Pressure Cooker Cottage Pie

New in the kitchen is an electric pressure cooker!  If you like me bought a stove top pressure cooker years ago and still have nightmares about all that soggy cabbage and worst of all beetroot juices coming from the weights and redecorating the kitchen then to revisit the pressure cooker can be a challenge.

I've made a few recipes now and using a new kitchen gadget can be a little daunting especially when you have memories of old regarding cooking foods under pressure.

An easy recipe of cottage pie is welcoming now the weather has changed and the beef layer took only 12 minutes to cook. I didn't get on too well though cooking the potatoes. I tried cooking them in a bowl but they resisted my attempts, I hadn't got one of those folding stainless steamer trivets so they didn't really stand a chance.  In a last ditch attempt I cooked the potatoes under pressure for 4 minutes but unfortunately if the potatoes are floury they will break up in the water.

A little update: I've just bought a small folding steamer which you sit onto the trivet supplied and the potatoes cooked in 8 minutes, I let the pressure come down naturally.  Perfectly cooked potatoes and ready to mash.  I should have mentioned that the mince beef and vegetables were cooked to perfection.

You can see from the photo that I broke the rules and put warm potato on top of a too runny mince beef layer which hadn't set and when I cooked the pie the potatoes melted into the beef - not great.

Anyway here is the recipe and when made correctly will taste and look amazing!

Note: Never thicken any recipe prior to cooking when using a pressure cooker otherwise it may run out of liquid and burn - always thicken afterwards!

Serves 4

1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion
1 celery stalk
1 carrot
750g lean mince beef
300ml beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato puree
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
seasoning

For the potato topping:
750g potatoes
30g butter
seasoning

1. Finely chop the onion, celery and carrot. Set the pressure cooker to a low or normal saute and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, cook the vegetables until the onion becomes translucent and the vegetables begin to soften about 5 minutes.. Add the mince beef breaking it up and cook for 5 minutes to brown, add the tomato puree and cook stirring for a couple more minutes.
2. Add the stock, Worcestershire Sauce, salt and pepper. Place the lid on and cook for 12 minutes. If there is too much liquid thicken with a thickening granules or beef gravy. Pour into a large casserole dish, cool slightly and place in the fridge to set.
3. In a clean pot add 250ml of water. Place the trivet in the pot and top with a stainless steel fold up steamer. Cut the potatoes up into small pieces and pressure cook for 8 minutes and let the steam release naturally. Remove the potatoes from the steamer and place in a large bowl, add the butter and mash until smooth. Season and cool.
4. Place dollops of the cooled potato onto the cooled and set mince mixture and spread out to the edges.
5. Preheat the oven to 180C and cook for 30 minutes until bubbling and brown.

You may also like:
Cottage Pie with Vine Tomatoes
Mince Beef and Stilton Pies
Spicy Mince Beef Bake

Thermomix Light Brown Bread

There's nothing more satisfying than a loaf of home made bread.  On this occasion I used the Thermomix but the dough can easily be made in a bread machine or food mixer.

A flour I recently discovered at the supermarket is Cotswold Crunch which is a blend of strong white flour, malted wheat flakes and malt flour -  I mixed this with white strong flour to ensure the loaf of bread is lovely and light.

The bread bakes and cuts well and is the perfect accompaniment to cheese.

Conventional Method in Italics 

You will need:
350g white strong flour
150g Cotswold Crunch Flour
1 x sachet instant dried yeast
20g soft butter
10g salt
300ml tepid water

1. Tip the flour, instant dried yeast, butter, salt and water into the TM jug.
Place the flour, instant dried yeast, melted butter, salt and water into the bowl of the mixer.
2. Knead 6 minutes until the dough is elastic.
Place the dough hook on and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Leave the dough in the TM jug and let rise for 1 hour until double in size.
Oil a large bowl, add the dough, cover with cling film. Leave for approximately one hour until double in size.
4. Remove the dough from the jug and knock back. Shape into an oval.
5. Place the dough onto a floured tray, cover with oiled clingfilm and leave until double in size.
6. Preheat the Oven to 200°C.
7. Slash the bread three times with a very sharp knife.
8. Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

How to Make Thermomix Blueberry Scones

It was about this time last year my thoughts turned to owning a Thermomix TM5. It's a huge eye-watering purchase but one I'm glad I made.  Ten months on I have no regrets, my only thoughts are it's always best to learn basic cooking before investing in a costly machine. I had high expectations when I bought mine and in return that it would exceed my expectations and thankfully I'm now well and truly hooked. I still like to use my other kitchen gadgets and hopefully a new exciting kitchen gadget is on the horizon so watch this space!

Anyway getting back to the scones, and especially blueberry scones which are one of my favourites, there are detailed Thermomix and conventional instructions below.

I rolled out the dough and scattered over the fresh blueberries........

After trying to fold the dough into three with fresh blueberries I think it would be far easier to use frozen fruit and simply poke them into the finished dough!

