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Stock Pot Beef Goulash

I have been making this for probably about 10 years, it's a warming comfort food winter dish vibe and always makes me feel full and cosy. It's real comfort food. We like to have it with some yummy crusty bread and butter

We try to make all our meals baby friendly as we generally give Gracie and Alfie bits of what we eat. They are not keen on this though as they are not fond of potato and I think the tomatoiness (that's a word right?) of the stew is a bit rich for them. You could give this to your baby either puréed or as is though I would recommend using a low salt stock or making your own.

Again, in the interest of time management and efficiency I always make a large batch of this so that I can freeze some for another nights dinner the following week or so. I probably make

enough for 4 grown men (oops!). I only put in the amount of potatoes I want for that nights dinner so say just enough for Andy and I as I find the potatoes don't freeze well. I will just boil or mash some more potatoes when we come to eat the batch I have frozen.

You could also make this on the hob or in a casserole dish in the oven.

I should mention as I have said before I'm not exactly a stickler for measurements and I have come to know roughly what I can chuck in and what I can't eek.

We are having it tonight and I can't wait!

Let me know if you try it and what you think.

So for a big ole batch you will need roughly:
(half if you just want to make for 2 hungry people and not freeze any)
- diced lean beef 800g
- 1 large red pepper
- an onion (sometimes I do it without onion, in these pics I used onion)
- Potatoes ( I generally work on maybe 4 small potatoes per person)
- tub of mushrooms (we like chestnut)
- 3-4 cloves of crushed garlic
- about 1tbsp of paprika
- 2 tins of chopped tomatoes
- your beef stock with approx a pint of water (best to add the water slowly and top up where need to rather than have it too watery
- cornflour for thickening

1. If I have time I will brown the beef first in a pan. Mostly I just chuck it in the stockpot.
2. Chuck in everything except the potatoes and cornflour
3. Leave in stockpot on high for approx 5 hours (or low for longer if you need to)
4. add the potatoes an hour or so before you intend to eat (so they don't go to mushy)
5. mix the cornflour in usual way with some cold water to form a paste and add until your goulash is at your desired thickness
6. Dunk in some crusty buttered bread and enjoy.....

Oh man I'm hungry now........

Love Chele
xx



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If you follow me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook you will know how much I love food. I love cooking it, sharing pictures of it and most importantly I love eating it!

Often when I post a picture people ask me for the recipe and so I thought perhaps I could start sharing the recipes here on my blog.

Most of the things  I cook are healthy, easy and just so that you can chuck in the slow cooker/ stockpot in the morning and it will be ready for dinner. I'm a sucker for making efficient use of the little  windows of time I do have to get things done and this will reflect in my recipes. Quick, easy & (mostly) healthy! I often used my slow cooker when I was out at work all day but I find it invaluable these days with my little diddies Gracie and Alfie!

I will build up this database of recipes taking photos and blogging as I cook so I hope you find something you like.

I'm not one for measuring, I'm a chuck it in and see kinda gal but I've been cooking many of these things for years so I guess I've gotten to know what works (ish!). So please bear with me, I will be as accurate as I can.

If you do try any of the recipes I would love to know what you think or maybe you have tried them and added/removed ingredients and find them yummier your way, either way I would love to know.

As always thank you for reading and I hope you will find this other little side to my blogging interesting or maybe even useful.

First up will be my super easy but yummy Beef Goulash.........coming soon 

love

Chele 

Xx

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Where do little Elves go?

'Twas a sad day some time in November when our Elfie walked out of our lives.
Without a bye or leave he was gone, just like that.
Not a thought for all the good times or his faithful friend he was leaving behind.
It was with a heavy heart that I explained to Alfie that Elfie had gone to help Santa make all the little children's Christmas presents and that one day, when his job was done, he would return.
Christmas is over, the children have their presents (except the naughty ones).
Santa's workshop has shut for the summer holidays yet our hearts still hang heavy with the absence of our little Elfin friend.
Alfie and Elfie were good buddies you see, they slept together, watched tv together, travelled together.
How do I explain to a 7 month old that it is not that he has done something wrong. That there are plenty more elves in the sea. "But not like my Elfie mummy"
Alfie even dressed as Elfie for Christmas such was his longing for his dear friend.
We are into January now, does it take this long to travel back from the North Pole, is he just working overtime for some cash for the summer holidays?
I don't know? I am running out of answers for my little man. I can't keep making excuses for Elfie.
If you see this Elf please tell him to return to where he is loved. To follow his heart.... He knows the way home.
 

Love Chele 

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