Fast-ish Lamb Stew or Lamb Curry-type stew

Just so you're aware, I'm a little ornery today and I have my angry eyes on. (please see Toy Story 2 for definition of angry eyes)

You should also be aware that lambs are adorable and they're super tasty. I almost feel guilty snuffing out a young life but sheep are probably one of the dumbest animals on the planet so I'm saving Lambykins YEARS of pain. No, I am! This lamb will not be in anyone's book of stupid quotes as having gone to the Vatican and said "Do we really have to visit all Sixteen Chapels?".** Nooooo way, there will be no pondering "how DO those sharks hold their breath for so long!" for my Lamb.
Degradation.
My lamb will know none of it.


I've found that the stringy cuts of lamb with some bones works best for this dish. Of course if I were honest I'd just tell you I use whatever I can get on sale. Lambs is ECKS-SPAHN-SIVE. In the world of the foodie*, the proper way to cook and eat is to buy the best ingredient you can and eat less of good instead of mounds of garbage. I'm trying... really I am but it can be difficult for those like me who have an woefully astounding ignorance of food and grew up eating the garbage as a treat. So how am I trying to fix this? Books and eating new stuff. And there are such a lot of both. Sigh

Thinking of bad decisions and expense

Like a lot of other proles, I sometimes watch shows on the food network. I could develop a snobby 'tude about the various shows but they're entertaining and I've gotten ideas from them. I've even had the desire to get nekkid with the Chairman.("Tonight's Iron Chef Special Ingredient is....... ooRRRR-GASM!!")
I think they're all insane and totally out of touch with life and how real people live but again, this IS television. If they portrayed real "down-home" cooking they would visit me on a Thursday night when I've worked 13 hours and decide that Yes, 3 pickles, a questionable slice of pizza and chocolate pudding DOES a meal make. Somehow I don't think ratings would be so good with the target demographic...
Our Contessa friend on this channel seems like a lovely woman with a horrendous laugh and also seems a yuppie scum of the worst kind- Unaware. Seriously. Yes, I would love to make the perfect beef roast or 12 cheese macaroni for my family but we can't afford to spend what would amount to 2 weeks of groceries on one cut of meat or brick of imported cheese. What a fathead. Speaking of fat, really? Do you NEED to make a giant 4 layer cake for 2 people? Well ok... sometimes you really do.

Dear F.N.,
Make a goddamn show about how to cook tasty stuff for 1 person. There are many, many people out there who really enjoy living on their own and eating decent food but cooking a pot of stew then eating for 2 weeks sucks furry cat balls. Make one of the parameters of this show an attention to the fact that most people do not HAVE the money to buy fancy stuff (or leeks for that matter) and you don't need to eat a stick of butter with every meal. Haute Ramen is not necessary but how about utilizing economical ingredients i.e. canola oil instead of peanut oil and normal portions- like 1 steak and 1 potato for 2 people. Most of us wee households understand that if you double a recipe you can have leftovers.
I like cake. The mister likes cake. How about a recipe for a tiny cake? All of my recipes are for 16 serving cakes and I'm too cheap to buy one of those lame baking for 2 books and too lazy to go to the library. I won't even comment on the amount of Krap on the internets for this subject. I already pay for your network which is on my cable without my having any input, so let's go! Until I can choose my t.v. networks a la carte, I want my monies' worth. Also while I'm at it, get that giant headed bird girl with the huge tatas to stop saying 'crunch'.
And please keep in mind if I hear the words "just", "chipotle" or "microgreens" again I will mail you a box of cockroaches.
Sincerely,
The DPO


So, um... heh heh... I'm better now, thank you. And to my chagrin after that rant, the following recipe makes a lot.

also works with chicken, beef and well drained, extra-firm tofu.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs lamb (w/some bones if possible)
1/2 cup diced onion
2 large carrots cut into large chunks
2 large potatoes cut into large chunks
2 cups stock or broth (veal is optimal but who has that... chicken or beef works well too)
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp oil (canola, olive... whatever)
1 TBspn tomato paste
3 cloves of garlic smashed
pepper and salt to taste

If you don't like curry or don't have these spices, omit the following ingredients and this will make lamb stew

1 tsp minced ginger
1 Tbspn mild curry powder
2 cardamom pods
2 cloves
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp cayenne (optional, add 1/2 tsp if you like super hot)

Get everything ready
1.Cut your lamb into bite sized chunks
2. Measure out flour/broth and all that
3. cut up all the veggies

Brown da meat and onions
1. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a large deep heavy pan (at least 3 inches deep,I use a braising pan) until it shimmers
2. Place 1/2 cup diced onion and lamb chunks/bones into pan and brown lamb all all sides (it doesn't need to be cooked all the way through)
3. Remove lamb/onions from pan and stick it in a bowl (it's ok if some onions stay in the pan)
4. Turn heat to low-med

Roux to Stew
1. Dump 1/4 cup flour into pan and mix it around to soak up all the oil. Cook flour for 2 minutes
2. Pour broth in pan and stir vigorously or whisk to mix in the little flour blobs
3. Add 1 Tbspn tomato paste and stir it in
4. Add the lamb/onion and any accumulated juices back into the pan
5. Add all other ingredients EXCEPT the garam masala (if you're using it)
6. Bring to a boil
6. Lower heat and cook on low for 30-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender
7. Add 1 tsp garam masala just before serving, stir it in and serve it up



*Yes, I hate the word "foodie" too, but Gourmand does not apply to most of us because we wouldn't know how to eat an ortolan if it flew in our mouths.
(Yes, yes... I know. They're endangered and even the French banned eating them. Here's a quarter, go buy some humour.)

**This was an actual question an art history major asked me when we went to the Sistine Chapel. I'm not shitting you and she wasn't joking. I told her there were seventeen chapels.