FINALLY... Better late than never...

IRISH STEW

2lb. lamb (or beef stew meat), cut in chunks and seasoned with salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2 cups onion, diced
2 T. garlic, minced
2 T. tomato paste
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup dark beer (Guinness works well)
2 cups beef broth
2 cups chicken broth
2 fresh thyme sprigs (I couldn't find it, so used dry and it worked)
2 lb. potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup savoy cabbage, sliced
salt and pepper to taste

Brown lamb in 2 T oil (8 minutes or so). Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Add 2 T oil and onion to the pot and sweat, covered, until soft (5 min). Stir in garlic and tomato paste, and cook until paste darkens, 2 min. Add flour, stir to coat, and cook 1 min. Deglaze with beer, scraping any bits from the bottom of the pot, then add both broths, lamb meat and its juices, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 1 hour. (I did all these steps a couple days ahead and then finished it the evening we were to eat it) Stir in potatoes and carrots. Cook until potatoes are tender, then add peas, cabbage, salt, and pepper; simmer 5 minutes. Enjoy!

MINI CHEDDAR SCONES

2 3/4 cup flour
2 T. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. table salt
1/4 t. baking soda
10 T. unsalted butter, cold, cubed
1 cup shredded cheddar
1/3 cup minced fresh chives
1 cup buttermilk
2 T. water
1 egg blended with 1 T. water

Preheat oven to 375. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork until pea-sized. Stir in cheddar and chives, then add buttermilk and 2 T. water; knead gently just until blended. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and pat into an 8 " square. Cut into 2" squares, then cut squares into triangles. Arrange scones on baking sheet, spacing 1" apart. Brush tops with egg-water mixture, and bake till golden, about 25 minutes. YUM!

Both of these recipes come from Cuisine at Home magazine. A wonderful magazine to subscribe to!! They have great cooking tips, always good recipes, yummy 'gourmet like' meals which are easy to prepare at home.