A LLANIDLOES woman could be named as the creator of "The Best Festive Welsh Beef Recipe 2012", but needs your vote to win.
Elinor Bright, 23, impressed a panel of judges with her Welsh beef recipe and was chosen as one of four finalists to compete in a cook-off at Llanerch Vineyard in Cardiff last night (Wednesday).
Elinor now needs your votes if her dish - a roast sirloin of Welsh beef with a Perlas cheese, sundried tomato and pine nut stuffing, served with a generous helping of Pembrokeshire new potatoes, sautéed leeks and a jug of traditional farmhouse gravy - is to be crowned ‘Best Festive Welsh Beef Recipe 2012’.
During the cook-off final, Elinor was given two hours to cook and present her meal to a panel of three judges.
Award-winning food writer Nicki Tudor said: “Rare-roast Welsh Beef sirloin with a rich, cheesy stuffing. The stuffing is a balance of sweet tomatoes, crunchy pine nuts and salty cheese. Great for a Christmas dinner with a twist."
Food blogger Matt Appleby added: “This tasted as good as it looked. Lovely rare sirloin of Welsh Beef with a tasty Welsh blue cheese, pine nut and sun dried tomato stuffing. Crushed potatoes and leeks went very well - and continued the Welsh theme nicely. A light and tasty gravy brought everything together."
Pip Gill, from Welsh Beef, said: “This dish is beautifully rich without any of the flavours being overpowering. The stuffing works well with the flavour of the beef and the Welsh blue cheese creates a lovely texture.”
Elinor, who went to Berriew Primary School and Welshpool High School, said: “Beef is a fantastic alternative to turkey at Christmas, especially when served with some of the finest ingredients Wales has to offer.
“Stuffed with Perlas cheese - a traditional Welsh blue veined cheese made using organic pasteurised cows milk to develop a creamy texture with long after-taste - and pine nuts and sundried tomatoes it makes for the perfect Christmas indulgence.
"Served on a bed of crushed Pembrokeshire new potatoes and thinly diced sautéed leeks it is just perfect."