunks. Set aside.
(2) Add a splash more oil to the pan, Carrot and Onion and fry until the Onion is softened.
(3) Mix the Gravy Granules with boiling water to make sufficient to moisten the mince in a casserole dish.
(4) Preheat the oven to 180c.
(5) Add the mince to the Onions and Carrot and stir in the gravy, a good dash of Soy Sauce and a squeeze of Tomato Puree..
(6) Transfer to a large casserole dish and add the mashed Potato to the top to cover.
(7) Place the casserole in the oven uncovered for 30 minutes or until the Potato has a golden brown top.
(8) Sprinkle with grated Cheese and place back in the oven until the Cheese has melted and crisped a little.
We enjoyed ours with Corn on the Cob and Fried Kale.
We wouldn't normally consider Duck as it's generally out of our budget of £4 a day. But at a 50% discount at the supermarket this was a tasty and very welcome treat.
Ingredients:-
2 Duck Breasts (A crown at £3 which Sue dissembled in our case)
1 ½ tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Grated fresh Ginger
A Glug of Oyster Sauce
Oil to fry
Salt to season
1 tbsp Butter / Margarine
1 tsp Cumin seeds
100g Pilau Rice
800ml Chicken Stock85g Frozen Peas
A bunch of Spring Onions, finely chopped
2 tbsp Chutney to serve.
Method:-
(1) Score the Duck skin and rub with Garam Masala, Ginger and Oyster Sauce.
(2) Chill for 30 minutes to allow the marinade to flavour the meat.
(3) Heat the oven to 200c.
(4) Gently fry the Duck breasts skin side down until the fat runs out.
(5) Transfer to a baking dish skin side up then leave to rest.
(6) Melt butter in a large pan. Add Cumin seeds and fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
(7) Transfer the Duck breasts into the oven.
(8) Stir in the Rice.
(9) Pour over the Stock and simmer for 10 minutes.
(10) Add Peas in the last 4 minutes.
(11) When the liquid has absorbed folk through and add the Spring Onions.
(12) Season to taste.
(13) Slice the Duck breasts and serve on a bed of the Rice.