Main:  Beef Stroganoff (best slow-cooker style)
Woolworths Fresh Idea May issue

Dessert:  Lemon Mascarpone Sponge Cake
Taste

Hi Everyone!

Hope you’ve had a fabulous week.

The May issue of Fresh Ideas from Woolies had some terrific slow-cooker recipes in it so this week I’ve done the Beef Stroganoff.  What was great about this was the tenderness of the meat but let me back track a little.  I have always found that whilst Beef Stroganoff is tasty and popular, if you don’t use the best quality meat and cook it quickly without overcooking it, the meat will end up tough.  It can be tricky.  So this slow-cooker version really appealed to me.  For a start, I could use a cheaper cut of meat AND start it early in the day and walk away.  In the past I haven’t added paprika but this recipe called for sweet paprika.  I had the normal and smoked versions so went shopping for the sweet kind of paprika.  Couldn’t find it in a bottle like my other herbs and spices however, Hoyts do it in a little packet (Hungarian Style) and it has the most scrumptious smell.  I’ll be using it a lot in the future.

All the other ingredients are what you expect in the strog but I did add a large tablespoon of tomato paste and some cornflour to thicken it in the last 20 minutes of cooking.  During that time I also left the lid off the slow-cooker to assist in the thickening process.  A case of taste and correct.  The strog was served on pasta but your favourite mash would work just as well.  Once again the house was filled with wonderful wintery cooking smells.

The family loved it and because the meat is gently shredded once cooked, it made enough that the MAV was able to have some on toast the next day.  In fact, he had a second helping last night on buttered bread!  10/10

As for dessert, I was given a heap of lemons so googled lemon dessert recipes.  Taste came up with at least 50.  I chose Lemon Mascarpone Sponge Cake because my dear old mother loves sponge and I wanted to take her some.  Actually it makes enough for 10 so the neighbours scored morning tea today.   My grandmother made the most magnificent sponges.  She would fold in the flour gently with her hands so I have been trying to perfect that step of sponge making for some time.

This sponge was an improvement on my last attempt.  The lemon mascarpone was wonderful and certainly a change from jam and cream.  Will I do it again?  Yes!  Did the family love it?  Yes! 10/10.

Until next week.

From my table to yours with love x