So today, around noon, I put together a cottage pie using a recipe I found on Jamie Oliver's website (jamieoliver.com). I don't think he actually devised the recipe; one of his viewers did. However it had a lot of good reviews.
I got the ingredients yesterday on my venture down to Summertown (our neighborhood). I shopped at Marks and Spencer (a chain of department stores; this one is all groceries). It cost 1 pound to get a shopping cart. Since I didn't have any money, I decided just to use the little-old-lady canvas-covered shopping cart that I had dragged along with me inside the store.
I found all the ingredients except the thyme. When I asked the clerk, she said they were out of dried thyme (in a bottle) but they had some growing in pots so she went and got me some. The cheapest item I purchased was a baguette, which was only 85 pence. The most expensive was a can of L'Oreal hairspray that was 5 pounds and 50 pence! Too expensive, but I was desperate to control my hair.
Anyway I made the pie around noon. A cottage pie is made with minced (i.e. ground) beef; whereas a shepherd's pie is made with lamb. Anyhoo you cook up the beef, then some onions, and a couple of chopped-up tomatoes. You add chunks of carrot, some frozen English peas, some herbs (thyme and sage), beef stock and salt and pepper. Let that cook for a while then pour it in a casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes that have been enhanced with cheddar and parmesan cheese -- and a dash of nutmeg. Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes. I used the AGA and it browned the potatoes nicely.
So far 4 of the students have eaten helpings and proclaimed it a success. I also served them a tossed salad with toasted pine nuts and some of the baguette. A couple of the group are in the kitchen now drinking tea and munching on the shortbread cookies I put out (dessert).
I am not providing food on a nightly basis, but I thought it would be good to have something hearty for the students to eat. I knew they'd be too tired to go out immediately. Some of them are going to a pub a little later -- after they've had a nap!
Here's what my pie looked like with a few servings removed.
I got the ingredients yesterday on my venture down to Summertown (our neighborhood). I shopped at Marks and Spencer (a chain of department stores; this one is all groceries). It cost 1 pound to get a shopping cart. Since I didn't have any money, I decided just to use the little-old-lady canvas-covered shopping cart that I had dragged along with me inside the store.
I found all the ingredients except the thyme. When I asked the clerk, she said they were out of dried thyme (in a bottle) but they had some growing in pots so she went and got me some. The cheapest item I purchased was a baguette, which was only 85 pence. The most expensive was a can of L'Oreal hairspray that was 5 pounds and 50 pence! Too expensive, but I was desperate to control my hair.
Anyway I made the pie around noon. A cottage pie is made with minced (i.e. ground) beef; whereas a shepherd's pie is made with lamb. Anyhoo you cook up the beef, then some onions, and a couple of chopped-up tomatoes. You add chunks of carrot, some frozen English peas, some herbs (thyme and sage), beef stock and salt and pepper. Let that cook for a while then pour it in a casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes that have been enhanced with cheddar and parmesan cheese -- and a dash of nutmeg. Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes. I used the AGA and it browned the potatoes nicely.
So far 4 of the students have eaten helpings and proclaimed it a success. I also served them a tossed salad with toasted pine nuts and some of the baguette. A couple of the group are in the kitchen now drinking tea and munching on the shortbread cookies I put out (dessert).
I am not providing food on a nightly basis, but I thought it would be good to have something hearty for the students to eat. I knew they'd be too tired to go out immediately. Some of them are going to a pub a little later -- after they've had a nap!
Here's what my pie looked like with a few servings removed.
looks good mamma! i wouldnt buy groceries from M&S tho.. too expensive! best to get veggies from green grocer or market... then meat from butchers, tesco or sainsburys... fyi... also why dont you put a photo at the top of your blog header.. it would make it stand out better!
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I'll put a photo at the top next time. Good advice. Shopping is a bit hindered by the lack of a car...I have to plan for how heavy everything is. Thank goodness there's a little canvas wheeled cart at the house.
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