Dinner Menu 10/11

Irish Lamb Stew (from Martha Stewart)

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3 pounds boneless lamb stew meat (preferably shoulder), trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups dark beer
• 1 1/2 pounds medium new potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut 1/2 inch thick diagonally
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. In a large bowl, season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge lamb in flour mixture, shaking off excess. In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Working in batches, brown lamb on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate.
2. Pour 1/4 cup water into pot, scraping up browned bits from bottom with a wooden spoon. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until water has evaporated and onion is beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Return lamb to pot; stir in thyme, beer, and 1 1/2 cups water. Cover; simmer until lamb is tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
3. Add potatoes, carrots, and 1/2 cup water. Cook, covered, until vegetables are tender and stew has thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool completely before storing. Stir in parsley just before serving.

I did let the veggies cook for 40 minutes instead of the prescribed 20. I also cooked the stew with some good pieces of bone for added flavor and served with rye bread.

To drink I served Sparkling Cider: 1/2 shot of Cognac, a few dashes of bitters, topped with hard Pear Cider. Everyone enjoyed!