Two weeks ago, I got knocked off my bike by a car, while riding home through the city. While nothing was broken, I felt broken, with such a close encounter to your own mortality. Then my two icons, Julia Gillard (our ex-prime minister), and Nigella Lawson, got completely shafted in public. What’s a gal to do, especially when it is the dead of winter? Make the best damn beef stew she’s ever made in her slow cooker! Never underestimate the healing power of comfort food.

Ingredients:

1 kg oyster blade steak, diced

500ml beef stock (I used commercially prepared stock)

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 rashers bacon, chopped

2-3 tablespoons smoked paprika

2-3 tablespoons paprika

Crushed black pepper to taste

2 large Swiss Mushrooms

4 heaped tablespoons Cornflour

Method:

Basically, I put everything except the mushrooms and cornflour, into the slow cooker. I gave it a good mix, then let it cook on auto for around 7 hours, with the occasional stir. Then I chopped up the mushrooms, put them in, and then took out some of the beef stock, and put it into a cup. I added the cornflour into that (you need about 200mls of stock), and stirred it around until it was free of lumps. Then, I put that mixture back into the stew, and let it simmer for another 30 minutes until it had thickened. It was gorgeous. In the meantime, I roasted some potatoes and pumpkin, and when the stew was served, I added a bit of sour cream on the top of mine. Mind, body, and spirit was healed. Julia, Nigella, my door is open to you….