Beef with Walnut Pesto & Potato and Fennel Pancakes with Mushrooms

I cooked dinner last friday (: It was pretty successful! I really love cooking. although it can be tiring, but it always feels so fulfilling to cook for your loved ones (: I took 3hours to cook this meal :O but that’s because i’m a beginner so there is lots of practice needed - i’m sure it’ll be much easier for all the seasoned cooks out there! (:

Potato and Fennel Pancakes with Mushrooms

Serves 4

Ingredients:

3 baking potatoes

1 onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 fennel bulb, trimmed and finely chopped

2 tbsp plain flour

2 eggs

1 garlic clove, chopped

225g mixed mushrooms

parmesan cheese shavings, to garnish

1. Place the potatoes in a large pan of cold salted water and cover. Bring to boil, then simmer for 3min. Drain, cool and peel of the skins. Grate the potato and put into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Heat a little oil and butter in a frying pan and fry the onion for 5min. Add the fennel and cook gently for 5min to soften. Allow to cool, then add the potatoes along with the flour and eggs. Mix together well.

3. In a non-stick frying pan, melt some butter and some olive oil. Add a heaped tablespoon of the mixture, pressing down to flatten into a round disc. Cook for about 5min on each side, until the potato is slightly browned.

4. Heat a little olive oil and butter in the non-stick frying pan. Add the garlic and cook over low heat until softened, then add the mushrooms and cook for 3min, or until wilted and sizzling hot.

Make sure you use enough flour!! I thought that it seemed odd to put flour in, and only added one tablespoon, but it proved to be insufficient - my pancakes couldn’t stick together! :P but what matters is the taste right? (:

Beef with Walnut Pesto

This is a surprisingly easy dish to do. And it’s tasty too! (: I improvised it a little, because i didn’t have all the ingredients mentioned in the cookbook.

Ingredients:

5 beef fillet steaks

100g walnut pieces

50g parmesan cheese

100ml olive oil

2 garlic cloves

1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar (here is where i improvised, i used red wine and balsamic vinegar :P)

Any kind of seasoning

1. To make the walnut pesto, fry the walnuts in a dry frying pan for a few minutes, or until toasted. (be careful not to burn them like me! :P) Allow to cool. Place in a food processor with the parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Pulse until coarsely pureed. 

2. Preheat a frying pan. Brush the steaks with a little olive oil and sprinkle some seasoning on top. Cook them for 2-4min on each side, depending on how you like them. serve with a dollop of walnut pesto (: 

YAY done! my yummy dinner! (:

Do you like to cook? Tell me, tell me! (: