English pot roast
For a long time I have fancied slow cooking. The notion is romantic, the food succulent and tasty, the cooking often easy and cheap.
Months of ‘I am sure I really really want a casserole dish’ paid off: I bought one last Thursday. This evening (starting at 2pm) I cooked my first dish - a simple classic English pot roast from Delia Smith’s Complete Cookery Course. I was unsure of what I was doing, how much is ’some beef dripping,’ but managed to cook a wholesome meal x 4 with juicy meat although a slightly bland taste (refreshingly so?). And so I am happy with my casserole dish purchase; it will be a long standing friend.
I look forward to trying other dishes starting next week.
Why did I not get into this years ago?
Cost
| cost | % used | dish cost | |
| 1kg rolled brisket | 4.14 | 100 | 4.14 |
| 4 small onions | 0.52 | 80 | 0.42 |
| 4 small carrots | 0.33 | 100 | 0.33 |
| 4 sticks celery | 0.69 | 30 | 0.21 |
| 1/2 large swede | 1.15 | 50 | 0.58 |
| some beef dripping | 0.59 | 5 | 0.03 |
| 110g grilled mushrooms | 1.39 | 100 | 1.39 |
| 1/2 pint hot stock | 2.49 | 60 | 1.49 |
| sprig of thyme | [garden] | ||
| a bay leaf | 0.89 | 10 | 0.09 |
| tablespoon flour | |||
| tablespoon butter | |||
| salt | |||
| pepper | |||
| total: | £8.67 | ||
| each meal: | £2.17 |
That is much cheaper than I was expecting, perhaps I should include the cost of the Hardy’s Shiraz?
Forgot to say that I came back late from a talk and so did not bother making the gravy.
It’s funny how choices run in the family. That dish looks Le Creuse? Well, I remember Mom always having an orange, jolly heavy, Le Creuse frying pan. Not sure if she still has it. So officially you have made an investment for life in your new casserole dish!
Enjoy many more scrumptious meals in it!!!
I do still have it!
What an economical repast!
Maybe you could show off your new skills and casserole dish by making something for us this weekend?
It looks yummy scrummy (and would be even better in my tummy!) x
It is a Le Creuset, and yeah it will last as it cost a small child.
We can cook something this weekend - how about Sunday lunch with Gerald? Oh, lamb shanks please!
Go on then! Sell ‘lamb shanks a la Rob’ to me as a cautious lamb-eater, and I will give you my honest opinion. Sunday lunch sounds lovely x
Dad is thrilled to see you cooking meat and not just veggies!!!
Have now officially shown Dad how to read the Engtect
Love ya lots
from Michelle, Dad & me
Cool, I am glad Dad is thrilled. I will be eating lots of meat I think. I do like meat but have found it to be expensive and an extra faff to cook with.
I have shown Dad how to read engtect (just click on the link in the email he gets sent).
“how about Sunday lunch with Gerald?”
-Rob
Speaking from an entirely impartial viewpoint, I think that sounds like a damn fine idea.
Looks very nice…I’m slightly concerned about this talk of buying small children (is there something you’ve been meaning to tell us…or more precisely tell Han!! hmmm?)
‘cost a small child’ is a derivative of ‘cost an arm and a leg, and a small child’ which is a derivative of ‘cost an arm and a leg.’ No need to worry.
And true to his word, the lamb shanks were lovely and DID fall off the bone. And yes, I shall be eating them again. Thanks Mr Chef x