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Monday, July 16, 2012

It's snowing on our doorstep!


Whilst we are in the grips of a very cold winter by our standards, it's so good to be indoors........
Here are some good old faithfuls to keep warm......

Lamb Bredie and dumplings....


                                                       2 kg of lamb stewing meat
 2 tablsp flour for dusting the meat
2 onions sliced
8 medium whole onions
2 stalks of celery chopped
6 - 8 potatoes
10 carrots cleaned and roughly chopped
fresh herbs chopped ( thyme and rosemary)
dripping
salt and pepper
garlic cloves ( to taste)
1 lt chicken stock
1 tablsp tomoto paste

Fry the onions garlic and celery  in the lard until translucent
add the meat and brown.
Allow to cook for +- 45 min to 1 hr
Arrange the potatoes and carrots ontop of the meat.
Add a dusting of salt and pepper and the fresh herbs and grated zest of an orange
Add the stock.
Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender and the meat is succulent.

for the dumplings.....I mix around a cup of plain cake flour with 2 tsp baking powder.
Add 1 egg, salt and pepper and fresh herbs and enough water to make a wet dough.
Spoon heapfuls on top of the stew 1/2 hr before serving. Put the lid securely on and cook a further 30 minutes until the dumplings are light and fluffy and cooked inside.

Butternut soup



1 diced medium butternut
4 leeks, sliced
2 stalks of celery
2 onions sliced
500ml chicken stock
4 TBSP margarine
3 medium potatoes
500ml milk
2 tbsl thick cream ( I like creme fraishe)
1 tsp sugar
salt and pepper
a dash of nutmeg
(2 tsp curry powder ---optional)

Melt margarine, add leeks and onion, celery and potatoes. Sweat for 10minutes.
Add stock  and cook veggies until soft. Add milk and sugar.
Liquidise, add cream and seasoning.
Serve as you like....you can add more milk should you prefer a thinner consistency.
Scrummy for this weather.....


Banana Bread









                                                       
  platter by nicci stewart ceramics  along with many other pieces I have collected over the years from her.

See you all soon
Keep warm!!
Shel

9 comments:

  1. I looked at her site..charming unique pieces Shel..Glad you have a c'lection!

    I am so gullible..did you go somewhere where it is ..or was snowing?

    This could be here in Dec Jan Feb March..hate to say sometimes April!

    We are in a heat wave..and very very dry,crops are suffering as well as my gardens..
    Regardless..picture perfect..we love stews ..banana bread..soups..
    I am still baking and cooking in this wave..but ever so slightly..
    I thought you were going to the sea:)

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  2. Ahh Monique...it is so cold..
    we are not moving away from the warmth of home...
    I was meant to go to Cape Town to Wes, but too cold....going to him in October for a fest.
    We have had house guests on and off during this month...so only got away for weekends.
    The "snow photos" were taken at Hogsback just 2 and a bit hours away from here.
    It is a beautiful village that my parents and I visited often. I love it there.
    I'd rather have the heat than the cold at the moment...sign of older age?? :((
    Bisous

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  3. Toi? Old age?

    Beauty age.That's all u have:) Belle Fille!

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  4. Jolis plats réconfortant, une bonne soupe de butternut pour se réchauffer. Ici c'est l'été qui ne veut pas s'installer cette année. Pluies, brouillard et fraicheur est notre quotidien depuis 2 mois et demi.
    Merci pour votre charmante visite.
    Bonne journée. Amitiés.

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  5. Merci ... vous aussi vous avez un blog magnifique.
    Look forward to stopping by soon!
    Shel

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  6. What beautiful pictures! wonderful stew - full of flavor and goodness. It's SO hot here - 95 degrees tomorroW - your snow looks so lovely:)
    Mary x

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  7. That photo could be somewhere in the Alps! Wonderful sounding recipes - perfect for our freezing weather. x sharon

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  8. Hello Shel, so lovely to hear from you..
    I love winter ~ alot~ and your recipes are spot on for trying out. thank you for sharing.
    love to you
    Colette x

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  9. While we are in the midst of a heat wave these recipes have me wanting cooler weather and comfort foods, and summer has only really begun.

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