Pan Fried Venison with Braised Red Cabbage and Apple

Paid a visit to Pitshanger Lane today which has become a bit of a foodie heaven recently. In one street there are two very good butchers, a fine fishmonger, a proper bakery and a greengrocer. Spoilt for choice as to what to have for supper but setted in the end for venison steaks. Serves 2.

Ingredients
2 venison steaks
1/4 of a red cabbage (finely shredded)
1 Bramley apple cored and cut into wedges
1 small red onion finely shredded
2 potatoes cut into wedges
Slug of balsamic vinegar

First get the potato wedges in a hot oven with some oil, salt and pepper. Cook these for about 1015 minutes before starting on the rest. Pan fry the steaks in a little oil for 2-3 minutes on each side, you don't want to overcook venison or it can become a bit tough. Rest the steaks in a warm place while you braise the cabbage, apples and red onions in the juices from the steaks until the cabbage has softened then add the balsamic vinegar and serve.

Beetroot and Bacon Risotto

31st of August and already it feels like Autumn! Need something warming and cheerful to buck me up and this fits the bill (especially as I have a lot of beetroot in the vegetable bed!) Serves 2-3.

Ingredients
1 tennis ball sized beetroot, grated
1 small onion finely chopped
220g rissoto rice
750ml stock
2 rashers of smoked bacon (chopped into lardons)
small handful of freshly grated parmasan cheese
large knob of butter

Fry the bacon lardons in a hot pan and when coloured add onion and butter and cook until the onion has softened. Add the rice and stir to coat in the butter. Add the grated beetroot and stir and fry for a few minutes before adding the stock bit by bit until the rice is cooked. Add the parmasan, butter and seasoning. Add a few parmasan shavings and a drizzle of olive oil to garnish (I used some mandarin infused oil which added a nice sweet/citrus edge to cut through the earthy beetroot).