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Monday, November 10, 2008

Lazy Housewife's Dinner

Braised salt beef simmered in one pot with vegetables
Delicious hot or cold, be sure to serve salt beef with Hot English Mustard

A simple yet very satisfying meal


A while ago I made one of my husband’s favourite meals: salt beef and vegetables. He was away at work at the time, so I cooked it for the Creare Children who stay with me every Thursday. (you can read about them on yesterday's post) I learnt to cook this English meal, known as Lazy Housewife's Dinner, from my hubby's paternal grandmother, Nan. This dear old lady, who has long since passed on, did not spend hours in the kitchen but everything she made was tasty and very simple to prepare. Nan (by her own admission) preferred to sit in her easy chair and study form (horseracing) choosing her bets for the next race day, rather than slave in front of a hot stove!

I popped into our butchers and managed to procure a nice piece of salt beef. When I arrived home, I heated the oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan and braised the salt beef on both sides. I removed the meat and I sliced two onions and fried them in the same oil. I returned the meat to the saucepan and added enough water to just cover. Then I added two large whole carrots, four to five new potatoes and a whole peeled onion. (The carrots and potatoes were washed and cooked with the skin) I added a few peppercorns and a pinch of mixed herbs. Covering the saucepan, I turned down the heat and allowed the meal to simmer gently until done. (About an hour and a half)


Serve salt beef and potroasted vegetables with tender green peas and fluffy white rice. Be sure to have a pot of Hot English Mustard on the table. No salt beef dinner is complete without mustard.


Freeze any leftover meat and use for cold meat at a later date.


As Grandma-in-law proved, this really is a Lazy Housewife’s Dinner!






6 comments:

  1. I love one pot meals, looks delicious, although I'm not sure I've seen "salt beef" in our grocery store

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  2. Looks delicious! Good food doesn't have to be complicated. I, too, would rather not stand over a hot stove laboring for a long time.

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  3. Hi Toni, my mum referred to this cut of meat as silverside. Perhaps that is more familiar to you? Thanks for popping in. Hugs Jo

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  4. Nods, flmom, who wants to waste precious time cooking? This method also "locks" in the flavour of the meat and vegetables. Thanks for your comment. Hugs Jo

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  5. I looks delicious, and as I read on, it started to smell delicious too!
    A butcher, where you can buy salted beaf? Lol, that's civilization!

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  6. Hi Esther, you've just reminded me how different it is in Africa! Thanks for popping in. Hugs Jo

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo