Tag Archives: winter

Game on!

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winter stew

When it comes to comfort food, nothing beats a hearty stew – just the thing for chilly winter evenings…

Here’s the recipe Lisa Holloway shared on Sunday’s show; served with creamy mashed potatoes and cavalo nero, this will have family and friends queuing up for seconds!

Oh and by the way, if you want recipes for the other two courses, just follow these links for the Celeriac Soup and the Warm Ginger and Plum Pudding…

Winter Venison and Beef Stew

  • Servings: Serves 6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • 900g stewing venison, cut into large cubes
  • 200g chuck beef
  • 4-6 sticks celery
  • 300g fresh or frozen cranberries
  • Zest of 2 large oranges, finely sliced
  • 350g shallots
  • 600ml beef stock
  • Large glass red wine
  • Large glass port
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
  • 2 level teaspoons plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground mace
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh oregano (dried if you can’t get fresh)
  • 2-3 bay leaves

Directions

  1. The day before, put the beef and venison in a plastic bag with the flour, mace, salt, pepper and herbs. Mix thoroughly and leave overnight in the fridge.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and brown the seasoned and floured beef gently. Transfer to a casserole dish. Add the onions, garlic and celery to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes, then add the wine, port and mustard. Bring to the boil and reduce for 5 minutes, then pour into the casserole, over the beef. Add the stock and half of the cranberries.
  3. Cover and cook slowly and gently for about 2-3 hours at 180C/375F/Gas mark 4, until the meat is very tender.
  4. Add the remaining cranberries  and orange zest 15 minutes before the end of the cooking time, stirring in well.

Simply s(o)uper!

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soup

The first of three recipes featured on Girls Around Town this morning – guest Lisa Holloway serves it as the starter of her warming winter menu but it’s almost a meal so just as good for lunch or a light supper too!

Want the recipes for the other two courses in Lisa’s menu? Just follow these links to her Winter Venison and Beef Stew and Warm Ginger and Plum Cake…

Celeriac Soup with Leek and Cheese Toasties

  • Servings: Serves 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • 4 sliced leeks
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 1 large celeriac, peeled and chopped into fairly small pieces
  • 2 medium or large potatoes, peeled and chopped into smallish cubes
  • 500ml vegetable stock
  • 500ml milk (preferably whole)
  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • Dijon mustard
  • 100g Gruyere cheese, grated

Directions

  1. Heat the oil in a wide, deep pan with a lid, add the leeks and cook gently until soft, about 10-12 minutes. Remove the leeks and set aside. Then add the garlic to the pan and cook for about 3 minutes.
  2. Add the celeriac, potatoes, stock and milk to the pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until soft and tender. Season well with salt and pepper, then blend in a food processor or with a stick blender.
  3. Heat the grill to high. Toast the 4 slices of sourdough in a toaster and spread with Dijon mustard, divide the leeks onto the slices of toast and cover with the grated cheese.
  4. Put under the grill until bubbling and golden.
  5. Serve the toasts with the soup, as a wonderful winter starter or a warming lunch or light supper.

Keep calm – it’s only Christmas!

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homeopathic remediesNo matter how much advice we hear or read about staying calm at Christmas, someone somewhere is going to overdo things – it may even be you!

From hangovers to heartburn, exhaustion to over-excitement, find out how homeopathic remedies can help when Fiona Theokritoff joins the Girls Around Town in the studio this week.

With over 15 years’ experience as a homeopath specialising in women’s health and family life, Fiona has plenty of hints and tips for anyone who may be feeling a little under the weather during the festivities.

And talking of weather, she’ll have more suggestions for dealing with winter coughs and colds too…

Join June, Tina and Sue on air or listen online from 10am till 1pm on Saturday – and watch this space for details of some of Fiona’s recommended remedies after the show.