hi everyone! *waves at new readers* welcome! happy almost weekend! today really felt like a friday, i even did my grocery shopping tonight since it’s supposed to be snowy/gross all weekend. but now i’m sitting here realizing yep, i still have to work one more day. the good news is that i have plenty to keep me busy so it should fly!
i admit that our winter has been mild to say the least BUT that doesn’t stop me from wanting those stick to your bones hearty meals on cold evenings. I’m still using lamb that my parents neighbor (they live in the country) gave to them and happily shared with nate & i. we utilized a 3lb bone in leg of lamb and came up with a fabulous tasting, flavor-rich stew! we don’t shy away from exotic spice combos in TDP household so we embraced the palates of india to france!
ingredients:
-3lb leg of lamb (boneless is fine but then you won’t get to suck the marrow bones 
-1 large can of plum tomatoes and juice
-2tsp vinegar
-5-6 medium carrots
-3 large stalks celery
-2 cloves garlic
-1 large yellow onion
-4-5 small potatoes
spices according to your personal taste:
1 tbsp of each of the following: curry, cumin, salt
1/2 tbsp 1tbsp each: pepper, rosemary, thyme, 2 bay leafs, chili powder
method:
begin by searing off the leg of lamb in a hot pan. once you get a nice browning add your tomatoes, vinegar,* spice mixture & garlic. this will be your braising liquid to really create a rich flavor & stock. place foil over the pan or (if you have an oven proof lid) and place in oven at 250F for about 2hours.
just before the 2hour mark, saute your celery, carrots & onion. when your meat is done cooking, bring it back up to stove-top and strain the liquid into a bowl and save (skim off excess fat from the lamb). chop up your lamb into stew sized bites, pour your saved bowl of liquid back over your lamb bites and add the potatoes & sauteed items stirring occasionally for up to 1 hour. garnish with lots of fresh cilantro and eat heartily!
yes, this is a time intensive meal but you get leftovers for a couple days! i ate mine by itself, or sometimes over a bed of squash noodles. nate enjoyed his plain and over rice to make it stretch for a few days lunches. we really believe in using all of our food entirely avoiding waste at all costs. we know we are so fortunate to be working in jobs we enjoy and try not to take for granted the blessings (great AND small) that make our life so incredible. work hard & play hard friends! x
*the vinegar & acid from tomatoes will help break down the protein so you get that tender, fall off the bone texture.
1. what are you doing this weekend? i think we are going to the art museum since it’s going to be frigid and wet…blerg!
2. what is your favorite song right now?
sorry guys! someone bought it now in .2s but there are still anthropologie items up for grab super cheap! i am on a mission to live more simply this year and i’ve been liquidating my things! my goal is to only own a few staples that i can mix with the colored tops i already own. i want to be able to pack all of my things in one suitcase…it might sound a little crazy but sometimes so am I 
he also got me a gorgeous bouquet 
