Slow Cooked Coca Cola Beef

Don't give me a hard time about this dish. Yes, it has coke in it, but it is cooked for so long that the sugar is cooked off and the beef pulls apart, literally. This is a must try. Go ahead…you will be pleasantly surprised. This serves 4 with vegetables on the side. I did mashed potatoes so it would soak up the delicious gravy :)

Ingredients:

• 700g chuck steak (trim fat, but do not cut them)
• 1 can coca cola
• 1 packet French onion soup
• 1 tin condensed cream of mushroom soup

Method:

1. Place the meat in the slow cooker
2. In a large jug combine the mushroom soup, French onion soup and 1 can of coke
3. Pour over the meat
4. Cook on low for 6-8hrs
5. Just prior to serving, remove the steaks and pull the meat apart with a fork
6. Return to the slow cooker and stir through
7. Serve with vegetables. D-E-L-icious  XD

Slow cooked beef with barley and tomato sauce

I came up with this recipe when I discovered some chuck steak in the freezer and barley in the pantry which was nearing it's best by date. This is a tasty, warm and nourishing meal and lovely served with pasta and vegetables. It serves 5, but if you wanted to simply have a bowl of it with no veg or pasta, it would serve 3 generous bowls which would be perfect with crusty bread.

Ingredients:

• 500g cubed chuck steak (or gravy beef)
• 2 x 400g tins diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary or a sprig of fresh
• 1 teaspoon freshly crushed garlic
• 1 cup barley
• 1 tin of water. I use the tomato tins so no tomato juice is wasted. I add the garlic and rosemary to the tin of water and mix before adding to the slow cooker :)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. In the slow cooker place all ingredients and stir well so the meat is covered
2. Cook on low for 6-8hrs or high for 4-5hrs

Note: It is very important to add the tin of water because the barley swells up like rice.

That's it! Easy, healthy and D-E-L-icious  XD

Green Beef Curry

Using the green curry paste from Aldi, I made the tastiest, easiest Thai curry using Chuck steak from my local butcher. Whilst shopping at Woolies last week I picked up a 5kg bag of Basmati Rice for $6.82 which is about 50% off. This huge bag will last us a couple of months so it's always a good idea to grab these bags when you see them. This dish serves 4 with rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons green curry paste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 x 400g tin coconut cream or milk (I used low-fat cream)
• 500g chuck steak, cubed
• A handful of snow peas
• 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup broccoli florets and stalk, cut into chunks
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Method:

1. Add the oil and curry paste to a wok on a high heat and cook for 1 minute
2. Add the coconut cream/milk, stir well, bring to the boil then simmer for 5mins
3. Add the chuck steak and simmer on a low heat for about 30mins
4. Add the carrots and broccoli and  simmer for a further 20mins
5. Add the snow peas, brown sugar and fish sauce. stir well and simmer for 5mins
6. Serve on a bed of rice and garnish with coriander if you have it.

D-E-L-icious  XD

5kg bag rice from Woolies

Green curry paste from Aldi