Easy Beef Hotpot

It's easy to make, filling, cheap and always reminds me of winter afternoon's at my nans with the smell wafting out of the kitchen :-)

1. 1

   Put diced braising steak in a pan & cover with hot beef stock (for ease I use Bovril cubes) but make sure it's good & tasty, winter's no time for skimping :-)
   Add chopped onion (one large or 2 medium per 500g of meat ish)plus plenty of black pepper
   Simmer beef & onion mix until tender about an hour
   Meanwhile peel & dice potatoes, use lots they make the meat go further & taste yummy when cooked in the stock
   When the meat's cooked add a layer of potatoes to a large, deep buttered ovenproof dish, layer on half the meat, more potatoes, meat & finish with a good layer of potatoes.
   The stock should come about 3/4 the way up the dish - if not add a bit more or just water will do
   Depending on how much salt you like you can add more to the potatoes as you layer them
   Dot the top with butter & bake in the oven at about 170 degrees (350 in old money)for about 60 - 90 mins until potatoes are cooked through, some of the is stock absorbed and the top is golden & crispy
   Serve with veg of choice or pickled beetroot / red cabbage
   
   I think the secret of this recipe is to season more than you think it needs, use plenty of salt & pepper and a really tasty beef stock - Ideal for when you want to go out for a while on a winter's afternoon but still come back to a house that smells like you've been doing the Domestic Goddess bit all afternoon