Maggie Taylor's Steak and Guinness Pie

When Bonsal reviewed Falling for Mr. Dark and Dangerous, she mentioned how the book made her hungry.  You know, my editor on this book, Maddie Rowe, said the same thing!  LOL.  The heroine, Maggie Taylor owns a bed and breakfast and she finds some real joy in cooking.  So during the writing I had her make some of my absolute favourite comfort foods...

Here's a recipe from the book.  Maggie makes it for Nate, needing something to keep her hands busy.  And while it's cooking they go for a bit of a walk in a chinook...and things change between them....

Maggie Taylor's Steak and Guiness Pie

6 tbsp vegetable oil

2 onions, sliced

½ lb mushrooms, cut into quarters

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 kg (2 lbs) steak, cut into 1 inch chunks

2 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks

5 tbsp flour seasoned with salt and pepper

500 ml (2 cups) Guinness beer

2 bay leaves

2 sprigs fresh thyme

500 g (1lb) of puff pastry, or enough homemade pie crust to roll out and cover casserole

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil and cook onion, garlic and mushrooms over medium heat until soft but not brown.  Remove from pan and place in a large bowl.

Dredge beef in flour mixture and brown in oil in batches, removing cooked meat to bowl with vegetables while you fry the rest…use more oil if needed.

Put all ingredients in a large stock pot and pour over the Guinness.  Add the potatoes, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil and then simmer over low heat for 1 ½ hours, until sauce thickens.

Pour into a large rectangular casserole, and let cool slightly.  Roll out pastry and lay over the top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until pastry is nicely browned.

Perfect comfort food for a rainy day!  Maggie would say to serve it with a nice salad and a full-bodied red wine.

Donna

THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
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