Halving casserole serving size

[bushbaby_de]

So I have a recipe for a casserole that serves four, but it only needs to feed two of us. I have halved the amount of all the ingredients. But do I still cook it for the same amount of time, or do I reduce the cooking time too? The four-person version would cook for three and a half hours at 150 degrees celsius. All advice and opinion welcome, thanks.

[jack daniels]

I'd give it a couple of hours & then check the meat to see if it's cooked/tender enough

[bushbaby_de]

Oh I should have said, I will need to pop the potatoes in the over an hour before serving time to turn them into jackets, hence the need to have an idea of the time. So you reckon 2 hours might do it? The casserole is made of casserole beef, bacon lardons, button onions, mushrooms, sliced carrot, garlic, wine, stock and herbs, which all got put into the pot raw and straight into the over after a quick boil on the hob.

[jack daniels]

I would check the meat to see if it was cooked in 2 hours but now the potatoes come into the equation........
Personally I would toss the raw meat in flour and give them a quick fry to seal them before adding to the casserole dish with all the veg.
At most i'd say it would take about 2 1/2 hours.
You can always pop the potatoes in & when thery're done, just place them at the bottom of the oven or take them out completely until the casserole is done.

How about adding cubed potatoes into the casserole dish with the other veg & cooking it all together?
You could do microwaved jacket potatoes instead? about 10 mins or so

[coccinelle]

If it's stewing meat it'll take the same time for 1lb as it would for 2lb, the idea is to let it stew until it's tender.
Quite honestly, I'd make a casserole for 4 and freeze half of it for another meal.

[bushbaby_de]

Thanks for your answers. I'm trying to cut down on fat, hence bunging it all in together. I'm getting braces on Wednesday, and want my last crunchy jacket potato before I am consigned to a diet of mash! So there is a lot riding on this meal! I have started the pots off in the microwave so they need less time in the oven, and having checked it all after 90 minutes the cooking liquor has nearly all gone so I've topped that up and I'll take it out in 30 mins I reckon. I'm really looking forward to it! However I think I'll be following coccinelle's advice next time and follow the recipe and freeze the leftovers1

Thanks guys.

[coccinelle]

bushbaby, you'll find that only the first couple of days after having the brace adjusted when your teeth are sensitive will you not want to chew food. After that, you can eat normally but tough meat or chewy things might be a bit unpleasant but jacket pots. are fine.

[bushbaby_de]

Thanks coccinelle, the braces are on now and they don't hurt but the plastic palate plate is making eating very difficult. My diet is noodles and pasta until I figure out how to chew!!