Slow Cooked Lamb Shank in Red Wine Sauce

Lamb shanks and cold weather go hand in hand, and cooking a gooey, soft lamb stew dish is definitely what will be keeping you warm and cosy all through the wintery months.

 

This dish pairs perfectly with our Billy Cabernet, an open fire, Netflix and time at home with those you love.

 

What you’ll need:

 

4 lamb shanks, around 400g each

1 tsp each salt and pepper

2 - 3 tbsp olive oil, separated

1 cup onion, finely diced (brown, yellow or white)

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup carrot, finely diced

1 cup celery, finely diced

2 1/2 cups of red wine

800g can crushed tomatoes

2 tbsp tomato paste

500 ml chicken stock, low sodium

5 sprigs of thyme (preferably tied together), or 2 tsp dried thyme

2 dried bay leaves (or 4 fresh)

 

To serve:

Mashed potato, polenta or pureed cauliflower

Fresh thyme leaves, optional garnish

 

Method:

 

Preheat the oven to 180C.

 

Pat the lamb shanks dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

 

Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a heavy-based pot over high heat. Sear the lamb shanks in 2 batches until brown all over, about 5 minutes.

 

Remove lamb onto a plate and drain excess fat (if any) from the pot.
 

Turn the heat down to medium-low. Heat remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil in the same pot, if needed. Add the onion and garlic, cook for 2 minutes.

 

Add carrot and celery. Cook for 5 minutes until onion is translucent and sweet.

 

Add the red wine, chicken stock, crushed tomato, tomato paste, thyme and bay leaves. Stir to combine.

 

Place the lamb shanks into the pot, squeezing them in to fit, so they are mostly submerged.

 

Turn the stove up, bring to a simmer. Cover, then transfer to the oven for 2 hours.

 

Remove from oven, remove the lid, then return to the oven for another 30 minutes (so 2 1/2 hours in total). Check to ensure lamb meat is ultra-tender (use 2 forks) - if not, cover and keep cooking. The ideal is tender meat but still just holding onto the bone.

 

Remove lamb onto the plate and keep warm. Pick out and discard bay leaves and thyme.

 

Strain the sauce into a bowl, pressing to extract all sauce out of the veggies. Pour the strained sauce back into the pot. Bring to simmer over medium heat and reduce slightly to a syrupy consistency.

 

Serve the lamb shanks on mashed potato or cauliflower puree with plenty of sauce! Garnish with thyme leaves if desired.

Spiced Chorizo and Tomato Shakshuka

Looking for something with a bit of wow factor to cook for Mum for breakfast in bed this Mother’s Day?

 

This Shakshuka with spicy chorizo is a sure winner, your Mum will love you for it.

 

What you’ll need:

 

1 tablespoon olive oil

100 g of chorizo chopped into 1/4 in pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Red capsicum, chopped into 1/2 in (1 1/4 cm) pieces

1 tablespoon paprika

½ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

1 pinch sea salt

2.4 g tomato, chopped

4 eggs

½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

¼ cup fresh parsley

 

 

Method:

 

Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat.

 

Add chorizo, onion, garlic, and capsicum, cooking for 2-3 minutes, or until fragrant.

 

Add paprika, ground cumin, pepper, and salt. Stir to combine, cooking for 6-8 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.

 

Pour tinned tomatoes into the pan, reduce heat, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken.

 

Using the back of a spoon, make 4 wells in the tomato sauce. Crack an egg into each well.

 

Cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until eggs are cooked.

 

Top with crumbled feta and chopped parsley.

 

Enjoy!

 

Spoil Mum this Mother’s Day without breaking the piggy bank

We love our Mums, and you want to show them you care this Mother's Day.

If money is a little tight after a tough year, you might be looking for creative ways to show Mum you care without breaking the piggy bank.

 

Here are our top ideas:

 

Write a Sweet Note

 

Write your mother a sweet note for Mother’s Day to tell her what you love and admire about her.  Let her know the impact she has made on your life.

 

A Bouquet of Fresh Flowers

 

Give your Mum a bouquet of fresh flowers or greenery!  You could pick flowers from your own yard or find some wildflowers.  Put your flowers in a mason jar or tin can tie a pretty ribbon around it, and you have a beautiful gift!

 

Make Her Dinner

 

Who wouldn't love a break from cooking?  Why not offer to make your Mum a delicious dinner? You could invite her over to your house for a nice dinner together or bring it to her home.

 

Gift of Time

 

What better way to show your Mum that you care than to spend special one on one time together, cause after all spending time with her is the best present you can give.

 

Homemade Aussie Meat pie

 

We have well and truly said goodbye to summer and the warmer days… Brrr, it's been a bit chilly this week!

