The moment the evenings start drawing in, we start thinking of using our favourite cuts of lamb to make delicious stews. Now October is here its time to share some recipes.
We have rebranded what is known as 'scrag end' as 'stewing chops' and they are so tasty. They are neck of lamb on the bone, we also sell neck fillet (off the bone) which is very popular too. But we think the bone keeps a lot of the flavour. Stewing chops are one of the cheaper cuts but we think the most flavoursome. I'm about to start cooking the recipe below and leave it in the oven all afternoon ready for this evening, I can hardly wait!
Serves 4
You will need -
8 of Camilla and Roly's stewing chops
1 large onion
1 large garlic clove
1 pack of bacon lardons
2 tablespoons of plain flour
1/2 pint of chicken stock
1/2 pint of good red wine
A handful of red lentils (optional)
A handful of pearl barley (optional)
Couple of sprigs of thyme
Brown off the stewing chops in a large pan in a small amount of oil. Remove them from the pan and add the lardons and cook them for a few minutes before removing them and putting them aside with 'the chops. Add the onion and crushed garlic to the delicious lamb and bacon juices and saute for a few minutes. Add the flour and stir around until mixed in with the onion and garlic. Add the stock and wine and the lentils and pearl barley if you want to use them (they are a good thickener and definitely add some yumminess). Return your chops and bacon back into the pan, season well and add the thyme sprigs. Cook over a high heat for a few minutes before putting your delicioius stew in the oven at 150 degrees for at least 3 hours! The lamb will be so tender it will fall off the bone and its a real winner! Serve with slow cooked red cabbage and dauphinoise potatoes, yummy!
We hope you enjoy this as much as we do.
Camilla, Roly, Molly, Boris and Belle
I have just looked at the weather forecast again and no rain is forecast for a few days, a great start to the new year for us. It is hard work in the mud taking care of livestock. The sheep don't like it either and seem to be looking at us and asking to come indoors. We've had to move them twice off the fields which have flooded onto higher ground and they do not like walking through puddles let alone floods, so they took some persuading!
Rain, rain and more rain! Everywhere is so wet and we had to execute an emergency move last week for the ewes to get them safely on higher ground with some hay just before the Thames flooded its banks. And flood it did. We've been very aware of the flooding risk since we have been here and its not until it has happened that you can fully appreciate where the water will go and how high it will rise. Now we know! It is just beginning to go down now and the debris, including some big logs, are now noticeable in the middle of the fields.
