Recipes that make the grade.

So I'm going to start keeping a record of recipes that will become regular meals for the house.  

The criteria is obviously something we think is yummy.  And hopefully it will be quiet cheap to make.  Nothing too fancy or expensive involved.  And I would also like it to be something that can be made in a bulk batch to it can feed us for a couple of nights, or be frozen or modified into a different meal.  

So this is one we had this week.  We had half as a Shepard's pie, and the second half was frozen as a beef and veg lasagna.  It was very very yummy as the pie.  That half of it also fed the 2 of us for 2 nights (with veg) and I was able to steal a little for lunch with bread too.  

Savoury Mince Ragout

Serves 6

prep 20 mins

cooking 30 mins

• 1 tbs oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1kg beef mince
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
• 1 celery stalk, trimmed, diced
• 2 x 400g can diced toms
• 1/2 cup of water, stock or red wine
• 1/4 cup tomato paste

1. Heat the oil in a large pan on medium heat.  Saute' onion and garlic until tender.
2. Add mince and break it up as it cooks.  Cook for 5-10 mins until browned.
3. Add veggies and cook for 5 mins, stirring.
4. Add toms, tomato paste and water then season to taste.  Bring to the boil.
5. Simmer for 10 mins or until veggies are tender.  Serve with pasta, rice or on toast.

This is a double batch so you can freeze half to make something else with.  Eg lasagna, Pie, Spaghetti, Shepard's Pie or Moussaka.

This is also a cheap desert I was rather impressed with.  

Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

serves 6

prep 20 mins

cooking 45 mins

• 60g butter
• 1/2 cup (125ml) milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar
• 1 cup (150g) s-r flour
• 1 tbs cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup (165g) firmly packed brown sugar
• 1tbs cocoa powder, extra
• 2 cups (500ml) boiling water

1. Pre-heat oven 180 deg C / 160 deg C fan-forced.  Grease 1.5ltr (6-cup) ovenproof dish.
2. Melt butter with milk in med saucepan.  Remove from heat and stir in extract and caster sugar and then sifted flour and cocoa.  Spread into dish. 
3. Sift brown sugar and extra cocoa over mixture and then gently pout boiling water over the mixture.  Bake for 40 mins or until center is firm.  Stand for 5 mins before serving.

This was very nice with some whipped cream, or would be great with vanilla ice-cream.  Yum!  Sometimes I crave that kind of thing.  And used to get the crappy pre-mix packs from woolies.  No more!