Green Beer is Great But...

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with something other then “green beer!” Jamie Oliver's Good Old Steak and Guinness Pie is so delicious and easy you’ll serve it again and again, not just on March 17th! (Serves 6)

1.5lbs Stewing beef, diced
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 heaped tbs flour

Olive oil

1 onion, peeled and chopped

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

4 sticks celery, washed and chopped

2 parsnips (or potatoes) , peeled and chopped

1 handful of mixed fresh herbs (ie rosemary, thyme, bay)

2 ½ cups of Guinness

2 x 15oz tins of chopped tomatoes

1 pack of puff pastry

1 egg beaten

1. Season beef generously with salt and pepper, sprinkle in flour and toss until coated. Heat 2-3 glugs of olive oil in a large pan and fry meat until golden brown.

2. Add the onion and fry another minute, then add carrot, parsnips, celery and herbs. Fry for a further 4 minutes and then add Guinness and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 2 hours or until meat is tender. Season to taste.

3. At this point, you can move the stew to the fridge until ready to serve. This will also intensify the flavor.

4. To make pies, preheat the oven to 375F.

Put meat filling into individual dishes (or one large dish, if making one pie). Cut pastry to circles about 1 inch bigger than the top of the dishes. Brush the rims with beaten egg, place the pastry on top and squash the excess down the sides to secure. Lightly score the top in a criss cross pattern and brush with remaining beaten egg. Bake for 45min until golden brown and bubbling.