easy peasy beef curry – weigh in week two!

Normally I’d just shove the old cock thermometer onto a post but you know what, we’ve had so many lovely comments from you lot that we’re actually putting a recipe on too. But no chat. What is this, a knitting group? I read about a knitting group in America called Stitches and Bitches and do you know, I almost took up knitting just so I can set up the same. I’m forever thinking of names for businesses that Paul and I could establish – a gay wine bar called Bottoms Up, a café of Slimming World meals called Guntbusters, a cigar shop called Buttsuckers…list goes on. It’s how I entertain myself in between screaming wildly at Audi drivers on the A1 (I smile, with murder on my mind) and dreaming about a double page spread in Pick Me Up with my giant trousers held aloft.

Before I get to weigh-in, a curious thing. A couple of weeks ago I was walking to my car along Stowell Street in Newcastle when I noticed what looked like a binliner just chucked on the pavement. Once I was closer and my boss eyes has focussed, it turned out to be a young lad, lying on his back, eyes rolling to the back of his head. Of course, me being first aid trained, I immediately set about dithering and flapping and fussing, asking him what was wrong, no response, turning him over, no response, then calling for an ambulance. No sooner had I asked to speak to the ambulance service then he leapt to his feet and ran off, albeit somewhat shakily. Odd. Perhaps it was the thought of my bristly top lip brushing the top off his coldsores during mouth to mouth that managed to ‘revive’ him. Who knows. But see, I received an email a few months ago warning me (and others, I’m not that important) about a fella who would pretend to be unconscious up until the point he heard you call an ambulance, then he’d fuck off like Usain Bolt. No attempt at nicking your stuff, no rudeness or threatening behaviour, just lying prone, pretending to be unwell, then shooting off. I didn’t think anything more of it until it happened personally to me.

The reason I mention this is because it happened again today. Sort of. As I was walking back to the car, I noticed someone lying on the ground. Everyone walking past him – probably a good twenty or so people, despite him lying right in their way. I actually had to umm and aah a moment before I went to help, but luckily, someone got there ahead of me. They wrapped him up in a coat, and I took my leave. I’d be interested to know whether it was just another scam. What I can’t understand is the people who walked past. Now look, I’m a realist, I know some people are out to scam and others are unpredictable and wild, but for goodness sake, surely we’re not at the point where we can’t give a prone body lying in the street the benefit of the doubt? I actually saw two people step over his legs like he was rubbish. Maybe he’s done it to them before, maybe they’d been warned, or maybe it was some poor sod taking a bad reaction to god knows what. Made me feel a bit sad, though. Still a human being.

Eeeh well. I feel better for getting that off my chest.

Speaking of my chest, it’s looking a bit smaller than ever…

twochubbycubs

Ah yes! Considering we were aiming to lose 2lb a week, we’re quite happy with how this is going, thank you very much. Unusually, Paul lost more than me, but I put that down to the fact I had two pints of Guinness yesterday. Tsk. Paul got his half stone award, I’m 2lb away from a stone award. We’re doing well – that cock thermometer will be spurting in no time! 

Tonight’s recipe, then – easy peasy beef curry. We had a pack of the beef chunks left over from our Musclefood box and this seemed like an appropriate place to use them. I do love a curry, but if you don’t like it super spicy, don’t worry – just leave out the chilli pepper and use the mildest chilli powder you can find. Or even leave it out, give that a try. This serves four, very easily.

easy peasy beef curry

to make easy peasy beef curry you will need:

  • 1kg diced beef (why not use some beef from our big box? You know that’ll leave you satisfied and smiling. Click here for a look at our excellent meat deal!)
  • 250ml beef stock
  • 2 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin and one of turmeric
  • 2 tsp grated ginger (not ground!)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (for both the garlic and ginger, you can use your fabulous microplane grater, oh what fun! Seriously though, one of the best things you can get for the kitchen – click here)
  • 2½ tsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp ground pepper
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 chilli pepper (optional)
  • 1 big old beefy tomato (optional)
  • 1 handful of rocket or spinach (optional)

to make easy peasy beef curry you should:

  • in a small bowl, mix together all the dry spices and the lemon juice into a paste and set aside
  • heat a large pan over a high heat and add a little oil (GASP) or frylight (BOO)
  • add the beef, stir and cook until brown (you might need to do this in two batches) (for once, browning your meat is a good thing)
  • remove the beef from the pan, turn the heat down to medium, let it cool a little, add the spice paste and stir around the bottom of the pan for about half a minute
  • return the beef back to the pan and stir for about a minute so that it’s well coated with the paste
  • add the tomato puree, beef stock and chilli pepper (if you’re using it), bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover
  • cook for 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • optional: about fifteen minutes before the end, cut your tomato into chunks and chuck that in, with however much rocket or spinach as you dare
  • remove the lid and cook for another fifteen minutes to thicken

We served ours with brown rice and peas – cook the rice, but chuck peas in at the same time. Couldn’t be easier!

Here’s to week three! Don’t forget, we have a book! I’ll dance at your wedding if you buy a copy from here!

J

Comments

comments

10 thoughts on “easy peasy beef curry – weigh in week two!

  1. Going to bypass the recipe (which looks stunning, and I will be doing) and the weightloss (because you’re both bloody fantastic with that) and go on to say that you’re pretty wonderful for still being human enough to care.

  2. I would like to thank you so much for the great recipes and possibly the best laughs I have read in while. I have been kidding myself about my weight for so so long and have decided that I need to stop been such a fat frump and do something about it. I have read so many different things about Slimming World and came across your blog. You have inspired me. Dieting isn’t all about eating nothing but lettuce and tasteless misery sand aka cous cous. I am going to my first Slimming World meeting next week and am determined to be thinner by summer!.

    Thank you for been so fab and honest

    P.S I am half way through your fab book about your honeymoon and am pissing my other half off whilst in bed literally laughing out loud whilst he is trying to sleep.

    • Aaah Hannah, thank you – very kind of you to say we’re funny, we don’t think we are! And glad to help with the diet. We think that’s the problem with slimming blogs generally, they’re so earnest and la-de-dah. Well none of that shite with us, just food and hijinks!

      Good luck on your SW journey – you’ll be great! And cheers for buying the book too, though we don’t want to be responsible for any marriage problems caused by a grumpy husband! 🙂

  3. that beef curry looks lush having it Wednesday when I finish work usually get take out but I carnt eat fatty foods anymore it will save me money and fat on the hips ty guys

  4. As a pomme living in Oz and having friends doing SW in the UK am going to try this from you blog, which I might add has me in bloody stitches ….thanks Guys I do miss the English humour
    I’m going to do this in the slow cooker 🙂

    • I’ve made this more times than I can count. It’s so easy and lush. I put it in the slow cooker with loads of mushrooms.( It’s not a meal in my house if it doesn’t have mushrooms!) Thanks guys for the lovely recipes and the blog which is so funny. My son particularly liked the description of SW sausages which we all agree with, they’re vile. Keep up the good work.

  5. I’m doing this tonight and although it’s tasty, it’s very thin. No follow through, no depth of flavour. I’m gutted,a bad dinner is the worst meal 😕

  6. I made this the night before I needed it (SW planning mode engaged) it was Amazing…..defo gets in the Martin hall of fame…aling side the Mongolian beef!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.