Cold Cold day

Well I have been cold and been trussed up in jumpers and a thick jacket for the best part of the day.  OH is a bit more with it but now starving hungry and could not fancy the lamb chops.  We have therefore made a fleeting visit to the butchers as he fancied a stew.  

We then had a lovely walk out with Missy to Castor Backwaters and the river is well high nearly to the top of the bank.  We knew it had been raining but had not appreciated that we had had quite so much rain.  The scenery was quite picturesque in that there were deep dark clouds one side with the sun coming from the opposite direction and highlighting all the autumn colours of the trees and bushes with them "popping" out with the dark background.  It was a pleasant walk in any event.

We then made our way to see my step-son and his wife and spent a little time with them outside before coming back home and then with me getting on with tea.

I have therefore made a big batch of stew 1.5 kg of meat with parsnip, leek, potato, onion and carrot added.  The house smells wonderful of stew a comforting soul food meal with an aroma which is making me hungry.  I am licking my lips  in anticipation.  I have also added stock and half a bottle of Old Speckled Hen to the mix, some white pepper and a little redcurrant jelly and Worcester Sauce.  Have cooked it again in the Ninja Foodie.  It will be served with thick crusty bread. I start off by sauteing the onions, leeks and the meat.  Then added stock, water and half bottle of beer and flavourings.  Then pressure cook it for 40 minutes.  You have to thicken the gravy up afterwards as otherwise the pressure cooker element does not work very well and you have to release what steam is in there and and try again.

We are rather uncouth here when it comes to serving stew as I use the deep Mason & Cash Pudding bowls to serve up stew as OH usually likes to have plenty.

We have since had a scuttle full and it has warmed us both up and there is plenty left for tomorrow.  The meat and the veggies are lovely and tender and the gravy has gone nice and thick, full of meat and veggie goodness which was quickly mopped up with some thick sliced bread.  I am hoping it will do OH some good, bearing in mind he has been off his food and is diabetic to boot.  He has been drinking plenty, but it is still worrying if he is hardly eating anything.

We are planning to go to the Fish Man in Ramsey in the morning  as we quite like our weekly fix of fish.  I might suggest that we go on a bit further to Johnsons to see if we can order Turkey for Christmas Dinner.  Depends how he feels.

Right off to potter.  Catch you all soon.

Pattypan

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