Help with ruined dinner please??

[Toes]

I need some urgent help please, I think I've ruined dinner!

I have attempted to make a beef and red wine slow cooked meal tonight, which I have done successfully before, but tonights tastes so.... bitter, tangy, salty,... I cant quite place it!

It's just wrong!!

Does anyone know of a way to conteract, disguise this bitterness?? What should I add to make it a bit more subtle and tasty?

BTW, I did put a litre of beef stock in it today so I think that is why its too strong?

Any help would be great, thanks! :)

[little_froglette]

sour cream?

[Toes]

Damn, I dont have any!! Thank you though...

I wonder if normal cream would taste funny with beef and red wine.... I think so...

I have watered it down a bit but now I'll have to thicken it with something else too... flour??

Geez Im a hopeless cook... I dont know why I bother some nights! :laughing:

[NonnyMouse]

Normal cream would work to balance out the salt (and yes, could be due to the beef stock as they're usually quite salty unless you get the reduced salt version). It could also be that your wine was off?

Stir about a tablespoon of cornflour into a little water and use that to thicken it as well.

[little_froglette]

thicken it with corn flour whisked up with warm water..

that's what i do..

[missie_mack]

You could probably change it with a can of tomatos.. or a sprinkle of raw sugar. Other than that if you build up the sauce to make a larger component to dilute it and store some?

BTW nice to see you around toes. Havent seen you for a while :) I always love your little av :D I love baby toes :p

[jag5000]

drop a raw peeled potato or 2 into it and bubble away for a while.. it's soaks up a lot of extra saltiness. Just be sure to remove them before you serve it! :D

[NonnyMouse]

drop a raw peeled potato or 2 into it and bubble away for a while.. it's soaks up a lot of extra saltiness. Just be sure to remove them before you serve it! :D

Oooh, yeah, I forgot about this trick! Works a treat!

It also reminded me that grated potato is a good thickener as well.

[Mummy2R&K]

Yep I would say cream or raw/brown sugar.

I think maybe u might of got a dud wine??

[Toes]

Thanks everyone, i will try those suggestions!

It's already tasting a lot better with just adding the water so I will try thickening it with the cornflour!

Gee thanx missie_mack, I would never of dreamt anyone would realise I had been MIA!! :laughing:
I am now expecting my 3rd bubba so have found myself spending a bit more time here again!
And they are my DS's little toes... not so little anymore though!! Lol :)

[Toes]

I should also confess that I didnt use real wine.... I just used a packet mix! :laughing:

Wow, that sounds like a good idea Jo, thanks for that... I might try it and see how it goes!!

Thanks so much, hopefully dinner can be saved so that DH can enjoy a nice meal after his first day in a new job!!

[Myztik]

You can thicken the sauce at the end by turning it onto high and just leaving the lid off for a while ;)

[Toes]

Oooh, thank you... I never new that!

[Myztik]

It just evaporates a heap of the liquid. Works for me :)

[Toes]

Well thanks everyone for the tips, dinner was absolutely beautiful tonight!!

I managed to fix the problem by watering it down a bit & then thickening it back up with the corn flour! And I took the lid off, thanks to Myztik!

Jo, I put a raw spud in so that may of helped aswell.... I was thinking I should of invited the MIL up for dinner & served it to her :devil:... haha, JK!

DH & I loved it & even the kids ate most of theirs, so thanks again! :)

[Myztik]

Glad to hear it was a success :thumbsup:

[jag5000]

glad it was yummy Toes! nothing better than a yummy stew on a wintery night :)

good to see you around again btw!