Winter Warmers

I love food,  and one of the things I like most about winter, is filling your tummy with hearty meals and of course a glass or two of red wine to wash it all down.  One of my favourite dinners, when I have the time is a good oxtail stew.  The kids love it too, its about the only time we have clean plates all round.  Here's an awesome recipe I found.......sorry I can't remember where I found it, but it looks so delicious....

1kg (3 pieces per person) oxtail, jointed
Salt and pepper
Flour for dusting
Oil for frying
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
1 small bunch parsley, chopped
2 cups red wine
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin water
Salt and pepper
Sugar to taste
2 T white onion or mushroom soup powder
1/4 cup red wine

• Preheat the oven 180° C.
• Season the oxtail with salt and pepper and then dust with flour.
• Heat a large casserole (or pressure cooker), that will later hold all the meat. Add the onions, carrots and celery, and fry over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring continuously, so as not to burn.
• Add the garlic and parsley and fry for a further 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Add a little more oil to the casserole, heat and fry the oxtail in batches until well browned.
• Add the wine and deglaze the pot, return the vegetables, add the tomatoes and water (no water if using a pressure cooker, but rather add the soup powder mixed with the remaining wine), and season with salt, pepper and sugar to taste.
• Bring to the boil, cover and place in the preheated oven. Turn the meat every 30 minutes, and top up with a little water if the dish seems to be drying out. Cook for 2 to 21/2 hours, or until the meat is very tender and starts to fall off the bone, (if using a pressure cooker, cook at high pressure for 1 hour). At this stage the dish can be allowed to cool and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To serve

• Dissolve the soup powder in the red wine and stir into the cooking juices. Simmer until a thick gravy is reached. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Serves 4