a hearty stew

I can't be the only one to have noticed how chilly it's got over the last week! So here is a quick stew recipe we at chez Belly Kids have knocked up. Enjoy:

Ingredients:-
1 onion (chopped)
3 cloves garlic
1 stick celery (chopped)
lots of mushrooms (flat or chestnut)
dried porcini mushrooms
1 pint stock
tomato puree
400g tin tomatoes
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika or 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
(CHILLI POWDER IF YOU FANCY IT)
1/2tsp cinnamon
2tsp thyme (dried)

Soak the dried porcini mushrooms in boiling water for 30 mins,
meanwhile fry off the onions with a pinch of sugar till transparent
Then add the celery and garlic,
though becareful that you don burn.
Add half the mushrooms along with all of the herbs and spices.
Add the tin of tomatoes, tomato puree and stock.
Bring to the boil and simmer for approximately 20 mins.
Add the dried porcini mushrooms with the liquid they came in.
Let the sauce thicken a bit,
add more puree or drain off excess liquid if necessary.
Add the rest of the mushrooms and put into a casserole dish
with a knob of butter and some salt and pepper.
Cook for between 2 and 3 hours.
Add dumplings if you fancy.
Finish with fresh thyme and sour cream!