 

This recipe is a homemade take on the traditional Aussie meat pie and is a perfect weekend feed for the whole family.

 

Pair it with our Coonawarra Cabernet to warm you up on a cold and rainy day. It's a big call, but once you try this meat pie, you will never want another store-bought one!

 

What you’ll need:

 

1 onion finely chopped

500g beef mince

1 cup water

2 beef stock cubes

1/4 cup tomato sauce

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 pinch salt and pepper *to taste

3 tbs plain flour

1 sheet shortcrust pastry

1 sheet puff pastry

1 egg to glaze

 

 

Method:

 

Cook meat and onion until meat is well browned.

 

Add ¾ cup water, stock cubes, sauces and seasonings.

 

Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

 

Blend flour and the remaining water, add to meat, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool.

 

Line a pie plate with the shortcrust pastry.

 

Spoon in the cooled meat mixture. Moisten edges of the pastry with water.

 

Top with puff pastry, pressing down to seal the edges, trim and glaze with egg.

 

Bake at 230C for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 190C and bake for a further 25 minutes until golden.

 

Lamb Rogan Josh

Hearty, warming and Oh so delish this Lamb curry classic will have all your friends wanting to come over for dinner.

 

Serve with some homemade rice, some fresh and warm naan bread of your choosing and our Cheeky Goat Pinot Gris.

 

Delish!

 

What you’ll need:

 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 red onions, halved, thinly sliced

2 pinches of sea salt flakes

8 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

3 dried bay leaves or fresh bay leaves

1 cinnamon stick

6 garlic cloves, finely grated 5cm-piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

3 teaspoons sweet paprika 1/2 teaspoon chilli powder, or to taste

1 tablespoon garam masala 

1.2kg lamb shoulder, cut into roughly 4cm pieces

2 tablespoons natural yoghurt Fresh coriander leaves, to serve Steamed basmati rice, to serve

 

 

Method

 

Preheat oven to 170C. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until onion is dark golden and soft.

 

Add the cardamom pods, fennel seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, garlic, ginger, paprika, chilli powder and garam masala. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, until aromatic.

 

Stir in 125ml (1/2 cup) water. Add the lamb and another pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes or until the lamb is well coated in the spice mixture and just starting to change colour. Add 375ml (1 1/2 cups) water and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and transfer to the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until the lamb is very tender.

 

Set the casserole aside to cool slightly. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves and stir in the yoghurt. Top with coriander and serve with rice.

 

Fun and creative things to do with the kids these school holidays

School holidays sure do swing around quickly, especially after we have just gotten through Easter! You might already be exhausted thinking about how you are going to keep the kids entertained this school holidays – pass the wine!

 

Well, here are some easy and creative ideas of things to do with kids that are fun and don't cost the earth.

 

Plant a veggie garden and watch it grow

 

Let the little ones pick out some winter veggies. Things such as Chinese cabbage, Asian greens, spinach, rocket, broccoli, spring onions, asparagus, celery, endive, squash, onions, silverbeet, leeks and lettuce grow well at this time of the year.

 

Plan out where you are going to plant the garden and get started. Then they can watch the garden grow over several months and hopefully enjoy the fruits of their labour.

 

Make homemade ice blocks

 

You can make homemade ice blocks relatively easily if you purchase some reusable popsicles moulds from your local kitchenware store.

 

Pick a recipe that you know the kidlets will like and set about to make the ice blocks with your kids.

 

If your children are a little bit older, you might like to leave them some instructions and let them give it a go for themselves.

 

Create Story Stones

 

You can collect as many stones as you want and use either acrylic paints or the oil-based sharpie and let their young minds get creative.

 

Get them to decorate the stones with their favourite book or movie characters or tell a story of their own.

 

Scavenger Hunt

 

Everyone loves a scavenger hunt, and it will give them something to broaden their minds at the same time as providing a fun activity.

 

You can set out the hunt around your home, in the local neighbourhood or even when you are away staying in a caravan park. There is endless fun to be had.

 

Sparkling Raspberry Royal

The perfect little cocktail to get the Easter weekend celebrations started.

 

This cocktail is a cross between a Breakfast Martini and a Kir Royale and is delightfully delicious.

 

Serve it up for brunch, lunch or sundowners.

 

Made perfectly with our Emma bubbles!

 

What you’ll need:

 

45mls ounces gin

30mls lemon juice

2 teaspoons of raspberry jam

Sparkling wine to top

 

Method:

 

Combine jam, lemon juice, and gin in a cocktail shaker with ice.

 

Shake hard to chill and emulsify.

