CHEAPEST PIE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line 2 baking trays with baking parchment. Pour 50ml/2fl oz boiling water over the raisins and leave to soak for 20 mins until plump. Drain, reserving the liquid.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the oil and sugar. Gradually beat in the egg, along with the reserved water from the raisins, the cinnamon and vanilla extract. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt into the bowl, then add the oats. Finally, mix in the raisins.
• Drop heaped tbsps of the cookie dough onto the baking trays, well spaced apart as they will spread when cooking. Bake for 12-15 mins until golden. Leave to cool on the trays for 10 mins before tucking in, or transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Butterfly the beef joint; make a cut about a third of the way down it horizontally, til it opens out like a book. Then cut down the thick part so as that can be folded back as well. Rub well with olive oil and the crushed garlic.
• In a pan, heat a small amount of olive oil and add the chopped red onions and mushrooms, and fry briskly until browned and soft. Turn down the heat, add 1 tbsp caster sugar and a splash of water, put on the lid and allow to cook gently until water has evaporated, and they are soft and sticky with the sugar melted in.
• Spread the onion and mushroom mixture across the cut open part of the beef and put it back together into a joint, securing tightly with butcher's string.
• Place in a deep dish and tip over 1/2 bottle of red wine. Cover and allow to marinate in the fridge overnight.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 140C and spoon the wine mixture over the meat, rubbing the top with approx 1 tbsp of horseradish sauce, then re-cover the whole dish with foil. Roast in the oven for 5-6 hours, uncovering for the last 30 minutes to allow it to brown. Meat should fall apart when being sliced.
• I served this with potato dauphinoise and steamed veg. Use the juices from the meat to mix in with some beef stock and 1tbsp horseradish to make a gravy, and thicken with cornflour as required.