Winning Winter Warmers When It's Welly Cold

Recipes to warm your heart – Cinnamon Pancakes, Beetroot Risotto and Lamb necks on the braai.

This quotation inspires today’s blog “Don’t think about making art, get it done.  Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it.  While they are deciding, make even more art.” Andy Warhol.

Rain is running rivulets down my windowpanes; the wind is howling so badly that my daily visit from the Robin has been extended as she see-saws while gripping a sickly branch of a pot plant, in dire need of attention.  While her feathers are ruffled, I have the luxury of wrapping myself up in layers of wool. I picked the last roses in the rain.  Soon it will be time to prune them, but, there'll always be a bucket filled with fynbos to cheer us up.

It’s a pancake day. We’ll break all the rules and succumb to our cravings, just this once. Our pantry has been stripped of all items which may contribute to our weight gain during the lockdown.  For my pancakes, I’ll need sugar, flour and eggs.

I hear the gate open and close; Butch has knocked off for the day.  Checkers 60 will arrive any minute now.  My hamper is delivered, within the hour, fresh eggs, a bag of sugar and a pound of butter.  I’m still astounded by the internet, Apps and the convenience of online shopping. Every package delivered is a gift.

While I hear Butch spinning on his bike, I whip up a batch of pancake dough.  I know I’ll wake up during the night and count the calories and the teaspoons of sugar ladled all over my scrumptious pancakes.  To hell with it.  I’ll go down the guilt-ridden rabbit hole later.

My Easy Pancakes.

Method:

---oOo---

My kitchen is stocked with ancient, well-used utensils.   My kettle is older than my youngest and still works perfectly. The soup ladle I use for my pancakes comes a long way; it holds exactly the correct amount of mixture to coat my pan, a relic.  My heavy bottomed black cast iron casserole is well oiled and seasoned.

I have two more must-have recipes for you.  Easy to prepare and make, but the comfort, warmth and satisfaction they provide are immeasurable.

BEETROOT RISOTTO

Bake a bushel of scrubbed medium-sized beetroot in the oven at 180C until a knife cuts through them easily.  Cool until you can grate them. I used the coarse side of the grater.

Voila!  Supper is served.

---oOo---

On Saturday, we had the kids and grandchildren for lunch; we always try and WOW them for this occasion, but we keep things simple so that neither of us is caught up in the kitchen.  Much of the prepping happens beforehand. When we see their car pulling in, we down tools, I untie my apron, add a fresh swipe of lip gloss, and I’m ready to enjoy the time we can spend together to the max.

At a guesthouse in Sutherland, we experienced the delights of a slow-cooked lamb’s neck.  Butch found an easy Ina Paarman recipe which we adapted.  If there’s only one new recipe you try this winter, let it be this one!  You’ll not be disappointed.  The meat must be slow cooked ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR BRAAI.  Order your lamb necks beforehand to prevent disappointment.

LAMB NECKS IN A BARBEQUE GLAZE FINISHED OVER THE COALS

ONE DAY BEFORE, DO THE FOLLOWING:

(I did this a day before, placed the meat in the oven at 18h00 and left the meat in the oven until the next morning.)

Next morning do the following:

Carefully place the meat onto the front of a braai grid.  Paint with BBQ sauce and braai over medium-hot coals.  Butch braaied the meat on the highest level for 30 minutes, turning regularly and brushing BBQ sauce at each turn until the meat has warmed up right through and the outside is beautifully crisp and sticky.

Serve on a platter and garnish with sprigs of Rosemary the re-heated garlic bulbs and onion quarters.

Thank you, Ina Paarman, for this delicious recipe.  You can be relied upon to always give us excellent tried an tested tasty recipes that work.

---oOo---

With a sigh of relief I celebated another trip around the sun.  Liam on the table, jointed us for tea while we had a slice of delicious Rainbow cake.  A first for me.  I loved it.  We'll not speculate on the year ahead.  That's one thing we've learned. 

It’s Monday morning, and as per usual, I will have to attempt to eat less.  Today is freezing; the wind is still howling. My good intentions have already gone by the wayside; a delicious thick vegetable soup is bubbling away on the stove.