 

Finely strain into a cocktail glass of your choice

 

Top with a good bubbly

 

Enjoy!

 

Fresh Fig Tart

Fresh figs are in season in SA and as we head towards Easter and family celebrations you might be wanting to prepare a wow dessert to spoil your guests.

 

This fig tart with mascarpone and honey is sure to take your guests on an indulgent trip. The perfect thing to offset all the easter eggs!

 

This gorgeous tart pairs perfectly with our Riesling or Merlot.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

What you’ll need:

 

Crust:
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup of graham flour
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons honey

 

Filling:

(all room temperature)
250gms mascarpone cheese
85gms cream cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
pinch of salt

 

Topping:
14 large fresh figs, quartered lengthwise
honey for drizzling
flake salt

 

 

Method:

 

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

In a food processor, pulse the flours, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt until combined. Add the butter and honey and pulse until incorporated and crumbs are moist.

 

Press evenly into the base and 2 inches up the sides of the pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and place the pan on a rack to cool. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.

 

For the filling:

 

Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature, so you’ll have a super smooth mixture. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the two cheeses and beat until creamy and smooth. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the lemon juice, honey, sugar and salt and beat until well combined.

 

Spread the filling evenly into the cooled crust. Place tart in the refrigerator until the filling has set, about 1 hour.

 

Remove the tart from the refrigerator and place the fig quarters one by one in rows. Drizzle honey on top. Sprinkle with flake salt.

 

The tart is best served immediately. If you have leftovers, it will keep for up to 12 hours in the refrigerator after assembly. The crust holds up well and shouldn’t get soggy in that time frame.

 

 

Fish cakes for the win

Trying to get some more omega 3 into the smaller members of your family but have a fight on your hands with getting them to commit to a piece of fish? 

 

Fish cakes are a delicious meal for a weeknight dinner and a great way to get seafood into the kids in a way that they enjoy.

 

These fish cakes pair perfectly with our Rosé for the big kids of the household.

 

Enjoy.

 

What you’ll need:

 

500g gram firm fish fillets, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves

35g (1/4 cup) cornflour

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon sweet chilli sauce

1 egg, lightly whisked

3 green shallots, ends trimmed, finely chopped

50g green beans, finely chopped

80ml (1/3 cup) vegetable oil

Lime wedges, to serve

Sweet chilli sauce, extra, to serve

 

Herb & peanut salad

50g Asian salad mix

1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves

2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

 

 

Method:

 

 

Place the fish in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the coriander, cornflour, fish sauce, sweet chilli sauce and egg, and process until well combined.

 

Transfer the fish mixture to a large bowl. Add the shallot and beans and stir until well combined. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Place 4 egg rings in the pan.

 

Divide the fish mixture into 8 equal portions. Press 1 portion into each egg ring. Cook for 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel. Repeat with the remaining fish mixture, reheating the pan between batches.

 

Meanwhile, to make the herb & peanut salad, place the Asian salad mix, coriander, peanuts, oil and lime juice in a large bowl and gently toss until just combined.

 

Divide the fish cakes and salad among serving plates. Serve with lime wedges and extra sweet chilli sauce.

What’s got your goat

If you have visited our winery, you might have spied our cheeky goats around the vineyards after vintage, eating up all the delicious leftover grapes and leaves. They are an important aspect of managing the land we grow our grapes on.

 

Goats are a gorgeous animal, capable of vast destruction but also super cute. We have done some cute goat facts before, but there is more hilarity to be had, so here are some more for you.

 

All the things you’ve always wanted to know about goats but have been too afraid to ask.

 

Are goats smart?

 

Goats are very intelligent and curious animals. Their inquisitive nature is exemplified in their constant desire to explore and investigate anything unfamiliar which they come across. You do need to ensure that you keep them out of anything you don't want to be investigated or damaged in the process. They communicate with each other by bleating.

 

Do goats sleep?

 

Well, I’m glad you asked, and I’m sure you are losing sleep over this question waiting for an answer.

 

Sleep is not the most important item on the goat's to-do list. In fact, some people say that wild goats do not actually sleep!

 

Domesticated goats sleep about 5 hours a night and will take short naps during the day.

 

Do goats sleep with their eyes open?

 

You will be happy to know that goats sleep with their eyes closed. Phew! That was a big one…LOL.

 

Do goats remember you?

 

Do goats remember you? Yes, they do. If you see that the goat ears are raising up, it means that the goat is delightful.

 

And I’m sure if you cross a goat the wrong way, he will be sure you remember you too!

 

Can goats be trained?

 

You can train a goat to know their own name and come when they are called. But this does require some good training in the early days.