Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Roast Lamb with a Jam Glaze, A Pretty Table, A Vintage Yacht and the Easter Bunny.


Hello Desirables

Easter can be a bit like that. You can get alot done.  It gives you heaps of blog fodder. The title to this post could have also included nicking flowers from the neighbours again, or had a big fight with Mr Beach House or,  how to cock up a brand new $70 x box game, because I moved the console with the disc inserted.  Amazing what can happen on a four day break.  Yes???  And it's all true.


So first here's the lamb.  I flatted with a girl in Darling Point, when I first moved out of home, in my early twenties. She had worked in country pubs and I saw her doing this to the lamb one night.  I wondered what the hell she was doing and had grave doubts, but I guarantee you, if you do this, it will be the nicest leg of lamb you have ever had.  


Here's how it turns out, the vegies get the glaze as well and it is to die for.  The 'how to' is down below.



And now for the blow up with Mr Beach House.  We were lucky enough to spend the night on this cute as a button vintage yacht, on the sunniest day of the Easter weekend.

Just as we were leaving the house, I pulled Mr Beach House aside and said "I am going to put the Easter eggs in front of the fire place. So what ever you do, don't let the kids back into the house."  He appeared to agree and I went about my business.  I gnawed the end of a carrot and threw it along side for good measure.   Thought about bunny droppings and how possum poo looks similar, but thought better of it and went off on my merry way.

This plan ended up being the best thing ever, because when the kids found them, upon our arrival at home, they were convinced the Easter bunny did exist, because I had not been in the house over night, because we were here on this yacht.  "So he must be real mum".

What I could do with this little beauty

Whilst the chocolate bunnies waited patiently to be found, we had a lovely time eating up a storm
The Galley
Swanning around Pittwater


Watching the sunrise


Checking out the real estate and generally having a wow of a time.


So enter the pretty Easter Tablescape and lunch for 8 the following day back at the Beach House.  Smack bang in the middle of our lamb roast and just before the Easter egg hunt, Mr Beach House decided to tell the biggest Beach House Brat, that The Easter bunny wasn't real and that I had put those eggs in front of the fire place.


I could have whacked him over head with the lamb bone.  My second grade teacher told me Santa Claus wasn't real and it just about shattered me.  So it's very personal.  I reckon if the Beach House Brat knows the Bunny's not real, he will think the same about Santa.  Call me a liar, but I just want the magic to continue.  And of course there is the four year old to think about as well.


I back tracked wildly and my kids trust me big time, so I think I saved the day, although I honestly felt sick.  I ripped in to Mr Beach House later, when the guests had left, telling him that he had no idea the effort that goes into these festivals on my part and the amount of disrespect he showed by crushing it all with one cheap shot.  He did stand there with a look of amazement on his face and made me laugh by breaking the tension with a line about how it felt crazy fighting over the Easter Bunny. But I still wanted to kick him.


So all in all an eventful and memorable Easter. Don't you think?  And if you want to rock your guests socks off, I encourage you to try this lamb.  I doubted my flat mate once, but never again...in the kitchen anyway...because it is fantastic.

Roast Lamb with a Jam Glaze


Cut 8  -12 slits into a leg of lamb on the bone
Insert peeled cloves of garlic into the slits. 
Salt the lamb well
Smother the lamb in a red jam of your choice.  I used IXL and it worked well, because it was not runny and stayed on the lamb.
If your jam slides off don't worry it will still taste great.


Cook for one hour and add vegetables of choice to the pan.  Cook for a further hour and serve after resting the lamb in a warm place for 15 minutes.  This one makes a fine gravy too.
To make the gravy 
Place the pan with meat juices over a high heat add 2 of water and another cup of water mixed with a heaped dessert spoon of cornflour. Make sure the cornflour is dissolved to avoid lumps.  Turn heat to medium and stir until thickened.
Decant into a gravy boat and serve with your lamb.


Does he look like a believer?  I am too scared to raise it with him again.


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AND

Have you entered this fab giveaway yet?  I am giving away a $100 gift voucher to spend in a fabulous online homewares store, Allissias Attic Design here. The store is full of beautifully inspired French, vintage and Hamptons style pieces, which I know you will love.
Today I am linked up here

28 comments :

  1. OK, so yum! I am now officially intrigued enough by your roast that Plum jam has been added to my shopping list. And I confess I sucked in a big breathe when I read that hubby broke the big news :( Hope you get plenty more magic miles with the kids

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any red jam will do. I've been making this for 20 years and they all work equally well.
      Thanks for stopping by.
      Carolyn

      Delete
  2. I've never heard of making a lamb roast this way! I'm going to give it a go for sure. YUM! Your table setting looks gorgeous Carolyn xxx Fi

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  3. I would have held him down for you while you slugged him......;O)
    On a happier note, I'm going to try that jam glaze.
    T xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lucky for him I couldn't hurt a fly. He just doesn't get it TM.
      Caro

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  4. That is terrible! Mr BC would not have escaped unscathed from that. I watched your instagram all Easter and got so homesick over your beautiful Pittwater photos. Just gorgeous.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tried to find your blog but couldn't. I searched mrs bc's blog. Let me know your URL and I'll visit.
      Carolyn

      Delete
  5. I feel your pain. I go to great lengths too (have done for years with my spawning of children over many, many years) and it's just too much when someone has to make an insensitive comment and destroy the magic. Love the look of that yacht. My mother used to cook her lamb smothered in a jar of red currant jelly and I guess this is very similar. Lamb is great anytime but especially at Easter xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The pressure just goes right over mr beach house's head.

