Clodagh McKennas Italian Beef Stew

Autumn is here with a bang. Today brought us the first of those Autumn winds.The light is fading in the evenings and there’s a noticeable chill in the air but I love this.I adore this cosy, homely time of year when I can stay indoors and not feel guilty, when I can turn my time and thoughts to wholesome, satisfying, hearty cooking.
This is when my kitchen becomes a melting pot of soups, stews, roast dinners, homemade breads and scones. I always feel I’m in mammy mode when I hear the sound of the oven and see the glow of the light which tells you that something is transforming in there from a few simple ingredients into a tasty dinner that will satisfy big tummys and warm little toes. It’s what this seasons cooking is all about. I try to build happy memories through the food that I feed my family. I always want them to look forward to coming home and to feel no matter how far away they may be or how ever bad things are that a little bit of comfort or a little spark of a happy memory can come with a taste or a smell and I want them to know the joy that sharing food can give.
One of my favourites is Clodagh McKennas Italian beef stew, it’s a warming dish best placed on the table for everybody to dig in! I’ve made a few changes, I add sliced fresh chorizo Iberico when I add the peppers and I slow cook the stew for 5 hours until the meat falls apart and the chorizo has almost melted into the jammy rich tomato sauce.
I serve this with Clodaghs Lemon and Garlic Roasties.