It's a all a bit overwhelming, that very first post!
Staring at a big BLANK page....on y va!
OK, so what's Yummy Homely Food all about? it's the blog of thrifty recipes for shrewd cooks. If you are after getting your food and your money to go further whilst eating simple, easy everyday yummy dishes, you're on the right tracks. Keep on reading...
Why a food blog? Because, like many others, I wake up thinking about food (as in what could I cook today, not raiding the fridge). I drop the kids off, drive back home or to the office and think of food. Lunch times comes, I am thinking of... food (quite normal at that time mind you), mid afternoon same story even when I go to bed I have been known to dream about food!
I like food that says "welcome home, hope you had a nice day but if it didn't go according to plans, there you go, this will make you forget it, relax and smile and feel a little or a lot better". Think that sums it all for me.
So, Lets pick up a dish and really get started: I know! boeuf aux olives.
It's SO quick and easy, takes minutes to prepare then you can forget it in the oven for 2 to 3 hours, even reheat it the next day or freeze half for another night ....TaDah!
You'll need;:
400 to 500g of braising steak,
1 large onion,
1 stalk of celery,
a few carrots,
a can of chopped tomatoes,
salt,
freshly ground pepper (if you can, rather than using the ground powdery stuff but make do with what you've got)
fresh herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme, a couple of bay leaves),
chicken or beef stock,
olive oil.
Chop the onion quite finely, drop it in a heavy oven proof pan (like a Le Crozet) with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Add the braising steak chopped into 1 inch pieces, and the celery stalk finely chopped.
Stir around for a minute or 2 on high heat ,
add the carrots -peeled and roughly choppped in big pieces- the chicken/beef stock , the herbs, the chopped tomatoes and about 1 pint of water.
Season with lots of pepper but not too much salt (the olives and the stock both are salty), give it a final stir and pop into your oven, 200 degrees for about 2 1/2 hours until the meat is really tender.
Check it from time to time if you want, but as long as your pan is big enough shouldn't need you much!.
Serve with plain boiled potatoes, or nice big slices of crusty bread loaf.
I feel better just writting about it.
See you soon!
