It
is the time of year when all the excesses of Christmas catches
up. My advice is to eat more healthily, (the recipe below is quite
low(ish) in fat), take more exercise and order the latest James
Bond and just keep on replaying it – if you are a girl Daniel
Craig will do it for you and if you are a boy the Bond girls will
spur you on to loose those extra pounds. Everyone’s a winner!
PS another year gone can be a bit depressing – I recently found
out I am older than the new James Bond! Then again perhaps he
could do with some mothering….
Chinese Spiced Pheasant with Plum Sauce
Serves 6
2 large Pheasants – about 3 kg
300ml Sweet Indonesian Soy Sauce kecap manis
400ml chicken stock
120ml honey
60g brown sugar
1 whole star anise
1tsp Chinese 5 spice powder
6 whole spring onions, trimmed
150ml sherry
3 cloves garlic
4cm piece of ginger, grated
600g plums, stoned and halved
Put all of the ingredients except for the pheasants and plums
into a large casserole with a lid and bring to the boil. Stir
until all of the sugar has dissolved. Add the pheasant to the
pot breast side down and bring back to the boil. Transfer the
pheasants to a pre heated oven 180c for 1 hour. After one hour,
turn the birds over and add the plum halves and carry on cooking
for another30- 45 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven
and remove the pheasants and plums to a warmed serving dish
and cover with foil. Rest for 15 minutes. While the birds are
resting, bring the sauce back to the boil over a high heat until
it is thick and syrupy. When you are ready to serve, spoon over
a little of the sauce and serve the rest in a jug. Serve with
jasmine rice and wilted bok choi.
*This is also wonderful served cold. To serve cold, remove
the casserole form the oven and let the pheasant cool in the
cooking liqueur for about 2 hours.
Tip:
This is a good month to get your new shooting kit for next year
– the sales are on. Cordings has some great kit so treat yourself
now! www.cordings.com Now forget to book your gun in for a service
and get all the leather accoutrements repaired too!