Top Five Winter Recipes Steak Pie
Heat 1tbsp oil in a pan and fry the meat, stirring frequently, until browned on all sides. Add 2 sliced onions, herbs, salt and the stock and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for an hour and a half. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Transfer the filling mixture to an ovenproof dish. Line the rim of the dish with a thin strip of pastry (225g). Transfer to the oven and cook for 1-1½ hours. If the pastry gets too brown, cover it with foil. Serve hot.
Apple Crumble
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Place 300g flour and 175g sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Rub 200g butter in until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Place the 450g fruit in a large bowl. Stir well being careful not to break up the fruit. Butter a 24cm/9in ovenproof dish. Bake for 40 minutes.
Stew
Brown 1kg beef and 175g bacon in the olive oil. Remove the meat and toss in the onions (12 baby). Cover with 500ml red wine and 500ml stock and simmer for one hour. To make the roux, in a separate pan melt the butter, add the flour and cook for two minutes. When the stew is cooked, remove the meat and vegetables. Bring the remaining liquid to the boil and add one tbsp of roux. Whisk the mixture until the roux is broken up and the juices have thickened, allowing to boil.
Banofee Pie
Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Crush 300g biscuits then add the melted 60g butter and pulse to combine. Press the mixture into a 24cm tart tin. Spread the 400g caramel over the biscuit base and chill for 1 hour. Arrange the 3 bananas sliced, over the toffee. Whip the 350ml cream and sugar together to form soft peaks and spread over the bananas.
Chocolate Fondant
Melt the 200g chocolate and 50g butter together. Leave to cool for about 10 mins. Whisk the 4 eggs and yolks together with the 200g sugar until thick and pale and the whisk leaves a trail; use an electric whisk if you want. Sift the 200g flour into the eggs, then beat together. Pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture in thirds. Tip the fondant batter into a jug, then evenly divide between the moulds. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cook for 10-12 minutes.