Fireside

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 lb russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• Sour cream and sliced scallions, to serve

Method

1. Crisp the bacon in a pot; remove it and keep the fat. Soften the onion and garlic in the fat for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the broth, add the potatoes, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
3. Mash some of the potatoes right in the pot to thicken. Stir in the milk and half the cheddar.
4. Serve topped with the bacon, more cheddar, sour cream and scallions.

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp flour
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, cut into chunks
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 cup red wine (or more broth)
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 2 potatoes, cubed

Method

1. Season the beef with salt and pepper and toss with the flour. Brown it in batches in hot oil; set aside.
2. Soften the onion and carrots for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, then pour in the wine and scrape the bottom of the pot.
3. Return the beef with the broth, bay leaves and thyme. Simmer, covered, on low for 1 1/2 hours.
4. Add the potatoes and simmer 30 to 40 minutes more, until the beef is fork-tender. Adjust the salt and pepper.

Ingredients

• 1 lb carrots, cut into thick sticks
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp water
• Chopped parsley (optional)

Method

1. Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the carrots, salt and water; cover and steam 6 minutes.
2. Uncover, add the honey, and cook 8 to 10 minutes more, turning, until glazed and tender.
3. Finish with the parsley.

Ingredients

• 6 apples, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup oats
• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
• Pinch of salt
• Vanilla ice cream, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Heat the oven to 375 F. Toss the apples with the sugar and cinnamon in a baking dish.
2. Rub the oats, flour, brown sugar, butter and salt together into a crumbly topping. Scatter it over the apples.
3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes until the top is golden and the apples bubble at the edges.
4. Serve warm, with ice cream if you like.