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1-1⁄2    Teaspoons salt, divided
1    Teaspoon pepper, divided
1⁄2    Cup flour, divided
2    Pounds boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
1⁄4    Cup butter
2-1⁄4    Cups water, divided
1    Can (8 ounce) tomato sauce
2    Tablespoons chopped parsley
1⁄2    Teaspoon thyme
6    carrots, peeled and cut in bite-size pieces
1    Large yellow onion, chopped
3    Cups peeled and diced turnip (about 2 turnips)
15    Small new potatoes, quartered (adjust according to your preference)
1    Package (10 ounce) frozen peas

In a large plastic bag, combine 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and 1/4 cup of the flour. Put lamb pieces into bag (6-8 at a time), and shake bag until lamb is completely coated. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. When pot is hot, brown lamb pieces (about 10 at a time) on all sides. Remove browned lamb to a plate; set aside.

When all the lamb is browned, return it to pot. Add 2 cups of the water plus tomato sauce, parsley, thyme and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and slowly simmer, keeping pot tightly covered, until lamb is tender (about 45 minutes).

Add carrots, and simmer for 20 more minutes. Add onions, diced turnip and potatoes. Simmer, covered, for another 30 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

In a small bowl, add the remaining 1/4 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of cold water; blend until smooth. Stir into stew to thicken gravy. Add peas and bring stew to a boil. Simmer for another 30 minutes or until done.

Yummy! Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

The large sprouts in this photo are the pumpkins, the smaller plants are zinnias for my granddaughter.

More later!

Pumpkins growing!

This past October I discovered the pumpkins of France, Muscade de Provence. I found some seeds at www.frenchgardening.com and ordered this past winter in hopes that I would be able to plant them in the spring. The seeds were shipped to me directly from France. Well spring is almost here now, and my choices were to rent space at a nearby pea patch (I’m a condo dweller) or convince my daughter that she should grow them for me in her little garden.

I was able to persuade my daughter to grow the pumpkins for me after I bought new sections for her raised garden beds. Since pumpkins should be planted soon, she’s started the seeds in her AeroGarden® to be transplanted into the raised beds once we’re confident that there won’t be anymore frost in the Seattle area. She’s been providing me with photos of the seedlings’ progress! I’m hoping to document their continued growth on my blog in hopes that by fall, I’ll have some handsome pumpkin photos to post.

What I'm hoping my Muscade de Provence pumpkins will look like this fall.

I’m including an image of a Lalaloopsy doll that I bought for my granddaughter for Christmas, her name is Tippy Thumbelina. I’ve since gotten my granddaughter four more Lalaloopsy dolls because  she loves them. She has the mini’s at home too. They are fun and very cute and each doll comes with her very own pet. They have a cute and fun website at www.lalaloopsy.com

One of the Lalaloopsy dolls I bought for my granddaughter (Tippy Thumbelina).