question about stew for tomorrow's dinner . . .

[lucysmam]

dumplings; do they go in the stew or separately?

& sock or bisto?

[RubySlippers]

in the stew

and Stock and no bisto

use flour to thicken if necessary

[lucysmam]

oops I meant stock!

Thank-you RubySlippers, wasn't too sure! Never made from scratch before, mil usually does stew for us

[DontNeedAnything]

I used to use Bisto.

Now I buy my meat from a butchers and it has sooo much more flavour that I don't need to add bisto.

And I tend not to put socks in...find they give the stew a bit of a nasty tang myself

[lucysmam]

pmsl, I didn't even realise DontNeedAnything! quite shocked I missed the 't' but then again, anything's possible with my spelling!

[charchargabor]

I use stock as I find it tastes better. I have also found that after a few hours simmering, the potato breaks down a little bit and, when stirred, the bits that break off thicken it nicely.

[lucysmam]

stock it is then, will leave the bisto well alone! & simmer for a few hours so my spuds break up a little bit

[bellavita]

lucysmam - if you coat the meat in seasoned flour first (before you fry it off), this will help thicken your stew.

About half an hour before you want to eat, make your dumplings, put them on top of the stew, uncovered and then bung back in the oven. They will go brown and lovely and crispy on top. Yummy.

[lucysmam]

oooooh, yum! thanks for the tip about flour, didn't know that. am quite looking forward to it!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Put lentils in about half an hour before it's done (I use orange ones) to thicken it - yummy!

[lucysmam]

I have munchies now talking about food!!! as always the collective mn brain has made me hungry

[bellavita]

mmmm I have just had some buttered malt loaf

[lucysmam]

oooooooh, not had that for years bella, am making notes for my 1st monthly shop in a couple of weeks so will add some!

[bellavita]

just got a monthly shop today - took forever to put it away

[lucysmam]

bet it did! I'm thinking it may make my life easier though than shopping fortnightly and then popping to the shops at the end of the second week

[bellavita]

my reasoning behind it was that my online shop every week was creeping up and up, so I thought I would shop once a month using a money off code (to cover the delivery charge) and then use the butchers and greengrocer once a week for fresh.

[lucysmam]

yeah, I know what you mean about it creeping up, and up, and up! Trouble is, even when you plan meals for each day you still can't keep costs down

monthly & then butcher/greengrocer is a good idea. I might pop into ours and see what they're like when I'm out and about on Monday

[bellavita]

I usually homebake quite a bit but for the last few weeks it has gone out of the window. But, I am going to get back on track....... mmm I can feel a chocolate cake coming on

[lucysmam]

I've been learning to bake! quite relaxing when oh is at footy and lo all tucked up to have an hour or 2 for me time in the kitchen

[bellavita]

Yeah I find it theraputic. I love buying new baking books.

[lucysmam]

not got any books whatsoever yet, just what i've learned off mn!

I have to go, oh is bored so I have to hand over the laptop before he gets whiney like my 19mo

[bellavita]

good luck1

[Bewilderbeast]

go in the stew about 30-40 mins from the end

[Bewilderbeast]

go in the stew about 30-40 mins from the end

[lucysmam]

cheers Bewilder! Oh wants them crispy so going to try a few separately for him as well

[Bewilderbeast]

Ahh my exp's mother used to put her stew in the oven with the lid off so the top of the dumplings went brown and crispy _ I have to confess to hating this method but it may get you the results you are looking for