MANY PEOPLE SEE MARCH AS HEADING INTO SPRING. And indeed, March 20 is the first official day this year. But the reality here in Chicago and many places elsewhere can be quite different. Lately, we’ve been craving warming comfort food. In recent weeks, we’ve made Kimchi Chicken Soup, Valerie’s Split Pea Soup, Polish Hunter’s Stew, Shepherd’s Pie… March also being the month of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re currently thinking fondly of Irish Lamb Stew.
As with all traditional dishes, there are many versions. With ours, chunks of lamb, dark beer and root vegetables are the stars in this hearty, satisfying meal. And unlike many stews, it cooks up in just an hour and a half or so. Long enough to fill the house with the most delicious aromas, but not an all day project. You’ll find our 2009 recipe here.
Chicago seen through the eyes of locals
Anyone who talks to Marion or me more than 15 minutes knows that we love Chicago. A lot. So when real estate company Redfin invited us to share some favorite weekend things to do here, we were happy to chime in. They asked a wide range of bloggers, fitness experts, chefs, small business owners and others to weigh in on their favorite Chicago haunts. The resulting article on the Redfin blog has even given us a list of things we should check out. If you live here or are thinking of visiting, be sure to read Pablo Alvarez’s Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend, From Locals.
This lamb stew looks like such a comforting dish, perfect for cooler weather. I like that it seems hearty without being too heavy. The mix of ingredients sounds well-balanced too. Also, the Chicago recommendations are a nice touch—always fun to see a mix of food and travel in one post!
Annie, thanks for stopping by. Your comment gave us the chance to discover your wonderful food site. We’re looking forward to exploring it!