The weather has turned windy again so last night I cheered myself up by cooking this Tuscan beef stew. The beef, after being browned in olive oil, is just simmered slowly with garlic, rosemary, a generous amount of good red wine [for it is true that a wine not fit for drinking is not fit for cooking with either] and what is becoming my favourite ingredient, 'strattu [tomato paste]. Authentically the dish should, I read, contain carrots and celery too, but it turned out very well cooked this way.
That stew looks really good.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing better on a grey day in Blighty than turning to your blog to get whisked off to Sicily (even if the weather there can be just as ropey).
As well as cheering me up, it also allows me to say we've grabbed your "more laughs than Private Eye" quote for our testimonials section on As A Dodo - hope that's ok.
pure comfort food..... looks delish too
ReplyDeleteHi, UPM. Thank you! I'm delighted you are using my comment in your testimonials for it is true - you ARE funnier than "Private Eye"! Thanks for cheering me up so often.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally. Sometimes only a good, hearty stew will do!
Hmmm.. not the most appetising piccy I have ever seen..
ReplyDeleteMaybe would have been better taken in 'natural light' ?
Anon, it WAS taken in natural light! With photos, I just do the best I can, that's all. Btw, could you tell me why you're "anon"? You don't say anything offensive and I'd feel more comfortable talking to you if you had an identity! Some of the time I don't know if I'm talking to one and the same "anon"!
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell it. Ummmm.
ReplyDeleteSo true about the wine and cooking, Welsh. I've got myself a nice, thick juicy t-bone steak waiting for me to cook for dinner shortly...with corn on the cob and of course, mushrooms! You might have noticed I'm a bit partial to fresh mushrooms! ;)
ReplyDeleteDo you think rosemary goes well with beef or are you now so Italianised that you don't think about it?
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Steve. Lee, yes, I think I've gathered you like mushrooms a lot! - Me, too! That steak with mushrooms and the sweetcorn sounds heavenly. WW, I love rosemary so I think it more or less goes with everything!
ReplyDeleteThat looks very yummy. "Comfort food" is right.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking Anonymous might be that White Knight you spoke about earlier! Your secret admirer!
Then again, it might be a lady.
Hi, bonnie. Yes, I suppose he could be!
ReplyDelete