Wellington Welcomes The Champions!!!!! Hurricanes!...Hurricanes!...

Could you hear the excitement at your place?  Our HURRICANES have taken out the Super Rugby championships for the first time ever, defeating the South African Lions 20 to 3. The game was
played in the most appalling weather to a packed stadium who to a man couldn't have cared less about the cold and rain. It's been a long, hard climb to the top and Wellingtonians turned out in their thousands yesterday for the victory parade from parliament through the central city to the civic square where they were given a heroes welcome. In contrast Wellington put on the most magnificent of days. Wellingtonians love a good party and most of us hunkered down in our warm cosy homes on Saturday night to watch the final live. I couldn't help noticing on the day the trash and recycling is collected around here there were an unusually large quantity of celebratory bottles awaiting pick up.

Here's a good hearty casserole to warm the fans  when they come in out of the cold. Serve it with rice and crusty bread, or with squares of cooked flaky pastry, which would make it a Beef and Beer Pie.


Beef 'n Beer Hotpot:

750g gravy beef, topside or blade steak
2 onions
2 heaped tablespoons flour
425g tin haricot beans
1 diced carrot
1 1/2 cups beer
2 bay leaves
1 sprig of thyme
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
Seasoning
2 teaspoons brown sugar
A few halved prunes

Toss meat in flour and seasoning and brown with the onion. Brown the meat in a little oil to seal it then add the rest of the ingredients. Cook for one and a half hours at 160 degrees celsius.If necessary add a lttle stock or water. Check the meat is tender and return to the oven for another half an hour if required, turn the temperature down to 150 degrees for any extra cooking.
This is a great staple to have cooked and in the freezer. Turn it in to a meat pie, or pasties for an eat and run snack. The beer and prunes make a lovely rich sauce.