      Delete
  6. I shove plum jam into lots of savoury meat dishes. It really does create the most delicious glaze!

    Side note - I am obsessed with those yellow flowers at the moment. I took a bunch of photos of people's yards yesterday when we were driving home from our weekend away because I want them to google them and grow them in our garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alex
      I think they are called Cassia.
      Thanks for stopping by.
      Carolyn

      Delete
  7. Oh that yacht looks gorgeous, I could run away on something like that I think!! You have me intrigued with the lamb, I might have to give it a go! X Karen #teamIBOT

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  8. Good grief Carolyn. What was he thinking? I've never heard of lamb done this way before but it sure does look delicious. The humble jam jar. A million and one uses. Love the vintage table cloth too.

    Anne xx

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  9. You did so well not to lose the plot at him Carolyn, I would have found it very hard to be as diplomatic as you. But I totally agree, kids should have some magic memories, ESPECIALLY 4-year-olds for as long as possible! Lovely meal BTW xx

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  10. I've never cooked a roast lamb in my life - a bit too frightened too if I'm honest!! But yours did look very delicious. So glad I stumbled across your beautiful blog (thanks IBOT), I too live on the spectacular Northern Beaches in a beach house. Love everything about the beach. Happy Monday x

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  11. I have to admit Carolyn, I did get a chuckle over "fighting" over the Easter bunny. But I would have thrown the lamb too and a few Easter eggs! Most men don't have any idea how long the planning of a special day takes. I spent several weeks planning our family Easter brunch and then some. Not to mention the cleaning before the event. I must have moved his grungy work coat three times the morning of our brunch. He kept draping it over my prettiest French chair. ugh! :) Your table is so charming! Happy Easter week. xo

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  12. Hi Carolyn!!!

    What a beautiful weekend you had!!!

    I remember as a kid my friend's sister yelled at her little nephew who was about 5 yrs old, that Santa Claus wasn't real...It was awful!!! That poor little guy was so traumatized by this. It was sad.

    Your leg of lamb looks great and your table is so cute!! You sure put a lot of work into making your little one's celebration big. You're a great mom Carolyn!!!!

    Pam
    xox

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  13. I love it when you make me laugh so hard tears come to my eyes. Great story and great photos of your wonderful Easter weekend.

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  14. I am jealous of your night on a yacht, but not your fight over the easter bunny. Which does sound hilarious!
    Glad you had a lovely weekend

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  15. Hey! That boat interior is so like my dad's old yacht 'Penelee' which he owned from 1978 to about 2005, the boast was 60 years old when he bought it, a real beauty. But I ran away from the family sailing holidays at 16 and headed for warmer climes. But you've reminded me of cooking many a meal for 6 in a galley like that.

    Sounds like an action-packed Easter long weekend, time for a rest!!

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  16. Sounds like you certainly had a fun filled Easter - although I'm with you on crushing the belief in the easter bunny and santa ! I would have been furious too.
    The boat looks lovely although I am not sure that I could stay on it - I like a bit of space !!!
    Have the best week !
    Me
    #IBOT visitor

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  17. hi carolyn i love your table setting looked fantastic....and i am going to try the lamb recipe this weekend wish me luck.As for your husbands gaff I would have hit him with the leg of lamb at the very least or gave him some chocolate laxatives "happy easter darling"-love dee x

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  18. Yep I probably would have punched him. Kids need the magic to last as long as possible. In other news if I wasnt a forced vego I would scoff that whole lamb roast in one sitting. It looks divine! xx

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  19. O.K. - we are all totally jealous of this fabulous setting!! What fun. The lamb looks delicious, but I would never have thought of cooking it that way. As far as the Easter bunny story goes, my oldest child figured out about Santa fairly early, but when her younger brother asked, I just told him that, if you did not believe, Santa would not come. He is almost 33 now and I still cannot remember his ever telling me that he does not believe in Santa!! It worked - hahaha!!

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  20. I go to great lengths too (have done for years with my spawning of children over many, many years) and it's just too much when someone has to make an insensitive comment and destroy the magic. Love the look of that yacht. My mother used to cook her lamb smothered in a jar of red currant jelly and I guess this is very similar.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh, this was lovely! Your lamb looks divine, and I can't just imagine the pan glaze and veggies. Your Easter table was beautiful!

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  22. Wow, what a full of adventure holiday - and so pretty! Thanks so much for linking up! Take care, Laura

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