Winter usually requires comfort food and if you’ve been looking for some tasty treats to whip up on those darker evenings then check out these deliciously simple recipes:

  1. Cottage pie

A super simple dish you probably remember your Grandma serving up, piping hot on a Sunday afternoon. Here’s a quick and easy recipe you could make after work.

You will need:

  • 2-3 good sized potatoes
  • Beef mince
  • Carrots, chopped
  • Gravy granules
  • Butter
  • Beef stock cube
  • 150ml water
  • Grated mature cheddar

 

  1. Boil the potatoes until soft, then mash with butter.
  2. Boil carrots and sieve.
  3. Cook the mince, add the carrots and pour in around 150ml of water then add gravy granules, beef stock, mixed herbs and a pinch of salt.
  4. Leave to simmer until the liquid is thicker.
  5. Pour the mince mixture into a large casserole dish and top with your mashed potato
  6. Sprinkle the grated cheese on top then pop into the oven to brown.

 

  1. Toad in the hole

A strong favourite in every British household, the classic toad in the hole is the perfect Sunday dinner or Monday night comforting treat when paired with fresh vegetables and perhaps a scoop of mashed potatoes, if you’re feeling extra naughty.

You will need:

  • 100g plain flour
  • 1 egg
  • 300ml milk
  • 8 pork sausages
  1. Create your batter first by tipping a little flour into a mixing bowl, making a well and adding the egg then a little milk, stirring it as you go. Gradually add more flour and milk until you have a smooth batter.
  2. Pop your sausages into your roasting tin and in the oven to cook for around 15 minutes.
  3. Once the sausages are cooked pour the batter in to the hot pan then bake for 40 minutes. Poke a knife in the middle to check it is cooked through once the time is up.
  4. Serve with fresh vegetables, thick gravy and perhaps a cheeky scoop of mashed potato.

 

  1. Pizza spaghetti pie

For when you fancy something a little different to the usual comfort food, pop this pizza style treat in the oven that the kids will love. This is a simplified recipe based upon one created by pintsizedtreasures.com; you can see the original recipe here.

 

You will need:

  • Spaghetti
  • Mozzerella cheese
  • Mature cheddar
  • Pepperoni
  • Tomato passata
  • Mince meat
  • Mixed herbs
  • Garlic (one clove, finely chopped)

 

  1. Boil the spaghetti until soft, drain and then tip into a casserole dish to create the ‘pie’ base.
  2. Cook the mince meat until brown and then mix in the tomato passata, throw in some mixed herbs, garlic and a pinch of salt.
  3. Sprinkle both types of cheese on top and finish off with pepperoni.
  4. Pop in the oven until the cheese is golden brown.
  5. Slice into squares and serve.

 

  1. Asian beef casserole

This recipe, created by the guys at the Food Good Food magazine (if you’re a foodie it’s definitely worth signing up for a subscription at Magazines Direct) serves as inspiration for this dish, which is a warming beef casserole with added kick.

 

You will need:

  • Diced steak
  • Large onion and three garlic cloves (chopped)
  • 300ml Coconut cream
  • 200ml Beef stock
  • Mushrooms
  • Tamarind sauce
  • Turmeric and cumin

 

  1. Brown the beef chunks in a pan and then remove, throw in the chopped onion then add the garlic, turmeric and cumin.
  2. Return the meat and pour in the coconut cream and beef stock and leave to simmer until the meat is tender – this could take two hours.
  3. Finally add the mushrooms and tamarind.

 

  1. Spicy cinnamon apple crumble
    Finally, here is a classic and super simple dessert recipe to finish off your home cooked, winter meals perfectly.

 

You will need:

  • 3 medium sized apples
  • 175g flour
  • 100g butter
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp Brown sugar

 

  1. Toss the sliced apples in the cinnamon and 2tbsp of sugar then place in a baking dish.
  2. Put the flour and sugar in a mixing bowl, then cut up the butter and rub in until you have a breadcrumb mixture.
  3. Pour this mixture on top and even it out with a spoon or fork and sprinkle your brown sugar on top.
  4. Pop in the oven for 35-40 minutes until the top is browned and the apples are soft. Serve with custard or ice cream!

 

5 Winter Recipes To Cook At Home This Winter was last modified: by

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