DOROTHY'S DISH

By Emma

I was reminded of my all-time, favourite dish last Sunday when my Mum invited my brother and I to our family home for Sunday dinner.  The table was set, not dissimilarly to Christmas Day – minus the Christmas crackers and all four of us plus two dinner guests sat around the table. As always, Mum sat at the head of the table, nearest the door to the kitchen  - so she can buzz in and out – to get an extra spoon for someone, or ice for someone’s drink or to help people to seconds!

Handy, because last Sunday, everyone went for seconds!

They always do when she cooks her signature dish: boiled ham, with honey cinnamon peaches, served with a cabbage and leek combo and mashed carrots and parsnips. That dish is ‘home’ for me. She’s cooked it exactly the same way for as long as I can remember and it never disappoints.

Some may say it’s an Irish dish…I’m not so sure. Perhaps it’s a fraction Irish with a ‘Dorothy’ twist!

To feed 6 people:

Go to your nice local butcher and tell him you want a five pound fillet of ham.

Bring it home, singing all the way.

Steep the fillet of ham overnight in cold water.

Bring it to the boil the next day and pour it off the water (this gets rid of the extra saltiness).

Stick cloves in an orange, an apple and an onion. Pop them and a few bay leaves in a large saucepan filled with two cans of cider and enough water to cover the fillet.

Bring it to the boil again with fresh water and let simmer for 1 hour 20 mins.

For the final 20 mins, pop it in the oven to brown it.

For the peaches:

Buy two tins of canned peaches. Warm gently in a pan with 4 tablespoons of honey, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and a little water. Cook till syrupy and gooey.

For the cabbage:

Buy two heads of cabbage and 6 leeks – chop up and sauté them in soy sauce, a chicken stock cube and a knob of butter until soft.

For the mash:

Chop, boil and mash 8 carrots and 8 parsnips – stir in some olive oil and season to taste.

Lash them all on the table and let everyone reach and help themselves and …enjoy! J