Cottage Cooking Club Two Recipes, Month of December


It's time once again for our group; "The Cottage Cooking Club", a band of international blogger's to post our thoughts and experiences on the recipes for the month of December. We prepare seasonal and creative veggie dishes from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's cookbook, "River Cottage Veg". Our group is meant to be a project aimed at incorporating more vegetable dishes in our everyday cooking, and is and has been inspired by our dedicated leader Andrea of The Kitchen Lioness. Each month Andrea picks one recipe from each of the 10 chapters and then we pick and choose as many as we have time for. However since this month is such a busy month for many of us she cut the recipes down to five in which I completed two of them. Our motto for the month of December is: to get into a festive mood with your veggies!


For the first recipe I prepared the Mushroom Stoup. The term stoup was described as “somewhere between and soup and a stew”. Aptly named as this was hearty and earthy with all the mushrooms. Fresh dill and parsley were added and brightened up this dish wonderfully. The addition of dumplings was optional but definitely worth it. They were made out of flour, English mustard, fresh herbs and shortening. Both my husband and I were very surprised that we liked the dumplings so much. Will be adding this stoup to my winter rotation, a winner, winner in my book.


For the second recipe I prepared the Arancini, rice balls. I used risotto rice from the day before, rolled it into balls with mozzarella cheese and a little pesto in the middle. I refrigerated them an hour or so before frying hoping that this step would help keep them together. As I was rolling into balls the rice was not sticking together very well, so I wet my hands and firmly squeezed the rice together; this seemed to work much better. Next the rice balls were dusted with flour, then rolled into an beaten egg and then rolled into fine bread crumbs. The balls that were squeezed together with a little water stayed together much better while frying, while the others fell apart. Served these with a marinara sauce and they were delicious.


These recipes have been slightly adapted from the "River Cottage Veg ", by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. First recipe; from the chapter "Hefty Soups” (page 154). Second dish from the chapter "Pasta and Rice" (page 270).

To see what recipes the other members chose for this month, head over to the LYL post for December 2015 on the CCC website, by clicking here.

Comments

  1. Stoup...I love the word. It looks really tasty and moreish.
    Happy New Year!
    Angie

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    1. Thanks Angie, actually that is the perfect way to describe it. Happy Holidays!

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  2. I wish now that I had made the dumplings for the "stoup" - they sound so good. Your arancini look perfectly golden and delicious, especially with the marinara. Happy New Year!

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    1. Hi Zosia, the dumplings were the surprise this time, we really enjoyed them. Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  3. I particularly like the look of the mushroom stew - it sounds good.

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  4. These look wonderful, Cheri. I bet they are enjoyed by your whole family during this holiday season. Keep enjoying. D

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    1. Thanks Dena, this season goes by so fast trying to slow it down a bit. Happy New Years to you and your family.

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  5. Thank you, Cheri, for improving my vocabulary and culinary knowledge.Your mushroom stoup with savory dumplings is perfect fare for a blustery winter's day. The risotto inspired rice balls look very yummy too!

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    1. Thanks Kim, both were perfect winter foods we enjoyed them. Happy Holidays!

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  6. Hi Cheri,
    I love the idea of injecting the festive mood with veggies and thanks for sharing the Mushroom Stoup. Must be yummy. The rice balls look tasty too :)

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    1. Thanks Karen, the stoup was a meal all by itself, very filling. The rice balls were delicious but next time I would make them much smaller. Happy Holidays!

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  7. Hi Cheri,
    I love the idea of injecting the festive mood with veggies and thanks for sharing the Mushroom Stoup. Must be yummy. The rice balls look tasty too :)

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  8. Cheri, I loved the soup and dumplings too. I was tempted by the arancini but didn't do it, but you've inspired me to make them at some point. I had them at a holiday party, and you make them look easy! Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks Betsy, this has been such a crazy December for me, but being in the kitchen is always calming, loved the egg dish that you made.

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    1. Thanks Vidya, we were surprised we loved the dumplings so much, Happy New Year!

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  10. OMG. It looks lovely! I love the stew!

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  11. I must try the mushroom stoup, perfect for winter I'm sure :)

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    1. Thanks Tandy, it is a keeper for sure, Happy New Year's to you!

