retro fare

You can take the girl out of the 70's but can you take the 70's out of the girl? A few choice Abba songs excluded, I can't say I have a real weakness for anything much from the era that made flares fashionable. So shoot me. But as soon as the mercury sinks towards the big zero, I change my mind. At least about the food. Not about those flares though. Tonight's meal is a typical time warp example. Stew and pudding. Because nothing but nothing is more comforting.

Beef Stew
serves 4
800g shin of beef, cubed
olive oil
salt and pepper
4 carrots, roughly chopped
4 sticks of celery, roughly chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 red onions, diced
1 tablespoon flour
rosemary sprigs, leaves plucked
350ml white wine
800g can tomatoes
to serve:
fresh pasta (e.g ravioli) and fresh herbs

Over a high heat fry the beef in batches in a casserole. Season with salt and pepper and when browned, reduce the heat and add the carrots, celery, onions, garlic and rosemary leaves and sweat for about 10 minutes. Add the flour, then pour in the wine and tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours.
When the meat is tender and almost falling apart boil the pasta in water or stock, drain, then season the stew to taste and top wth pasta, drizzle over some olive oil and scatter with herbs.

Individual apple puddings (adapted from Bill Granger's Open Kitchen)
serves 2
50g butter
50g sugar
1 apple, peeled, cored and sliced

dough:
60g butter, room temperature
60g sugar
1 egg
35 g almond meal
35g flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of cinnamon

Heat the oven to 180 degrees C and grease and line two 250ml-ramekin dishes. Place the butter and sugar in a saucepan and cook over a medium heat until the butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Add the apple slices and and cook for about 10 minutes til the mixture is caramelized.
Meanwhile, cream the butter and sugar for the dough. Add the egg and combine well. Stir in the almond meal, flour, baking powder and cinnamon and mix until well combined.
Spoon the apple mixture into the ramekins and cover with dough. Place in the oven for about 25 minutes or until the puddings are golden. Invert the puddings onto plates and serve with cream or ice cream.