It’s Friday and I want to cook something interesting tonight for me and Mrs Lunge. I am at a loss as to what to cook so thought I would turn to you lot!

We generally have some beef or some game on a Friday but I am open to ideas beyond that, though, realistically, those who suggest vegetarian meals will be ignored!

Im about to cook a couple of large casseroles of pork shoulder.

Good value, very tasty pork meat. Enough fat in the steaks to lubricate the casserole and ace when slow cooked. Got 6coming to stay this weekend, so feeding for 10, this makes an easy all-in stew, which Ill serve with some homemade bread rolls:

Brown large (1.5″ cubed) chunks of pork shoulder in a frying pan and set aside, but dont lose the juices.

soften a pile of chopped (not too finely) onions in olive oil. Low to mid heat – dont allow to brown.

Add meat back in, add 1/2″ leek slices, some carrots if you like, a pile of halved small mushrooms. Pour in a pint of dry strong cider and half a pint of apple juice, maybe some stock if you have it lying around. A couple of handfuls of pearl barley, a good scatter of sage, season.

Cook for 2-3 hrs at 120degs. Keep an eye on it, dont let it dry out.

Then I like to leave it for a day before reheating and serving. So Im literally just about to go and start making mine for saturday night.

Serve in a big bowl with a spoon. The meat flakes nicely so no cutting required.

Am also making raw beef fillet carpaccio with shaved parmesan and olive oil to start for some thing a little less rustique

Beef stir-fried with oyster sauce, onions & Thai basil?

http://www.psnews.com.au/cookbook/cbstirfriedbeef.html

How about Thai beef with noodles
Coconut milk
red curry paste
fillet Steak (finely cut)
vegetables your choice
Noodles stir fried with ginger

Heat up coconut milk add red curry paste reduce to a consistency your happy with. Add longest cooking of vegetables start stir frying noodles. Add other veg and beef. cook for a couple of minutes at most. Serve

A nice Lancashire [spits] Hotpot

I made this last weekend

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/melt-in-your-mouth-shin-stew

I added some dumplings and served it with spinach and sweet potato mash cooked mine for 6 hours and it was delicious.

If you have the time, then this, it’s fabulous.
http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/shin-of-beef-with-chilli-ginger-and-soy-recipe

something slightly quicker:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/24/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-chicken-recipes

Cook the pearl barley that won’t fit inside the chicken in a seperate pot, as it fantastic & a good filling substitute to potatoes. Did this stuffing and used Heston’s method of cooking a chicken (good god how long..) and it was really good. So good I’m doing it again sunday for my mum 😀

Nom. That’s enough there for about 15-16 servings for <£13.
Remebered I had some “local eye bleeder” cider in the frisge. That’s gone in.. hic… well not all of it….
Who says eating well need be expensive! 😉

I shall see If I remember to take a shot when its cooked this evening.
[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6ouA8XZaXZg/TzUYcmJaTZI/AAAAAAAABEA/vLytDnJyAAQ/s400/P1010431.JPG[/img]

Friday night signals the start of my iDave rest day so tonight we shall be coming back from the pub at 9-ish and having flash fried thinly sliced rump (quite a few slices) on crusty Co-op bread with fried onions, fried mushrooms, triple-cooked chips and salad. Tomato sauce and mustard mandatory.