Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Lucy had a little lamb,,,

I got home late last night from a family funeral, emotionally drained and in that strange hungry/not hungry frame of mind that comes with standing around all day drinking cups of tea from an urn and eating club sandwiches.

The Boy Wonder had transformed himself into super housedad in my absence and when we got home from the airport this was bubbling quietly on the stove. It's enormously comforting - he used to make it a lot about five years ago - and just the thing for a cold autumn night.

Lamb

Lemony Lamb Stew
This began life as a Ray McVinnie recipe, torn out of the newspaper back in about 2003. It's now ours by adoption.

500-700g boned lamb shoulder, cut into 2cm chunks
3Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, diced
1 stick celery, diced
5 floury potatoes, peeled and cut into 2cm chunks
1Tbsp flour (use rice flour or cornflour to make gluten-free)
2 cups beef stock
1 cup water (or 1/2 water, 1/2 white wine)
1 cup frozen peas
zest and juice of a lemon
fresh parsley

Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot and saute the garlic, onion, carrot and celery for five minutes over medium heat. Add the lamb and saute again until it colours all over, then stir in the flour. Let cook for a minute or two, then add the potatoes, stock and water. Bring to the boil, then let simmer gently for 45 minutes until the lamb is tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir in the peas and cook for another 3-4 minutes, then squeeze over the lemon juice and stir. Sprinkle with lemon zest and parsley before serving with chunks of baguette. Serves four. Pin It

9 comments:

  1. I love how unsentimental you are! Posting that lamb while licking your lips, I get in lots of trouble for threatening to shoot the rabbits that frolic outside our office!

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  2. I'm turning into a towny! I looked at the lamb and thought Oh no! How can you do that Lucy!

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  3. That gorgeous lamb has no effect on me, I still want to make the stew. Sorry to hear about your funeral, but how good to come home to this meal.

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  4. You are hilarious with that photo of the lamb! I've totally saved the recipe though!

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  5. Hehehehe, sorry, I did think it was pushing it a tiny bit with the frolicking lamb, but I've given up taking night shots (and what's the point of having a blog if you can't have a bit o' fun!)

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  6. mmm, I love the idea of the lemon with the lamb, sounds delicious... I dont cook lamb at all, which is ridiculous really because I love it... I also have it skipping around in the field opposite the house so it could be pshycological!

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  7. they are cute aren't they? but when you're hungry....

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  8. What a lovely stew that must be with the lemon, I will definatly be trying that out. I love your blog to!

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  9. ha ha, the lamb looks very sweet but sounds delicious

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Hello - thanks for stopping by. If this was real life I'd make you a cup of tea and open the biscuit tin, but in lieu of those things, let's have a chat anyway...