Beef about Beef

[vivandorron]

My beef is that whatevever beef I buy (Sirloin, Topside,Rump etc.) it's invariably tough when cooked at home.

Is it true that the Best of British Beef is supplied to Hotels and Restaurants and the rest of us get the rest of it.!?

If the answer is Yes; the question is " What should we do about it.?

[shaneystar2]

The answer is yes Ron !
I have had one for years ..when we lived in Holland for a number of years the house we rented had no oven just a hob so I bought myself a slow cooker.That was over thirty years ago and I would never be without it .I am now on my second model.
You can cook absolutely anything in them .They are a godsend for people who work all day especially in the winter when you can come home to a hot meal ready and waiting.Even though we are now retired and I have all day to mess about cooking I still use it at least once a week.
You can buy cheaper cuts of meat and make delicious stews,casseroles,soups ,curries,chilli etc.You can cook your joint in them ,a whole chicken even jacket potatoes.Best thing ever invented !
Google "Crockpot recipes" ..loads to keep you amused .

[gastwo]

Even better, get rid of your cooker and invest in an AGA or Rayburn. Best things in the world to cook on/in.

[vivandorron]

When I win the lottery and buy a dreahave m cottage in Shropshire I'll certainly










If my wife wins the lottery we have in mind a Dream Cottage in Shropshire and an AGA in the kitchen. Unfortunately,our present kitchen couldn't accomodate such a lovely item. So at the moment I'm being influenced by shaneystar and its good to know that he/she is in a similar age group as Viv and me.......Ron

[vivandorron]

If I were younger I'd sing-up for typing lessons.

[vivandorron]

If I were younger I'd sign-up for typing lessons.

[WendyS]

I think most meat bought from a supermarket is pretty dreadful. It's just passed through the supply chain as quickly as possible and isn't treated with the reverence it deserves. We're fortunate enough to have a proper butcher where we live and his meat is always first class; well hung, well trimmed and prepared and is a delight to eat. Admittedly a poor cook can ruin a good piece of meat but even a good cook can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear (if you'll pardon the pun)..

[curlyfilm]

there are many decent butchers around, and i must admit sainbury's and tesco's oh and waitrose's meat is better than asda's. in answer to your question, it depends on what joint you buy, and what you do wiyh it, you can get better meat than most hotels and resturants use, they need to make a profit,
if your after a decent roasting joint forerib is superb, don't forget too wrap it in foil and let it rest once cooked

[shaneystar2]

Come on Ron ! Don't keep me in suspense ..have you been out and bought that slow cooker yet ?

[vivandorron]

Shush!....Shaney, You've now got Viv using her slow cooking methods. She's quietly putting pressure on me to move in the matter. Trouble is I don't really know what to get; 3.5lts, 4.5lts, or 6.5lts capacity. I would need something to cater on occasions for 6/8 people; the rest of the time it's just two of us.

Any advice would be appreciated. Should I buy 'on-line' or go 'look&see' in the Electrical stores which are about 15miles away.......Thanks for your concern......Ron

[shaneystar2]

I have got a 4.5 litre. Which is plenty for two people or for more.
That amount of stew or casserole is ample to feed six to eight people .The small one would be too small and the really big one much too big IMHO. Plus if you are only cooking for two you can always freeze leftovers.More time saved !
We got our last one in Argos.
If you can't get to the shops have a look on line and compare prices and postage .



Dealtime give a whole range of slow cookers with reviews and prices.
http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPP-crock_pots_and_s low_cookers


This one too
http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/slow-cooke rs-buyers-guide.asp

[vivandorron]

Thanks S. I had better get moving before I get a cool roasting from Viv; who has just read your advice and immediately said, "I want one".

[shaneystar2]

Well ..good luck Ron ..I am sure you will be pleased with it.
Just think.. bung your casserole on in the morning and then you have the whole day free to do whatever you want and only one pot to wash up ! Any problems just post in this thread and I will do my best to help. All the best to you both
Shaney

[vivandorron]

Hi Shaney.....It's way past my bedtime but I've only just come 'off-line' having purchased a Slow Cooker. Delivery 3/4 days.
In a way, its back to a Nottingham Jar which I feel sure you know of. However for those who don't I would explain that it was a clay pot with a lid and you put into it your meat (whole rabbit, pheasant or whatever) and kept turning it in front of an open fire. Those were the days my friends.(Mary Hopkings song I think).......Good night/morning.....Ron.

[Nik Pure]

At the end of the day, you wouldn't buy a car without a badge, so investigate what you put into your body. Get to farmers markets, meet butchers, try different breeds eg Devonshire Red, Welsh Black........

The supermarkets treat us all like imbiciles selling us such red beef. Speak with you feet, and support your local suppliers.

[vivandorron]

We agree Nik...Thanks for keeping our ' beef' still cooking because this is where we might get a further comment from Shaneystar: if we mention that our Slow Cooker has arrived; but we are yet to put it to the test.

If only we still had a butcher in our village!!......Viv & Ron.

[shaneystar2]

Congrats on the safe delivery of your slow cooker !
Hope you have many happy meals from it.
Yesterday I made a chunky veg stew in mine with pearl barley and dumplings ..no meat ! Only because my veggie son was here !

[vivandorron]

You may not believe it Shaney, when I was a young lad I went through a period of being a Veggie ( 10 yrs in fact ) but I grew out of it. Having said that, yesterday I made a Lasagne with Soya mince and Viv said "You can make this again"

[vivandorron]

For all those who are still ' tuning in to this channel' please press your remote control and, as an alternative to my 'Beef'' , you can view in Food & Drink my personal 'Whine' on wine snobbery.

[vivandorron]

Shaney,.....Unless you or others are still weaving this thread, I could be talking to myself.

As a real test for my Slow Cooker I needed a definite comparison with the Brisket which caused my original beef.
Consequently, a further piece of Brisket was bought, albeit for the test, from Sainsbury's.

Slow Cookers did somebody say!!??.............I'm glad of that because the end result is difficult to describe....Full of Flavour;Tasteful and Tender; Melt in the mouth; etc:etc:

Thanks Shaney for your star performance, along with all the other folk who stiched with this thread.

Diolchiadau.........Ron

[shaneystar2]

Hi Ron and Viv ..I am glad you enjoyed your brisket !
Slow cookers are the best thing ever invented ..no end to what you can cook in them and any meat no matter how cheap the cut will always come out mouthwateringly tender.Try a leg or shoulder of lamb ..it will be delicious I promise .
I shall be thinking of you when the weather turns really cold tucking into your warming meals .Enjoy !
Best wishes to you both from a Norfolk Dumpling....
Shaney.