Do you ever feel stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to family meals? I want healthy but hearty meals, that are nutritious but don’t cost the earth, that is quick and easy to make but isn’t boring! It’s so difficult, isn’t it!?I grew up having dinner around the table as a family and I now do this with my family as much as possible. But it’s hard to tick all of those boxes, isn’t it?
Well, we recently tried Swaledale butchers, an online butcher that not only offers amazing quality and great meal inspiration, but they’re a little more special than you might think. Over a generation ago, the family butchers farmed traditional livestock which adapted to the British climate and terrain. Which means. they are naturally able to graze on the rough Yorkshire uplands, unlike faster-growing continental breeds. This upland farming is a slower process than conventional farming, it produces better flavour whilst not making an unsustainable impact on our soil, land, and natural environment.
We’ve tried a few various types of meat from Swaledale, but one of my favourite family recipes to make is an excellent simple family beef pie. The beef from Swaledale, tastes like that good beef from when I was a kid. Not full of fat and rubbish, real tasty meat. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Here’s how we make our super simple and easy family beef pie.
Ingredients (served 4)
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Organic Plain White Flour with a pink of salt and pepper
- 700 Diced Beef
- 1 medium onion
- 2 Carrots peeled and chopped
- 500ml beef stock and a spoonful of gravy granules
- Pinch of thyme
- Roll of shortcrust pastry
- 1 beaten egg
Method
- Put beef in a bowl and mix in the seasoned flour
- Heat the oil to medium heat, and add the beef until browned
- Add the onion, carrots, stock, herbs and bring to boil
- Bring to low heat and simmer for an hour – or slow cook while you’re at work
- Preheat oven to 190C / Gas 5.
- Put the beef and gravy into an oven-proof dish. Cut a piece of pastry to fit the top of the dish like a lid. Then add an extra lining on the outside to help stop leaking. Brush over the pastry with the beaten egg and make a couple of fork holes in the middle of the pie.
- Pop in the oven and cook for 1.5 hours, until golden brown and hot.
Top tip: If the pie starts getting too brown, cover it with foil instead of reducing the heat.
