Budget-Friendly Comfort Food: Hearty Beef Stew with Cheesy Biscuits

Ingredients
Stew:
1 Kg (2 pounds) ground beef
1-2 onions, chopped
10 mL (2 tsp) fresh thyme leaves
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
45 mL (3 Tbsp) tomato paste
30 mL (2 Tbsp) Marmite
750 mL (3 cups) mixed frozen vegetables
1.5 L (3 cups) beef stock
Flour to thicken if needed

Biscuits:
500 mL (2 cups) flour
10 mL (2 tsp) baking powder
Pinch of salt
125 mL (½ cup) butter, cut into small pieces
325 mL (1 ½ cups) shredded cheese
250 mL (1 cup) buttermilk

Preheat oven to 230ºC (450°F).
Heat a large oven proof pan over medium-high.
Brown the beef, breaking it up as you go.
Add onion, thyme, garlic, salt & pepper.
Stir in tomato paste, and Marmite.
Cook, stirring often, until well incorporated.
Stir in beef stock; bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
Add peas and carrots; stir to combine.
In a food processor combine, flour, salt, baking powder, and butter.
Whiz until uniform, then transfer to a bowl.
Stir in cheese, and then buttermilk just until incorporated.
Drop biscuit dough directly on top of stew, in small clumps leaving about 1⁄2 inch of space between biscuits.
Place pan in oven and bake until biscuits are browned and flaky, 20 to 22 minutes.
Let stand 5 minutes, and serve.