Slow Cooker Shredded Beef

Its a horrible wet Sunday here in Dunedin, which really makes me think that winter is here. At leasr this weekend is a long weekend, so tonight we can snuggle up and watch some movies with the fire on. The only downside?

I have to get studying! My first exam is just under a week away, so even though hungry male may get the day off, I have work to do. When I am busy studying, while I do enjoy getting to cook as a break, it is still better if I can have meals that don't take ages to make. I would prefer to use my study breaks on baking anyway.

This meal fits the bill perfectly as I think my prep time for this was all of 5 minutes. Perfect study food. I can throw it on in the morning and by dinner time it is all ready. This beef is also so versatile. You can throw it into wraps, add some chilli beans and make nachoes, use it for sandwiches and subs.... and there are probably heaps of other ways that I haven't tried yet.

So if you are busy studying, have a full on day at work or just cannot be bothered cooking, get this in your slow cooker now!

Ingredients
1kg beef chuck or blade steak (kept whole in steak form)
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup water

In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, cumin, chilli powder, coriander and sea salt.

Rub the spice paste into the steaks and place the steaks in the slow cooker. Add the water to the slow cooker.

Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours and then shred the beef with two forks.

BBQ Beef Murtabaks

Happy Labour Day to everyone in NZ. I think you could probably say that most of New Zealand is today celebrating after our win over the French in the Rugby World cup. A combination of that and today's nice weather has put a nice glow on everything today.

If you are sick of boring old sausages or steaks on the BBQ and are wanting something a little more interesting to try, look no further. I have no idea of the origins but a murtabak is like a wee parcel with a bready outer and a meat mixture inside. This is my own variation on them as the first recipe that I tried for them just didn't quite do it for me.

Ingredients Dough
1 cup wholemeal flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 to 3/4 cup cold water

1. Mix the flour and salt together in a bowl.
2. In another bowl whisk the egg with 1/2 cup water.
3. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the wet.
4. Mix, adding extra water if needed to make a soft dough that you can handle.
5. Roll into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes while you prepare the filling.

Ingredients Filling
500g beef mince
1 onion, sliced
1 small tub tomato paste (About 120g)
2 Tbsp worcesteshire sauce
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp molasses
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp mustard powder

1. In a pan, cook the onion and the mince until the mince is brown and the onions are softened.
2. In another bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.
3. Stir the sauce into the beef mixture.

To assemble
1. Divide the dough into 6 pieces.
2. Roll each piece of dough into a 22cm circle. (Make sure you use a lot of flour and don't let the dough get too thin)
3. Place a large spoonful of the meat mixture into the centre of the circle.
4. Fold in the edges to form a square and press down the edges.
5. Cook on the barbeque for 4-5 minutes each side or until golden.

Apple Cheddar Beef Burgers

I think its about time for another meal recipe and yes I know that I have already posted a burger recipe but that was chicken and this is beef so in my mind not the same. And besides homemade burgers are so easy and tasty and I think the warmer days are putting me into a BBQ kind of mood.

This is the almagamation of a few recipes with my own ideas but it worked out really well. I serves them with some beer soaked Kumara (sweet potato) fries. I don't know if they quite worked out properly so I think I'll give them another go before making up my mind.

Ingredients
500g beef mince
1/2 cup grated green apple (about 1 apple)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 egg, beaten
4 Tbsp rolled oats or bread crumbs
salt and pepper

1. Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix well until everything is combined.
2. Shape into 4-5 patties depending on how big you want them.
3. Cook them in a pan or on a BBQ plate for 6-8 minutes each side or until cooked through.
4. Serve in a toasted burger bun with lettuce, tomato, avocado, tomato sauace/ketchup and some more mustard.

I made my own burger buns!

And then I made yummy burgers

Both the recipe for the burgers and the buns were adapted from Annie's Eats. While the burger buns were good, they didn't quite turn out how I wanted them to, so I might post a recipe later when I've had a chance to work on them.

The burgers were Teriyaki Burgers with a Pineapple, Mango Salsa.

Ingredients- Patties
2 Tbsps onion, finely chopped
4 Tbsps bread crumbs
3 Tbsps rolled oats
1 clove of garlic, crushed
2 dashes of worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper
500g beef mince
1 egg, beaten

1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. With wet hands shape the mixture into 4 patties.
3. Cook the patties in a pan or on a grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes each side.

Ingredients- Teriyaki Sauce
1/2 cup chopped pineapple
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 Tbsps Brown sugar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp vinegar
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1/2 Tbsp cornflour
1 Tbsp water

1. Combine the pineapple, soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, garlic, vinegar and oil, and puree until smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and heat until it starts to bubble.
3. In a small bowl mix the cornflour and water until smooth.
4. Add this mixture to the sauce and stir until well combined.
5. Continue stirring the sauce until it is thick.

Ingredients- Salsa
1 mango diced (or tinned mango)
1 cup chopped pineapple
1/2 red capsicum, chopped small
1/4 cup red onion, diced very finely
1 Tbsp chopped coriander
2 Tbsps Lime juice

1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least ten minutes.

To make the burgers, toast the buns and spread with a little mayonnaise. Layer lettuce, tomato and the pattie. Top with the Teriyaki sauce and enjoy.