I hear over and over again, ‘whats for tea?’, and then from the kitchen I hear, ‘there is only a pack of minced beef and some veg in here’. Well there are an array of wonders you can cook quickly and cheaply for a great family meal with this most versatile of ingredient. Giving you not only great value, but a perfect midweek or weekend supper.

Just atart to think of a few meals you could make with minced beef, and before you know it, you will have a list like-

• Chilli Con Carne, (you can make this dish as hot or mild as you like by adding or reducing the amount of chilli to this dish and one more thing Chilli Con Carne tastes even better the next day!)
• Savoury Minced Beef, (why not take a homemade or ready prepared yorkshire pudding and fill it with minced beef and chunky vegetables, (Grandad’s favourite)
• Spicy beef Pizza, (again make your own pizza bases or get in some ready prepared for timesaving. The kids will love this one)
• Bolognese, (everyones favourite, but my tip is to make double the sauce and freeze it. That way you can use it in a endless variety of ways, such as by adding chilli and kidney beans to make a quick Chilli supper when time is short.)
• Quarter Pounder burgers, (check out my previous blog ‘man size burger to satisfy your man’)

The list is endless with mousakka, good old cottage pie, meatballs and many more.

Traditional cottage pie is a firm family favourite, Whats your family favourite?

Here is one of ours - Mum’s Cottage pie

You will need 2 tblsps vegetable oil, 2 medium onions peeled and chopped, 1 large carrot peeled and chopped, 3 celery sticks chopped, 500g minced beef, 1 tsp worcester sauce, 1 tbsp tomato ketchup, 1 tlbsp parsley chopped, 900g potatoes peeled and cut in to chunks, 50g butter, 2 medium leeks sliced and 50g mature cheddar cheese grated.

Now, heat the oil in a large pan, add the onions and cook for about 5 mins until softened. Add the celery and carrot and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the minced beef stir and cook until browned. Next add in the worcestershire sauce, tomato ketchup, parsley, stock and seasoning. Then cover turn the heat down and simmer gently for about 30 minutes. While the meat is cooking preheat your oven to 200 o C/400 o F/ gas mark 6.  Start cooking your potatoes placing them in to a large saucepan of boiling salted water. Cover and boil for 15 to 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. While the meat and potatoes are cooking, heat half the butter in another pan and saute the leeks for about 5 minutes. When your potatoes are done drain and return to the pan adding the rest of the butter and combine and mash thoroughly with your potato masher add the sauted leeks and stir. Spoon the meat into a large ovenproof dish and top with your potato & leek mash. Sprinkle with the cheese and cook in your oven for about 25 minutes until the top is golden brown and serve.

This is comfort food at its best during the colder months and made from fresh great value at around £1.30 per serving.