LAST FEW SLEEPS

We are now down to our last few sleeps in Europe.Its always sad to leave, as there are dear family and friends here but ..................

I want to go on eating all the wonderful food and visiting the markets but life has to return to normal at some stage.

Todays lunch was pigs cheeks.Now I can hear alot of you going,what is she on about but believe me,this is so delicious.

For years I have tried to buy pigs and cows cheeks back home in Cape Town but to no avail.This part of the animal is very lean and filled with gelatine.It requires slow cooking .Today the dish started off with a sofrito which is diced carrot,onion and garlic which is then fried slowly in a good amount of olive oil until it is soft.This is then removed from the pan

The cheeks are then seasoned with salt and pepper and coated in flour and seared in the same pan with olive oil.The sofrito is then returned to the pan together with a bottle of good red wine,about 25gr dark chocolate (nothing less than 70 %),bay leaf or 2 and all of this is left to simmer for at least 4 hours or until the meat is tender.Stir from time to time to prevent sticking.It is best to prepare this dish a day or 2 before so that the flavours can mingle.Served with some creamy mashed potato and you are in heaven.

I do so love the simple foods of old.They wasted nothing and every part of the animal was used.The other day at the market I even found a dried pigs head.Not sure what it would be used for but believe me ,it would be consumed in some form.

And so I will enjoy the last few days but am looking forward to returning to the most amazing city in the world,CAPE TOWN.