Some Winter Warmers You Can Enjoy In Your Conservatory

There’s a discernible chill in the air across large parts of Scotland. It’s out with the t-shirts and shorts, and in with thick woolly jumpers, hats and gloves.

At this time of year there’s nothing better than being able to spend time indoors in a warm and cosy home whilst eating some good hearty food to help heat you up. Even better, why not enjoy eating some delicious winter recipes within the glorious confines of a conservatory; dishes and an area guaranteed to give you a warm glow inside. Here’s a fantastic three-course offering ideal for the winter months that all the family can enjoy. Minestrone soup Serves 8 Cooking and preparation time – 1 hour Ingredients 100g pasta shells 400g diced meat 600ml vegetable stock 1 small onion 400g chopped tomatoes 400g cannellini beans 2 diced potatoes 1 large diced carrot 1 chopped leek 100g Brussels sprouts 1 sliced celery stick 2 garlic cloves Recipe – Take a large pan and heat some oil on a medium setting. Cook the celery, leek, onion and garlic until soft before adding the beef, potatoes and carrot. Before covering and cooking for 45 minutes, pour in 750ml water, the tomatoes and stock. – Uncover and add the sprouts, beans and pasta, then simmer for 5 minutes. – Allow the soup to cool and then reheat until the pasta is fully cooked. Guinness and beef stew Serves 8 Cooking and preparation time – 2 hours 30 minutes Ingredients A litre of Guinness 1kg stewing beef 400g mushrooms 300g shallots 25g butter Recipe – Add the shallots to a frying pan of melted butter and cook thoroughly before transferring to a casserole dish. – Cook the beef in the same frying pan and season, followed by the cooking of the mushrooms. Add both to the casserole dish. – Pour the Guinness into the pan so that it blends in with the juices and then pour into the casserole dish which should then be placed in an oven Gas Mark 3 for 2 hours. Sticky toffee pudding Serves 8 Cooking and preparation time – 45 minutes Ingredients 60g butter 60g caster sugar 2 eggs 250ml hot water 150g dates 150g self-raising flour 1tsp. bicarbonate of soda For the sauce… 250ml double cream 400g brown sugar 200g butter Vanilla pod Recipe – Take a bowl and mix together the dates, water and bicarbonate before leaving to soak for 10 minutes. – Take another bowl and blend the butter and sugar together. Then mix and slowly add in the eggs, flour and date concoction. – Find a 20cm square cake tin and pour in the contents, baking in an oven Gas Mark 4 for 40 minutes. – To create the sauce, melt the butter in a pan and add to it the cream, brown sugar and vanilla pod before stirring and simmering for 5 minutes. – Remove the pudding from the oven and pour the sauce over the top before serving.