Food & Drink 49

THIS RECIPE SERVES 4 LAMB SHANK AND AUBERGINE

INGREDIENTS:

2 lamb shanks 20g rosemary 1 garlic bulb Sea salt A few twists of black pepper 2 white onions peeled an chopped roughly 1 small aubergine Rapeseed oil Enough water to submerge lamb Savoy cabbage

SAUCE

250ml chicken stock 1 Bay leaf 1 Clove 100ml Madeira 50g cold diced butter

EQUIPMENT:

Heavy based casserole Black peppermill 1 x Small saucepan 1 x 8” round oven proof dish Parchment paper Foil Roasting tins Tongs

METHOD:

Heat some oil in a pan and brown the lamb shanks all over - alternatively brush the shanks with oil and blow torch all over to brown. Roast in the oven on 180oC for about 30 minutes with the garlic bulb and then transfer to an oven proof dish with the garlic squeezed out its pockets with the chopped onion, diced aubergine, seasoning and rosemary. Place a little strip of parchment paper over the lamb and then wrap the oven proof dish tightly with foil. Braise this in the oven for about 3 hours on 160oC .

Once the lamb is ready and almost falling off the bone remove from the liquid and put in a hot oven for 15 minutes to brown off. Put the liquid with onions and aubergine in a small pan and reduce until the liquid has almost gone. In another pan simmer the madeira with clove and bay leaf until reduced by half. Add the chicken stock and simmer to reduce again by a third then whisk in the cold butter to emulsify the sauce. Set aside ready to warm up or serve immediately if everything else is ready.

Strip the lamb from the bone and mix with the aubergine and onion and serve with the sweet potato gratin and savoy cabbage.

SWEET POTATO AND PECAN GRATIN

INGREDIENTS:

2 medium large sweet potato 1 medium red onion 2 sprigs of fresh oregano 1 tsp of fresh thyme leaves (no stalks) 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced A pinch of Maldon sea salt A twist or 2 of black pepper 100ml of double cream 100ml of chicken or vegetable stock 20g of chopped pecan nuts 10g of pumpkin seeds

EQUIPMENT:

2 x Small saucepan 1 x 8” round oven proof dish Mandolin Parchment paper Foil

METHOD:

Grease and line the oven proof dish. Pre heat the oven to 170oC. Peel and slice the sweet potatoes and red onion. Mix the cream with the chicken or veg stock together. Finley slice the garlic and pick the leaves of oregano. Simply layer the slices of sweet potato then onion with cream mix and herbs and seasoning. Tear some parchment paper to use to press the vegetables down to get a good mix of the cream within the dish. Top with nuts and seeds and bake in the oven for about 40 minutes or until a skewer goes through effortlessly.

For help with any of the recipes please email mike@takefood.co.uk

Horoscopes Our Horoscopes Horoscopes

With John Starkey

21/04 - 20/05 Taurus It is worth thinking about taking life at a slightly slower pace, as the advent of the planet Jupiter, could suggest that you need to hold yourself back for just a week or Scorpio 23/10 - 22/11 two, whilst you weigh up the important options It is important to keep a padlock in front of you. you may be professionally head upon your temper and allow yourself hunted which could be well worth waiting for.to think before you act. Indecision now could create untimely delays. The next few weeks Gemini21/06 - 20/06 do however look very promising particularly for Your wonderfully placid attitude and Scorpions in love. gentle approach to others, could make you the ideal person to put balm on Sagittarius 23/11 - 20/12 troubled waters. There may be those who Try to take a neutral view particularly will thank you for your good advice and well in matters relating to others. Perhaps, thought out and empathetic ideas.it is a good time to put up, shut up and bide your time until you say your piece. Time is on your side. 21/06 - 21/07 Cancer

01902334224 www.john-starkey.co.uk johnstarkey123@outlook.com Capricorn December 21 - January 19 Love is all around you of the planet Jupiter, could suggest that you and as the summer sap rises you are liable to find affection from all kinds of need to hold yourself back for just a week or unexpected directions. It’s up to you how seriously two, whilst you weigh up the important options you should regard any advances. in front of you. you may be professionally head hunted which could be well worth waiting for.

Aries

March 21- April 20 The planets are in a state of change within your sign make you the ideal person to put balm on at the moment, which indicates turbulence and change. However, it all troubled waters. There may be those who seems to be for better times ahead. New people, will thank you for your good advice and well new places and new feelings all add up to a great time ahead. thought out and empathetic ideas. 52

Taurus April 21 - May 20 Taurus try to be prudent where matters are concerned. The financial side of things looks exceptionally good at the end of the year, but you may need to tread water for awhile.

Aquarius Pisces

January 20 - February 18 February 19 - March 20

The cup of plenty is full, Carry on regardless. Others so there really are no half may criticise your actions measures. Whatever you but in the long term you take needs to be carried will be proved right. Stay out in a broad gauge on the ball and enjoy this fashion. Think big and you period of self belief. can achieve even your wildest dreams.

Gemini

May 21 - June 20 Your adventurous nature always makes you good for a gamble. That lively planet Jupiter could assist Lady Luck to smile on you. A flutter could turn out to be lucrative investment.