Friday 30 January 2015

A Good Recipe for a cold day!

It is lovely here today, providing you are in a warm room with all the doors and windows tight-shut, and have plenty of warm clothes on.   It is wall-to-wall sunshine and a very brisk North wind blowing.  The lane is icy and the snow lies on the fields.
It was our morning when we meet for coffee in town and when the farmer goes to the Auction Mart just to see what sort of prices the livestock is fetching.

In other words, we arrive home at more or less lunchtime and need something warming.   Often I do a stir fry or have made a batch of soup.    Today there was shepherds' pie left from yesterday and with it we had my absolute favourite vegetable dish at this time of year.  All the old winter vegetables - carrots, parsnips, savoy cabbage, sprouts - begin to look rather tired and I think we all begin to long for the first of the new season's greens.  (are you looking forward to asparagus like I am).

I made a red cabbage casserole.   Thought you might be interested in my recipe:

1 red cabbage quartered, cored and sliced fairly thinly.
2 Bramley apples quartered, cored (but peel left on) and chopped up.
A few onions peeled, halved and sliced into half moons.
A handful of frozen cranberries.
A handful of sultanas.
A desertspoonful of capers.
Two tablespoonsful of brown sugar.
A good splash of white wine vinegar.
A good sized knob of butter (this gives the dish a nice shine).

Throw the lot in together and stir over a low heat until the butter has melted and the veg have begun to give up their juices.   Then put into a low oven and cook for an hour - or longer if you are out and about.   The resultant shiny, gooey mess is delicious.   Trust me.



18 comments:

Mac n' Janet said...

My gosh that sounds good.

Frances said...

Thank you so much for the casserole recipe. Today is not too cold here, although I see snow flurries. However, tomorrow is going to be a true chiller. Perfect for a casserole.

I have enjoyed reading your posts this week, learning how even in challenging January you and your husband do manage to continue doing what must be done, along with what is a pleasure to do.

Best wishes from New York.

MorningAJ said...

I do something sort of similar but not quite so fancy and serve it as a side dish with a nice lump of roast meat.
I love red cabbage! I think maybe I need to buy some this weekend.

Mary said...

I must try this casserole - sounds delicious - and being vegetarian, I'm always looking for new recipes! Can't get Bramleys here but will substitute Granny Smiths. I made a great Parsnip and Apple soup recently - Bob said it's now going to be one of his favorites.

Thanks Pat.
Mary -

Heather said...

I love red cabbage and your recipe sounds delicious. Sadly my husband doesn't like it and it is hardly worth making a batch just for myself.
We had a mini blizzard yesterday afternoon - it lasted all of 10 minutes but didn't settle. The sky is clear at the moment but who knows what tomorrow may bring.

Bovey Belle said...

Sounds good and has reminded me I have some of a similar recipe in the freezer from Christmas (but without the capers and cranberries). Bon appetite!

Gerry Snape said...

Yum!...I made German red cabbage this week...not so different but this looks wonderful Pat. Shall have a go!

John Going Gently said...

Thanks for that pat..I'll give it ago on Sunday xx

Gill said...

Do you bake this covered with a lid? I presume so. Thinking of lamb for Sunday dinner, do you think this would go with lamb?

The Solitary Walker said...

This sounds great, Pat — the sweet, the sour, the salty and the savoury.

Yes, Gill, I think it would be an excellent side dish to lamb — or pork.

Re. the parsnip and apple soup, Mary, I made some myself the other day, and it was delicious. Curried parsnip soup is also very good.

Twiggy said...

Will definitely try that Pat, it sounds fab and I love red cabbage.
Twiggy

Frances said...


“Where are the snowdrops?” said the sun.
“Dead” said the frost, “Buried and lost, every one.”
“A foolish answer,” said the sun
“They did not die, asleep they lie, every one.
And I will awake them, I the sun,
Into the light, all clad in white, every one.”
“It’s rather dark in the earth today”
said one little bulb to its brother.
“But I thought that I felt a sunbeam’s ray.
We must strive and grow ‘til we find our way”
and they nestled close to each other.
They struggled and strived by day and by night,
‘til two little snowdrops in green and white
rose out of the darkness and into the light;
and softly kissed one another.

By Annie Mattheson born March 1853 died 1924

Do you know this poem Weaver? I discovered it some years ago printed in the Daily Mail and cut it out to keep.I love it, but for some reason it makes me want to cry. I thought you might like to take it to your poetry group if you have haven't done it already. Very appropriate for this time of year! Snowing here this morning in Harpenden, but only about half an inch so far.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you for that poem Frances - I shall indeed read it at our February meeting - I am always on the look out for something different.

thelma said...

Delicious, my favourite winter recipe!

Em Parkinson said...

Oooo - I do love red cabbage and apple but have never added the sugar so I'll give this a go. Thanks Pat!

George said...

Sounds fabulous, Pat. I think I'll wait for a really cold day, perhaps being snowed in, and then give your recipe a shot. Thanks.

Yael said...

thank you so much for the recipe. I am going to try it though here it is 20c .

Mary said...

Me again - the fragrant odor of cabbage, apple, onions and such is wafting from my kitchen! I have it in the oven on low, now going into hour two - didn't cover the casserole dish which seems fine, not too much liquid. Did I do right Pat?

I think a little salt and fresh ground black pepper will finish it off, together with some good buttered baguette - looking forward to my supper!

Is this a recipe from Country Living by chance Pat?
Hugs - Mary