Recipe: Pheasant, Mushroom and Leek Casserole

This is what I cooked Nick for Valentines day, although he decided he'd rather spend the night at the pub rather than coming home for dinner! Humph! If i wasnt used to it, i guess i'd be annoyed- but anyway, he bought me a very nice bouquet of flowers for Valentines (I suppose I would be annoyed if he didnt- we live next to a ruddy florist! Lol!!!). Very nice bouquet indeed- not the usual red roses, but a really colourful spring bouquet with red tulips, little daffodils and blue hyacinths- and i love the hyacinths because they make my little desk smell lush! This is the first time i have cooked or tried pheasant- i bought it because it was on offer at Sainsburys- but i must admit I am very pleasantly surprised. So was Nick too actually, who before dinner was determined to say he didn't like pheasant, even though he can't remember ever trying it! You could try this recipe with any other game bird, or even chicken or pork if you prefer.

Pheasant, mushroom and leek casserole (serves 3)

1 tbsp olive oil
40g butter
1 red onion, diced finely
2 thin streaky rashers smoky bacon
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 skinless pheasant breasts, diced
200ml white wine
125g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
1 large leek, diced
300ml chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1-2tbsp double cream
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp corn flour, mixed with water
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Fry the red onion, garlic and bacon in a casserole pot for 3 minutes. Add the pheasants and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the wine, and cook for 2-3 minutes in order to burn off most of the alcohol.
2. Add the mushrooms and leeks and cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the chicken stock and bay leaf, cover, and put in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove, add cream, mustard and corn flour, and return to the oven for a further 30 minutes.
3. Give the casserole a good stir, and put back into the oven for a final 30 minutes. Remove, season to taste, remove the bay leaf, and serve!