As the darker nights draw in, comfort food is the perfect solution. Here's our recipe for a mouth-watering French style casserole
Ingredients
900g (2lb) stewing beef, cut into 3cm (1 inch) cubes
225g (8oz) onions, peeled and chopped
4 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp tomato puree Red wine (or red grape juice) – enough to cover the top of the beef
Quarter of an orange (with peel)
50g (2oz) black olives
Bouquet garni
Method
Heat the oil in a large pan or casserole dish and sauté the beef on all sides until it starts to brown.
Add the onion and garlic, cooking until the onion looks translucent, then stir in the tomato puree and pour over the wine or grape juice to a level that almost covers the beef.
Add the orange and bouquet garni, cover with a lid and simmer in a slow oven (325F/160C, Gas Mark 3, Aga bottom oven) for one hour.
Give the casserole a stir then leave it to cook for another 30 minutes to an hour with the lid off, so the fluid level reduces but does not dry up.
When the meat is tender, remove the orange and bouquet garni then stir in the black olives to finish. Serve with flat noodles and vegetables of your choice. Delicious!
Tip: If you have any wine left in the bottle, DO NOT pour it down the sink. Pour the wine into an ice cube tray and freeze, ready to use in your next casserole, sauce or marinade.
Cranachan is a lovely Scottish dessert which is perfect as a delicious finale for a Burns Night supper. This recipe uses half-fat crème fraîche to lighten the cream mixture and flaked almonds for extra crunch
A feast of flavours to satisfy those sweet cravings, this is a belter of a bread and butter pudding, which really packs a punch! Perfect for Christmas gatherings
Brussels sprouts – they’re a festive classic that usually divides people. Yet with a simple addition of pomegranate and flaked almonds, even the most doubting of Christmas dinner diners could be won over by this recipe
These warming and hearty fillers have succulent chicken, chestnut mushrooms and artichokes in a delicious creamy sauce flavoured with mustard – topped off with puff pastry. Tasty!
Join Sara Whatley in making some yummy festive recipes that the kids (and adults!) will some yummy festive recipes that the kids (and adults!) will love getting stuck into
This is the perfect, homely dinner to look forward to as the autumn nights draw in. Adele Trathan explains how to make this delicious casserole that is baked and served straight from the pumpkin
This is a hearty autumn or early winter version of Minestrone Soup served with a lovely homemade pesto. Containing such a variety of vegetables – it will definitely up your 5-a-day quota
Even in outer space, there’s nothing quite like a cappuccino muffin. Star Trek legend William Shatner goes boldly into the kitchen and delivers the goods...
Deliciously light and fluffy, these red velvet cupcakes with a gorgeous soft cheese frosting are ideal for an afternoon tea – they are sure to impress your guests
This probably features on the menu of every Persian restaurant in the world, the marinade of yogurt and lemon juice tenderises the meat beautifully. This simplified version can be made at home in a conventional oven or grill if you don’t have a barbecue
Try this winning BBQ chicken recipe from Grillstock founders Jon Finch and Ben Merrington and learn how to make both an authentic South Carolina BBQ sauce, and their secret BBQ rub.
Based on a retro classic, this blancmange is a far cry from its wobbly 1970s reputation – instead, this is a light and creamy raspberry and almond dessert
One of the wonders of Sussex is the capacity to create food and drink of outstanding quality and Highweald Wine is one such example, producing English Sparking Wines of exceptional standard – Robert Veitch went to find out more, and enjoy a glass or two
Recipe: Cranachan
Recipe: Eggs Benedict
Recipe: Tiramisu Bread & Butter Pudding
Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate & Almonds
Recipe: Chocolate, Banana & Pecan Cookies
Recipe: Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pies
Kids Zone: Make Your Own Festive Treats!
Recipe: Hearty Beef & Pumpkin Stew
Recipe: Autumn Minestrone Soup
Recipe: William Shatner’s Cappuccino Muffins!
Kids Zone: Apples, Apples and more Apples
Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes
Recipe: Saffron & Lemon Chicken Joojeh Kebabs
South Carolina BBQ Chicken Thighs
Weddings: The Food of Love
Vino, Vidi, Vici: The Vineyards, Breweries & Distilleries of Sussex
Recipe: Raspberry Blancmange
Recipe: Sizzling Spare Ribs with BBQ Sauce
Highweald Estate: Wines of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Recipe: Salted Caramel Praline Brownie