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  12. Loved two recipes...but liked most the word Stoup...hey I realised that most of the time I make Stoup instead of soup and stew...hahaha

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    1. Hi Moumita, I probably do too, we really enjoyed this, Happy New Year's!

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  13. Looks delicious, and I'm really craving stoup right now! : )

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    1. Thanks Monica, we loved the stoup, happy holidays to you and your family.

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  14. i've eaten arancini exactly once and i found the balls to be delicious. if i ever a)make risotto, and b)have leftover risotto, this is exactly how i'd use it!

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  15. My Sicilian neighbor makes Arancini for special occasions. Although I have never tried them, I am anxious to give them a whirl. I think I'll ask for some tips before I do that. Yours do look very tasty. Others who have made the Mushroom Stoup like it as well. What's not to enjoy about mushrooms and dumplings???, we'll see. Glad you enjoyed. Although I have enjoyed time with friends and family during my past 6 weeks of travel, I will be happy to get back in the kitchen next week. Happy New Year, Cheri.

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    1. Glad you had an amazing adventure Mary and that you are back, loved all your pics and reading about your adventures.

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  16. Hi Cheri, love your Mushroom Stoup and it seems to be among the big hits of the group for the month, including with the dumplings. The Arancini sounds good though you are the second to mention the challenge on the ball rolling though it seems you tweaked it well here and there. Here's wishing you a Happy New Year and may you enjoy a beautiful one ahead!

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    1. Thanks Peggy, can't believe this year is almost over, time sure flies. Hope you are feeling better, hard to be sick around the holidays! Happy New Year's!

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  17. Cheri - I need to try that mushroom soup! The dumplings have me very curious... And I love arancini, but really don't like deep frying in the house, so I guess I will reserve eating those for my trips to Rome! (As if I go there all the time... 😉) Happy New Year!

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    1. Hi David, I do not like frying in our house either, such a funky smell, but every once in a while.....I bet the food in Rome is amazing, we love to travel and eat, they go hand in hand. Happy New Year's!

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  18. I love mushroom so that stoup is definitely on my list of things to make in the new year. I have never had arancini balls but they seem to be popping up everywhere lately so I guess it's time I gave them a try. Yours like so delicious, Cheri! Happy New Year to you and yours :)

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    1. Thanks Robyn, can't believe this year is almost over, time goes by so fast. Heard you guys are getting so much rain right now, keep safe!

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  19. Dear Cheri, how delightful to see the two dishes here - I did not get a chance in the month of December to make those two but reading your comments and looking at your wonderful pictures, I will make sure to include them in my personal "have-to-make-up" list!
    Thank you, again, for being such a wonderful participant in the CCC, for you insightful comments, delightful posts and all!
    Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! And "see" you very soon!
    Andrea

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    1. Hi Andrea, another wonderful month, making the egg dish tomorrow, not sure how I missed thast dish since I am a big egg lover. Happy New Year's to you!

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  20. What a deliciously cozy looking comfort food!
    Have a Happy New Years
    Thanks so much for sharing,
    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

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    1. Thank Julie, so nice to have met you last year (through the internet), love your blog. Happy New Year's to you and your family.

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  21. Great dishes---I love the sound of your stoup. I'd definitely add the dumplings, too. Happy New Year!!!

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    1. Happy New Year to you Liz, the dumplings were surprisingly good.

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  22. I've always wanted to make rice balls and love the idea of a stoup! How comforting. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and have a very Happy New Year!

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    1. Hi Tricia, our Christmas was wonderful, sounds like you had a great one yourself.

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  23. I love rice balls and have not made them in such a long time and with a delicious marinara sauce is the perfect little appetizer. Thanks for the reminder. Wishing you a safe and happy 2016!

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  24. Mushroom Soup AND Rice Balls, I'm in heaven, Cheri. Thanks for sharing...

    Happy New Year to You and Yours, Cheri!

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  25. This is a must try, like the rice balls in the soup! Here's wishing you the best in the New Year, Happy New Year!

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  26. These two recipes were delish! The rice balls were tricky... I ended up using molds!

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  27. I really want to include more vegetarian dishes in my weekly cooking. You have inspired me to rush out and buy this cookbook. I have never heard of a stoup but I sure like the look of it xx

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  28. The dumplings look and sound delicious, but they were a no go for my partner. The soup, though, was a hit. I suspect I'll be making another batch soon. I'm so impressed with your arancini, too.

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