Staffordshire Lobby (Beef Stew) #AutumnWarmers

This month Waitrose have launched their #AutumnWarmers campaign, celebrating warming dishes from throughout the UK, to get us in the mood for those cooler nights when all we want is something warm and comforting to eat.

I've decided to share my recipe for a Staffordshire Lobby, which is basically a beef stew, traditionally eaten by poorly paid potters in the region, using cheaper cuts of meat along with root vegetables and pearl barley.

This can be cooked on the stove top, as per a traditional stew, but before I went to work for the morning I popped it into the slow cooker and was able to enjoy a nice steaming bowlful for lunch.

The recipe can be scaled down depending on how many you want to feed, but this quantity kept us going for a couple of days.

Staffordshire Lobby - feeds a crowd

1.2kg beef (brisket, shin, skirt) - I used brisket

4 medium carrots

2 large parsnips

1 small swede

8 shallots

3 medium potatoes, peeled

2 tbsp plain flour
salt & pepper
1 litre beef stock

500ml beer

200g pearl barley

• cut the beef into bite sized pieces
• peel & chop the vegetables into bit sized pieces
• add the flour to a large zip lock bag, and season with salt & pepper
• add the beef to the bag and shake to coat
• add the beef, vegetables, stock & beer to a large pan and bring to the boil
• transfer to a slow cooker and add the pearl barley
• cook on medium for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender

Serve with thick slices of freshly baked bread, and butter, and maybe a little brown sauce on the side!

recipe commissioned by Waitrose