Musings from John

I guess my love of stews came from my childhood, where I was a great Mum’s helper (well, I thought I was). I was very often by her side in the kitchen being her “sous chef” The steak and kidney pie filling comes first to mind. We also made lambs fry (liver) and bacon, and brains and bacon (it was "post war" after all) No restaurants, ever, on the sunshine coast.

I have always loved cooking meat dishes. BBQ and casseroles and roasts. Even on bachelor holidays with my Uni mates in the mid 60’s I was most often the maker of the spicy meat sauce or the rissoles, or manned the grill for the chops or fresh fish, always with mash. 

This recipe has just evolved over the years with little additions from friends and family and work mates in the operating theatres.

The best addition some many years ago was the Worcestershire sauce. The latest addition was the mustard and paprika, sent from my mate Lock.

For a rich gamey stew, the best breakthrough was the discovery of the delights of beef cheeks some 20 years ago. So powerful, and such a delightful soft, juicy, mouthful of flavour.

What is the secret to happiness?

Well, life for most of us comes with awful disasters that can consume us and define us.

The trick is to be able to see that from these we have a choice, to learn and grow or become a victim. Optimism and taking responsibility for our pathways is healing and empowering. It is also liberating for our loved ones. Think of problems as just precursors to solutions.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t take yourself or life too seriously. Have a lot of fun. My father used to say (tongue in cheek), that the only thing he regretted was “that I didn’t have a misspent youth”  

What advice would you give to parents these days?

Overtly love each other and laugh and have fun together. With your children, read a lot of books, play, and sing joyously out loud. Encourage inquisitiveness, exploration, creativity and fantasy. Be slow to take up the ideas of the politically correct “crowd” 

Try not to be overprotective. Learn from the oldies, they know much more than you think.

What is the most important thing about being a parent?

Being consistently kind and loving and forgiving. Tough love is so important. Let your child make mistakes and have struggles from which they can learn.

What isn’t worth stressing about?

With children ….untidiness.

If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

A dog with a waggly tail.  Not judgemental, forgiving, forever loyal and protective. Snuggly.

What is your favorite meal of all time? (include drinks and dessert)

From my wonderful childhood of course! For my birthday I would always tell Mum, “Steak and kidney pie, apple crumble with ice cream and ginger beer”