This recipe is a warm hug on a cold day or if you’re feeling a little down and under the weather.  The recipe asks for prep work, but most of it can be done the night before.  Use whatever veggies you have and you can even add some potatoes if you like.  Spice wise use whatever is in your cupboard and each time it will come out different, but just as tasty.

Time:

3 hours (including cooking and prep time)

Serves:

10

Good for:

• Hearty warm winter meal
• If someone is feeling under the weather

Ingredients:

• 900g of beef cubes
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 cups water
• 1 tspn Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove peeled garlic
• 1 or 2 bay leaves
• 1 medium sliced onion
• 1 tspn salt
• 1 tspn sugar
• ½  tspn pepper
• ½  tspn paprika
• 1 pinch of ground cloves allspice (optional)
• 3 large sliced carrots
• 4 quartered red potatoes
• 3 ribs chopped celery
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Kitchen things you’ll need:

• Large pot
• Medium bowl
• Mixer
• Parchment/wax paper
• Cookie baking sheet(s)

Making it:

1. In a large pot brown meat in hot oil.
2. Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice.
3. Cover and simmer about 1 and a half hours.
4. Remove bay leaves and garlic clove.
5. Add carrots, potatoes, and celery.
6. Cover and cook for another 30 to 40 minutes longer.
7. To thicken gravy, remove 2 cups of the hot liquid from the pot.
8. Using a separate bowl, combine ¼ cup water and cornstarch until smooth.
9. Mix the cornstarch mixture with hot liquid and return the mixture back to the pot.
10. Stir and cook until bubbly.

Tip:

• Stir with rustic bread, even if a little stale.
• You can add some shredded choose on top for added flavour.
• Don’t be intimidated by the prep work, use what you have and whatever similar spices in your pantry, it’s never 100% and each house will have a different way of making it.
• Make sure your beef is lean for best flavour and texture.
• Feel free to cook longer for the flavours to simmer together and combine even more, having a slow cooker here is a bonus but not a must.