Tag: carrot

Crispy Ginger Beef

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb flank steak or sirloin steak, sliced into narrow strips
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 large carrot, julienned
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh ginger, minced
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup sugar

Preparation:

  1. Place cornstarch in a large bowl.
  2. Add water gradually while whisking.
  3. Beat eggs into cornstarch mixture.
  4. Toss in beef and stir to coat.
  5. Pour 1 inch of oil into pan (I used a pot, it helps cut down on splashes), heat until boiling hot, but not smoking.
  6. Add a quarter of the beef to the oil.
  7. Separate with a fork and cook, stirring frequently, until crispy, Remove, drain on paper towel and set aside.
  8. Repeat until all the beef is cooked.
  9. Drain off all oil except for about 1 tablespoons and add carrots, onion, ginger, and garlic in that order.
  10. Stir fry briefly over high heat.
  11. Combine last 5 ingredients and add to vegetable mixture.
  12. Bring to a boil and then add beef.
  13. Heat through and serve immediately.

Source: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/CRISPY-GINGER-BEEF-50004915

Baked Ground Beef Wellington

Jamie Oliver - Jamie's Food RevolutionI recently borrowed another cook book from our local public library, which I reckon is the best place to check out new cook books. The book I borrowed was Jamie’s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals and had some pretty good recipes in it. The version of the book that I borrowed was the international version titled “Jamie’s Ministry of Food – Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24-Hours“.

So far the favourite recipe that I tried was the Baked Minced Beef Wellington. It was surprising easy to make, and tasted great! Everyone in the family wants me to make it again…

Whole Baked Ground Beef Wellington

I found a recipe online that was very similar to Jamie Oliver’s recipe. Like I said, I am definitely making this one again.

Sliced Baked Ground Beef Wellington

Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

  • Vegetable oil
  • 400 grams (1 pound) Ground Beef / Mince
  • 1 medium brown onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 4-cups mixed vegetables (I usually use 1 cup frozen corn and three cups of mixed frozen peas and carrots, but beans are also good)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of fresh ground pepper
  • 3 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 3 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 4 large potatoes mashed (about 3-cups)
  • Grated cheddar cheese

Instructions:

Pre-heat the oven to 180C (350F).

Brown the beef and onion in a pan with the oil.

Add the garlic and mixed vegetables. Continue to stir the ingredients until the vegetables are tender.

Mix in the salt, pepper and other herbs and stir it all together.

Pour the mixture into a 6×9” casserole dish that’s been either sprayed with oil or buttered. Cover the mixture with the mashed potato and bake it until the edges are browned, which is about 30-minutes.

Optional:

My wife’s preference for this recipe is to cover the shepherd’s pie with cheese before baking. The cheese melts and browns during baking and tastes great.

The last time I made this recipe I poured some brown gravy over the Shepherd’s Pie before serving and it added a great richness to the meal. Next time I make this I will probably add the gravy again.

Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker Recipe

Yesterday I did a whole chicken in a slow cooker that turned out fantastic.

Here are the ingredients:

  • 1 Large Roasting Chicken (ours was 1.75kg, or 4 pounds)
  • 4 x Medium Potatoes
  • 2 x Large Carrots
  • 1 x Large Brown Onion
  • 3 x Cloves / Tea Spoons Crushed Garlic
  • 1/2 Cup Cooking wine (I used a $5.00 bottle of Chardonnay)

I bought a pre-marinated chicken, but if you use a normal chicken rub your favourite chicken seasoning on the outside of the chicken (my favourite is Montreal Chicken Seasoning).

Wash and cut your potatoes into quarters and put them on the bottom of the slow cooker.

Peal and cut the carrots and put them in the bottom of the slow cooker with the potatoes.

Cut up your onions and put them in the slow cooker.

Add the 1/2 cup of wine (it doesn’t sound like enough, but because of how the slow cooker works, it will be enough).

Add the 3 x tea spoons of crushed garlic to the vegetables and wine.

Place the chicken on it’s back in the slow cooker on top of all the vegetables and wine.

Put the lid on the slow cooker and let it cook. The time will depend on the setting you, but this is a rough guide:

  • High for 5 – hours
  • Low for 10 – hours
  • Auto for 7.5 – hours (I used this one)

When it’s finished you will have a very moist and tasty chicken. I left the skin on when I cooked it, but then scraped the skin off after cooking.

I served this with creamed corn and fresh white crusty bread for a really tasty dinner.