recipe: winter warmer

You're probably used to baking recipes going up on the blog but little do you know, I'm quite the little chef as well. This winter warmer is perfect for those days where the weather is atrocious outside but you're inside snuggled up with a pile of DVDs. This is what I like to call the 'one pot wonder'. I made this recipe up so you can adjust it to add whatever you want to put in it!

Ingredients
1 can of chopped tomatoes
1 can of the beans of your choice (I've used cannelini, chick peas and haricot beans before and they all work really well)
300ml of stock (chicken or vegetable)
Cubed lamb (any type of meat works well. I like using lamb or pork for this)
Handful of pearl barley
2 handfuls of red lentils
Carrots
1 onion
Mushrooms
Chopped garlic
Variety of herbs and spices

1. Prepare all your ingredients, this includes chopping up all your vegetables, washing your pearl barley, opening your cans and cube your meat (not to be cubed too small)

2. With a little oil in your pot, fry your onions together with the garlic until soft. Add the carrots. Mix in the meat of your choice until browned.

3. Add the chopped tomatoes and bring to the boil. Then add your stock. Again, bring to the boil. Turn down the heat to medium and add your lentils and pearl barley. Give it a good stir and then leave it to simmer on a very low heat for about 1 hour.

4. Stir every so often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. About 45 minutes into the simmering process, add your flavourings. I use rosemary, oregano, salt, pepper and mixed herbs. You can use whatever you like. Add the mushrooms and your choice of beans at this point. Stir and leave for another 15 minutes or until the pearl barley is cooked and the mixture thickens.

5. Turn off the heat about 5 minutes before serving so it can thicken up further.

6. Serve immediately.

Can be served with rice, warm crusty bread or garlic bread. I love making this recipe because it's so simple to make. The only skills you need is adding and stirring. Simples.

Bon appétit

Vanessa

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