The temperature outside registered 13 º and me and the dogs, cosy in our beds, were in no hurry to get up and begin the day. Himself is always an early riser and, when the early morning temperature drops sufficiently, is often up and has the stove alight before the rest of the household even considers thinking about rising.
No need for the
stove to be alight today though.
The day is full of promise. Sun all the way and no winds to bring the cold
breezes down from the snowy sierra or to bring the hot sandy air up from
Africa.
Herself is
preparing a Moroccan Tagine recipe for a family lunch, well actually, it’s the
man of the house doing the prepping.
Lucky chef!
Recipe:
1 lb stewing beef
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tbs ras el hanout
1-2 tbs olive oil
1-2 tbs butter
good pinch saffron
2 large tomatoes, chopped
3 carrots, diced
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1/2 - 1 cup prunes
2-3 tbs honey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup red wine
salt, to taste
Slowly sauté onions on medium-low heat until they begin to caramelize. Stir in Ras el Hanout spice blend. Turn up heat to medium-high and add butter and saffron. Brown meat well on both sides and add tomatoes and other vegetables. Add broth, prunes and honey. Add red wine and salt and let simmer for 1-2 hours, depending on using the Tajine and toughness of the meat. Meat should melt in the mouth when done.
Serve with flat breads, rice, couscous or bulgur.
Enjoy!
After lunch,
sitting comfortably on the sofas, talking laughing, the sun shining through the
windows. Where else would we want to be?
