Sunday 30 March 2008

Recipe #3 Lamb Tagine

For Christmas, Dad gave me this really cool tagine.So today, after months of planning to use it, the maiden voyage occurred and I made Lamb Tagine.

Lamb Tagine Recipe
3 tabsp olive oil, divided
2 lbs lamb meat (shoulder or shanks) cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ras el hanout
1/4 tsp ground tumeric
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cardomon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp ground coriander
pinch saffron
2 medium onions cut into 1 inch cubes
3/4 tsp garlic
5 carrots, peeled and cut into quarters,
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
2 sweet potatoes/yams, cubed
2 cups chicken broth (1 cup if using tagine pot)
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsbp honey
4 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cups green peas
1 cup raisins
1 cups slivered almonds
1) Place lamb in a bowl, toss with 2 tbsp of olive oile and set aside. Mix together the paprika, ras el hanout, tumeric, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, cardomon, salt, ginger, safron and coriander. Add to lamb and toss to coat well. Cover and refridgerate for 2 to 8 hours (the longer the better).
2) Heat 1 tbsp of oil in heavy pot. Add lamb, onions and garlic. Add chicken broth, tomato paste and honey. Bring to a boil. Then do one of the following.
a)If using tagine, transfer lamb, onion, broth mixture to the tagine and add the vegetables, raisins, and almonds. Bake at 325 F for 1 1/2 hours.
b) For stove top method, simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours stirring occasionally until the meat is tender. Add carrots, sweet potato, mushrooms, peas, raisins, and almonds and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
3) Serve over prepared couscous or rice.

Saturday 22 March 2008

BaBa Black Sheep


I was probably in my thirties before I touched a lamb. It was very young and the ewe had probably not finished cleaning him properly. He felt like a brillo pad and I was horribly disappointed.
We saw many lambs today (at the home of The Geek's coworker, Hilary)
and they were all very soft.

I feel much better now!

Saturday 1 March 2008

Like watching grass grow?

The Geek just came across a superlative of something that is "like watching grass grow": something that is "like watching pitch drip":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_drop_experiment

Mom's Favourite Perfume

The Ylang tree











Produces the ylang ylang flower


Which is a major component of....