feelslikegrannyshouse-pudding

Today was Thursday.... Pensioners day.
Yesterday I planned to make fresh lambs liver and onions with mash and salad for today's special, but the promised liver never showed. So I strolled along the meat counter in Pick 'n Pay staring at the different types and cuts of meat, rummaging my brains (and my imaginary taste buds) for inspiration: "Chicken? No I made a chicken curry the other day. Lamb? I'm not inspired for another lamb stew. Beef? Oxtail? Oops no oxtail either...... Mmmmm what about a good wholesome beef stew? and a nice hot desert?"
So I settled for a Beef and red wine stew with yummy - feelslikegrannyshouse-sago pudding and custard. We introduced the beef to red wine, onions and garlic and let them get to know each other intimately while marinating for the night. Then we added some veggies, cream and yogurt to the mix and slow cooked them till they're just right for a feast of the palate. Coupled with the sago pudding,custard and topped with a dollop of melting apricot jam it made comfort food deluxe - what better to have for lunch on a windy four-seasons-in-one-day here in lovely Hermanus?

I fetched my mom for a visit just before lunch as she was left home alone with no transport for the day and we both had the special. When we finished the sago we both decided to make the same dessert when I go there for dinner tomorrow night (don't tell anyone, but she says that it's even better than she remember my grans sago pudding used to be).
Vanessa (our main cook) has been cooking and baking up a storm in our kitchen for the past week.



As from Saturday she's going on her first long vacation (3 weeks) in years and she's making sure that we don't run out of any of our baked goodies for sale. I'm almost as exited about her holiday as she is, for her sake; but on the other hand I'm also a bit apprehensive about it since I'm going to have to take her place in the kitchen. I've gotten so used to working out the recipes, handing them to Vanessa and directing and delegating from the sidelines - only taking over when it seems that she needs help, but now I'm going to be the one preparing and cooking all the specials and baking all the cakes, biscuits and rusks while Maritzi(our assistant manager/waitress)tries to fill my shoes in the front of house. Maybe it will be a good thing, I'll get to know the kitchen much more intimately - and know exactly where things can improve. What do they say about standing in someone else's shoes for a day?...
Let's hold thumbs for a good, successful and educational next 3 weeks. I'm sure I'll gather a lot of things to write about during my seclusion.