Hello! It’s been a while as life has been busy with getting vaccinated, more work and less time for cooking. Yesterday I made this ground lamb stew. We had some beautiful big radish and I subbed them as potatoes. I’m sure you know, but radish cook soft and just like potatoes, absorb the delicious flavours of a stew and are very satisfying.

To summarise: while browning the onion cut your veggies up, add the lamb, veggies and top with herbs, fresh or dried, add seasoning and simmer until tenderly cooked. Lets go!

Ingredients

• 1 tblspn olive oil
• 1 small onion or shallot
• 1 lb ground lamb
• 2-3 mini red bell peppers, sliced
• 5 large radish, quartered
• 2 sticks celery
• 7 baby tomatoes
• fresh or dried herbs to your taste: thyme, sage, rosemary and parsley
• 2 tblsp concentrated low sodium beef stock
• 1 extra tablespoon olive oil to drizzle over once cooked
• 1 tsp each smoked paprika, cumin, oregano and a tiny pinch of cinnamon

Method

1. In a deep pot on medium heat, add the diced onion or shallot
2. When just browning add ground lamb and break up with wooden spoon
3. Lightly cook for 5 minutes, gently stirring
4. While lamb is cooking, slice vegetables
5. Add to cooked lamb, then top with herbs.
6. Place lid on pot and cook 5 more minutes
7. Lift lid and stir muddling lamb and veggies
8. Add stock concentrate and seasoning
9. Place lid on pot and turn heat right down and simmer until veggies are tender
10. To serve, drizzle over olive oil and add ground pepper

I served this with a small roasted spaghetti squash and cauliflower; also buttered Brussel sprouts with turmeric and chili flakes.

Leftover stew with stir-fried rapini and zucchini today:

*The spring edition: garden and other cooking notes

The rose garden has been wonderful after a brief warm period and then cooler days.

Come and take a walk with me!

Lamb kebabs with tzatziki

Garden path, hammock days and summer planting

Bluebells and dogwood while out walking.

Small batch brownies and an egg and pickle lunch bowl.

Included pickles are cucumber, radish and radish greens, pickled onion “jam”, cottage cheese, horseradish mayonnaise, boiled eggs and olives.

Lastly, our son flew in to visit us for a wonderful fully-vaccinated family celebratory visit after a long pandemic apart.

Be well, be safe!