CORONATION STREET BETTY'S HOTPOT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Melt half of the butter over high heat in a heavy bottomed frying pan until the fat smokes.
• Sear the meat and continue frying until nicely browned.
• Remove the pieces from the pan to a deep casserole or divide among 4 individual high-sided ovenproof dishes.
• Turn down the heat to medium.
• Fry the onions in the pan juices, adding a little more butter if necessary.
• When the onions are soft and starting to brown, sprinkle on the flour and stir in to soak up the fat and the juices.
• As the flour paste starts to colour, start adding stock or water a few tablespoons at a time, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps.
• Gradually add the rest of the liquid.
• Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, add the Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the onions and liquid over the meat and mix well. Tuck in the bay leaf (tear into 4 pieces if making individual hotpots).
• Arrange the potatoes over the meat in overlapping layers, seasoning each layer.
• Dot the top layer of potato with the remainder of the butter.
• Cover the dish and place on the top shelf of the oven for 2 hours.
• Uncover and cook for a further 30 minutes.
• If the potatoes are not brown by this point, turn up the oven and cook for a further 15 minutes or finish off under the grill, brushing the potato slices with more butter if they look too dry.
• Serves 4.
• Great Potatoes Kathleen Sloan-McIntosh.