In our house it was always easy to tell what we would be having for dinner as the weekly menu rarely changed. Roast chicken, beef, bacon, cabbage, stew, pork chops and whiting fish were all featured each week. I used to dread Wednesdays as this meant stew day and it was my least favourite dinner. During the summer months it would be replaced with a salad dinner which comprised of cooked ham, turkey, tomatoes, eggs, lettuce and a big plate of steaming new potatoes with loads of butter, oh how I loved to see the seasons change and avoid battles over the dinner table for at least a few months! So now I have kids of my own I realise my mother was doing a great job trying to get meat and vegetables into us on a daily basis to keep us healthy and strong and here I am continuing the saga here in my own house. Luckily I have three great eaters here and meal time battles are few and far between. They ironically love stew and I have actually come to love it myself, though sorry Mammy I think mine is nicer! The great thing about stew is that anything goes, these measurements are to my families tastes so add more/less if you wish.
Ingredients
- 500g stewing beef, diced
- 500g small potatoes, peeled
- 500ml Guinness
- 400g tin of plum tomatoes
- 5 carrots, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp of flour
- 1 tbsp of barbecue sauce/brown sauce
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
Toss the beef in the flour and add to saucepan, brown the meat
Add the onions, carrots and potatoes and stir
Thrown in the tin of tomatoes and the can of Guinness and bring to the boil.
At this stage I add in the barbecue sauce as the boys love a little spice
Season to taste with salt and pepper
Turn down hob to a simmer and put lid on.
Leave to simmer for at least 2 hours to allow the meat to become melting tender
This is such a great one pot meal and foolproof once you buy good quality beef from your butcher. Though looking at the fabulous weather today I might be putting away the stew pot for another few weeks! HELLO SUMMER!!
That's funny Paula, stew was also a dinner that I use to dread as a child and now I quite enjoy it! Actually we only had it yesterday. I love Guinness with beef so your recipe sounds lovely!
ReplyDeleteThat picture takes me back! Oh how I hated arriving in from school to the smell of the stew simmering away on the cooker. These days of course there is nothing more comforting on a cold winters day - amazing the u turns we make from our childhoods.
ReplyDeleteYour recipe sounds delicious Paula, one I'll definitely make. Glad to hear your getting some nice weather too, yet another miserable morning here in Wexford!
Nicola :)
I used to hate stew days too - never knew when you were going to come across a piece of fat - yuck :-(
ReplyDeletePaula I love your addition of the barbecue sauce - may have to try it!
I hate stew! But we all feel that way as it was made so often, but was economical for our Mams to make to feed the whole family. I came in from school one day and said "oh not auld stew again". My mother calls it Auld Stew to this day! Brown sauce/BBQ sauce, Guinness, & tomatoes sound like great additions to pep it up.
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny how we all hated it!! I think there maybe something wrong with my kids especially the eldest, it's his favourite!!! Thanks for comments ladies!
ReplyDeleteOh this looks good and would be perfect for the cool evenings we are having at the moment in Perth. Glad to see the kids gobble it up!
ReplyDelete