Now roll out the dough gently and fold again but this time with the fold the opposite way. Cut the dough out into rounds and brush with the remaining egg and buttermilk mixture.

Conventional instructions in Italics

Makes: 8

You will need: A large floured baking tray and 5cm pastry cutter

200g Self Raising Flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of cream of tartar
50g salted butter, cubed
15g golden caster sugar
1 large egg
60g buttermilk
100g fresh or frozen blueberries

1. Preheat the oven to 230°C.
2. Mix the egg and buttermilk. Reserve a little for glazing the scones.
3. Add all the ingredients except the blueberries and egg/buttermilk mix to the TM jug.
Add the Self Raising Flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, pinch of salt and cubed butter to a large mixing bowl. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles breadcrumbs.
4. TM20 Secs/Knead setting - pour the egg/buttermilk mix into the jug in a steady stream whilst checking to see if the dough has come together.
Stir in the caster sugar.and sultanas. Add most of the egg and buttermilk mix gradually to make a soft sticky dough.
5. Scrape down the TM jug.
6. If the dough hasn't come together now add a little more buttermilk to the jug TM10 Secs/Knead.
7. Remove the dough onto a lightly floured board and shape into a rectangle, don't worry if it's a little sticky the flour should take care of that. Scatter over the fresh blueberries.
8. Fold into three and gently roll out.
9. Now fold into three in the opposite direction.
10.Roll out to 1cm and using a floured 5cm plain round cutter. place onto the prepared tray. Brush the tops with the reserved egg and buttermilk mix.
11. Bake for approximately 12 minutes until well risen and golden.
12. Place the baked scones onto a cooling rack and cover with a clean tea towel.
13. Eat now spread with butter or freeze for later.

You may also like: 
How to make the perfect Thermomix fruit scones

Plum Frangipane Traybake

I bought the plums from Bridgnorth market last weekend, they were perfectly ripe, none of this ripen at home nonsense which basically means they go mouldy and never get to ripen.

A cake cum pudding is always a favourite here and the cake batter can all be mixed quickly in one bowl.

I made my own custard but hubby said Bird's custard is best with everything!

Unlike me don't forget to bang your tin down on the work surface a couple of times before baking
otherwise you'll end up with large air bubbles in your bake like above

I made the cake in my Thermomix (the instructions are in italics) conventional instructions are below. For best results make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature.

200g softened butter
200g caster sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
250g self-raising flour
50g ground almonds
1tsp almond extract
2 tbsp milk
6 red plums, halved and stoned
25g flaked almonds

You will need: 30cm x 20cm x 3cm baking tin - greased and lined with baking parchment.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Add the butter, caster sugar, flour, eggs, almond extract, ground almonds and milk to the bowl of a stand mixer, beat for 2 minutes until smooth.
Place the butter, caster sugar, flour, eggs, almond extract, ground almonds and milk in the TM bowl Mix 20 Secs/Speed 5.  Scrape down and Mix 10 Secs/Speed 5.
3. Dollop the cake batter into the tin and level. Press the plums into the top of the cake mixture in rows cut-side up. Scatter the flaked almonds over the cake batter and plums. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until risen and golden.
4. Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack to cool before turning out. Sift icing sugar over the cake. Serve with custard or cream.
5. Cut into squares. Can be frozen, thawed and warmed in a microwave.

Winter Puddings - Free ebook

It's that time of the year again when we turn to comfort food and delicious warming British puddings. Kitchen Delights has put together a free ebook of delicious recipes including a family favourite apple crumble, Bakewell tart with a crunchy iced topping, steamed lemon Pudding with mixed berry jam, baked apple and the above, only for grownups, luxurious bread and butter pudding with sultanas soaked in brandy!

The PDF is very quick to download here.

Apple Frangipane Tart

Sometimes there isn't the time or inclination to make pastry and crushing a few biscuits to make a tart case is perfect. Anyway, who doesn't love bashing biscuits with a rolling pin.......

This is a luscious tart, easy to make and you'll be sure to go back for another slice.

175g digestive biscuits
75g butter
200g Bramley apples
lemon juice
For the frangipane filling:
75g butter, softened
75g caster sugar
2 free-range eggs, beaten
75g ground almonds
1 tsp almond extract
50g flaked almonds

You will need: 20cm fluted loose-base round tin

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Place the biscuits into a large jug and using the end of a rolling pin crush until fine crumbs.
3. Melt the butter in a small basin in the microwave, pour onto the crushed digestives, mix to coat the biscuits and tip into the tart tin.  Press the crumbs evenly over the base and sides of the tart tin. Place in the fridge to chill.
4. Add the butter and sugar  to a bowl and mix until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, now add the ground almonds and almond extract mix until well combined.
5. Peel and core the apples, cut into thin slices. Add a squeeze of lemon juice to help prevent browning. Arrange the slices over the biscuit base. Dollop the frangipane filling onto the apple slices and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and set.

You may like:
Apple Ginger Cakes with lemon icing
Nora's Apple Pie
Blackberry and Apple Crumble Tart