Hugh's Chicken Run (Merged Discussion)

competitionscafe

prettypennies wrote: »

We had pork, apple and juniper berry casserole for lunch today.

Yum! Do you have a recipe please?

prettypennies

Tends to vary a bit according to what I have in the cupboard but here goes:

500g diced pork
3 medium carrots cut into large diagonal chunks
A few shallots and a leek or onions
330ml bottle of cider
400ml ish of chicken or veg stock
plain flour
about 12 juniper berries
thyme or rosemary.
bay leaf
1 large or 2 small bramleys sliced not too thinly

Preheat oven to 160 degrees (fan oven)

Brown the pork in in a pan in some olive oil and butter (in two batches)

Remove from pan and put the carrots and onions/shallots/leeks.

Fry for a few mins to colour and put the pork back in.

Chuck in the sliced apple and thyme or rosemary or both.

Throw in a few tablespoons of flour and cook out for a few mins.

Pour in the bottle of cider and simmer for a couple more mins.

Then add the stock to the pan with the juniper berries and salt and pepper.

Bubble for a few minutes before trnsferring to a casserole and bunging in the oven for 1.5 to 2 hrs.

My DS is a total dumpling addict so I often bung a few herby dumplings in 20 mins before end (turn heat up to 180 if adding the dumplings)

Or you could stir in a tablespoon or two of creme fraiche at the end.

Today I cut some beets and parsnips into chips and roasted them for about the last half hour to go with - and some minted peas


It also goes great with mashed spuds/artichokes and sauted cabbage.

I have also made it with ale instead of cider and it is just as good.

I big spoonful of wholegrain mustard thrown added at the same time as the stock is a nice addition

And I have put parsnips in the stew instead of carrots when I didn't have any carrots left.

You could also make a Jacket spud or hasselback potatoes with it or even some brown rice

competitionscafe

Thanks, that sounds great, will give it a go!

By the way, for those who like their Pork, this farm has a special offer on their outdoor reared rare-breed organic pork at the moment - selection box, 10 kg + delivery - you can see pictures and videos of the farm and pigs on their website - they even have a boar named Boris who looks like Boris Johnson http://www.prioryfreerangefoods.co.uk/pig_summary.html

Lotus-eater

Thankyou for the recipe, where can you buy juniper berries from??

Justie

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Thankyou for the recipe, where can you buy juniper berries from??

most supermarkets have them in their herb and spice aisle - they're lovely cos they taste like gin

prettypennies

I bought mine form Sainburys this time (Schwartz ones) but have had them v.cheap from Home bargains in the past also.

xlt_hunter

The display of Chooks in Morrisons and Tesco in my town is a bit of a disgrace is a way. Morrisions stand out this one, their display had I would say over 60-80 Fresh Birds in a big chiller (8' long?) with 3-4 shelves of the poor birds in it. Out of this there must have being only a small section about the same size that tesco had in the Axminster had in Hugh's Chicken Out show with 6-7 Free Range birds.

I do hope over the coming weeks and months that the supermarkets goals and foucs will switch very quicky and supply a "bigger" display of FR or even Org Birds.

Its not just the birds, people should be looking at the content of their food to see what egg is used - Ok Hellmans Mayo is changing leading to the summer (good news ) but what about the others!?

kethry

xlt_hunter wrote: »

Its not just the birds, people should be looking at the content of their food to see what egg is used - Ok Hellmans Mayo is changing leading to the summer (good news ) but what about the others!?

If it helps, M&S food is all made with free range egg. their milk also comes from cows that are guaranteed access to pasture.

keth
xx

xlt_hunter

kethry wrote: »

If it helps, M&S food is all made with free range egg. their milk also comes from cows that are guaranteed access to pasture.

keth
xx

Thank for that - I am aware of that when I worked on their food account with different firms. M&S are the ones to use if you don't want crap in your food like additives hdro fats etc... and thats the reason why their prices are high - good quality food

Unlike Tesco cheap value range full of crap and fat to bulk it out (sorry if this offeneds anyone) but my viewing that its those who have a poor income who use this "value" ranged tend to be overweight! (I know a few in the same boat)

deanos

xlt_hunter wrote: »

Unlike Tesco cheap value range full of crap and fat to bulk it out (sorry if this offeneds anyone) but my viewing that its those who have a poor income who use this "value" ranged tend to be overweight! (I know a few in the same boat)

You didnt see the docu on TV the other night then, alot of the Value/basic's etc range contained less fat and sugar , calories compared to the finest/taste different etc ranges so they were worse for you