Blessed Assurance

We're having hot and humid weather everyday. Eating a bowl of hot and steaming stew in this hot weather is probably not on everyone's mind. But I'm craving for stews, for I love stews of all kinds. They're easy to prepare and you don't have to slave over the stove to cook a pot of stew. I cook all my stews in the slow cooker.
This is the first time I am using pork in a western stew. I wanted something different, apart from the usual chicken, beef or lamb. Besides that, I also need to clear some herbs in the fridge. This tender pork stew tastes as good as all stews, minus the usual tomatoes. You'll love the creamy gravy on your rice.
Despite the hot weather, stew is still the way to go for me,  for the comfort and warmth.

Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder 
My Cooking Hut
serves 4-6
Ingredients

800g pork shoulder, cut into chunks
1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
5-6 garlic, peeled and keep whole
150ml white wine
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
4-5 carrots, peeled and cut into cubes
1 small handful of thyme
2 bay leaves
450ml chicken stock or water(home made chicken stock)
300g chestnut mushrooms(white button)
A big handful of tarragon, chopped
150ml double cream
salt and pepper to taste

Method

• Put the olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add the pork and cook for 5-6 minutes until brown. Add the garlic and onion, cook for about 2 minutes until they are fragrant and soft. Add the white wine and let the alcohol evaporates. Stir well.
• Add the potatoes, carrots, thyme and bay leaves. Stir to combine and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock. Bring it to the boil for a few seconds.(transfer to slow cooker low) Lower the heat, put the lid on and cook for 1 - 1.5 hours or until the meat start to fall apart. Skim off any scums from time to time.
• 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, add the chestnut mushroom, tarragon and season with salt and pepper. Add the double cream, stir and continue to cook until the end of the cooking time. Serve warm with some crusty bread, rice or pasta.

Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.


Do you know this famous hymn 'Blessed Assurance' ? It was written in 1873 by Fanny Crosby. The music was composed by her friend Phoebe P.Knapp.
So, what is this Blessed Assurance all about?

The word Blessed here means holy, and Assurance is a pledge, a certainty.
A foretaste is a taste in anticipation of something to come.

Clearly, this hymn to the Christians speak of being certain of our salvation. Listen to this hymn in contemporary style and gain a new perspective.  Draw nearer to God on His abiding love and faithfulness for us.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:22-23