Another sort of feeding

About a week ago we saw off the second of the two saucissons secs from Bastides from Waitrose, having rather briefly noticed the first at reference 1. Very heritage, very artisanale, complete with a natty string net and probably made with organic rather than plastic casings. What Waitrose call a 'Bastides Mini Rosette Saucisson'. A bit dear, but reliable.

Stew snapped above, towards the end of phase 1. I managed to remember to chop the onion before putting the chopped garlic and pounded pepper into fry, so these last did not catch and burn. Fried the onion for a bit, then added the(rather palid, winter) tomato and, unusually, a yellow pepper - and then let the whole lot simmer gently. No water added at this stage. Adding the celery after half an hour or so.

Then off on a Wellingtonia hunt, to be reported in its place, getting back an hour or so later. Mashed up some left over boiled potato in a little water and added that. Added some more potatoes, cut in chunks of something more than a cubic inch equivalent or so. Simmered some more.

Added the sausage, and a little after that, the mushrooms. Cooked a little longer than I intended, having forgotten that while it might say 10 minutes or so on the penne's packet, it actually seems to take around 20 minutes. Funny how pasta soaks up the heat when you are boiling it.

Not bad at all, despite the bottom of the potatoes having caught. Luckily not tainting the stew, as sometimes happens. But I think using the mashed up potato was a mistake, giving the liquor a texture which it would have been better without. Furthermore, the white potatoes do not cook firm in the way of the red potatoes. Cooking firm being better in my book, certainly for stew purposes.

Did maybe three quarters of it at the first sitting. Enough left for a snack in one of the days following. And as it turned out, the pan cleaned easily enough.

Taken with another bottle of the Enracinées noticed at reference 2. Just as good this second time around. Will I take the online plunge and get some more that way - rather cheaper than Great Portland Street, but not as much fun?

Blackberry and apple dessert for him, grapes and peanuts (both from Sainsbury's) for her.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-binding-failure.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2021/11/more-sheep.html.