I think the idea of pre-making a large batch of beef casserole, freezing it in batches and then jazzing it up when needed is a great one. This Diane-style version would be a quick way to make a tasty dish when you don’t have much time or energy left after a busy day.
Did swagmen really make this out in the bush? I have no idea, but even if they didn’t it still makes a great hearty meal for the family. If you want you can easily add potato or other vegetables and I’d recommend leaving the meat mixture to cool a little before you put it on the puff pastry as hot meat will make the pastry soft and harder to handle.
A strange name I know, but this oven bag recipe for beef rolls looks quite tasty. I don’t think there’s really any necessity to use an oven bag if you don’t have one, they would work just as well in a casserole dish. You need 500g of steak and should cook them at 180o.
Most meatloaves I know of are baked in a tin or hand molded into a loaf shape. This is the first time I’ve seen a recipe that steams the loaf in a basin, but trust Mum to have cut out and kept something different. The combination of potato, carrot and onions together with sausage meat and some spices in this recipe should make for a tasty loaf.
This is a nice meaty pasta bake with carrot, celery and mushrooms cunningly hidden to fool those picky eaters. I like that you can make it and freeze it as it’s always great to have something in the freezer for those busy or lazy nights when you just don’t have time or feel like cooking.
This recipe was one of mother-in-law’s. Sadly she passed away many years ago so I don’t have too many of her recipes. She was a great cook though and this early version of Beef Stroganoff was one of my favourite things that she used to make.
Beef Burgandy is just the fancy name for slow cooked beef with red wine. My tried and true way of cooking it has always been by using the first method shown here, which gives you lovely tender beef in a rich sauce. The second method using an oven bag I found in Mum’s collection and should work just as well. The more modern way, of course, would be too use a slow cooker. Whichever way you end up cooking it, it’s a great winter dish. You get the best flavor by using the cheaper cuts of beef – gravy beef, blade or even skirt steak.
MY WAY:
THE OVEN BAG WAY:
As it says this is similar to a pastie, but instead of chopping the meat and vegetables up you layer them and then put a pastry lid on top. Although it doesn’t say to, I’d make sure you put a few slits in the pastry lid to let the steam out.
Mum’s friend Thel must have made this recipe using sausages, but from the handwritten title Mum must thought it was best with meatballs. I don’t think it matters which one you use, it tastes good with either.
SAUCE FOR MEATBALLS/SAUSAGES
Cook sausages or meatballs. Fry onions in oil until softened, stir in mustard, tomato sauce, vinegar, worcestershire sauce, fruit sauce or chutney. Simmer 2-3 minutes. Mix cornflour with water, add till boiling and thickened, cover then add sausages or meatballs. Meatball recipe: minced steak, 1 tablespoon cooked rice, onion, curry powder.
This meatloaf is a bit of a change from the standard mince steak/sausage meat combination. It has a sweet curry flavour which makes it just that bit different and it’s good hot or cold.
Beb's Recipe Drawer 