Guess Where We Went For Christmas!!!

  I'll give you a hint.

The sun shone, the ocean sparkled and the sand was warm.  It was heaven.  There are forty little islands that make up the Turks and Caicos and we washed up on the shores of Providenciales the main island which can only be described as idyllic. I became quite expert at hopping across the sand with one foot and a pair of crutches.  While I basked in the sun my husband and the girls splashed around in the water, delighting in the beauty of it all and the finally feeling WARM.  The food was a fabulous, we rather indulgently hired a private chef for two dinners.  He was a sweetheart and a wonderful cook.  We could not have asked for a better Christmas present.

Slow Roast Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary and Happy Holidays!!

I wheeled myself into the kitchen yesterday and went on a scavenger hunt through the deep freeze.  I found all sorts of goodies but my prize was a boneless leg of lamb. I usually blast my roasts with intense heat but I decided to change tact and slow roast for about 5 hours or so.  The house smelled fantastic.  I highly recommend it, I think it would have been even better with a bone in cut, you could just pull it off the bone with a fork (or fingers). 

Lamb can be a tricky subject in our house. As far as my 11 year old is concerned I may as well be serving up the family bunny. Lamb is firmly off limits. The older girls and my husband had no such concerns (thankfully) and polished it off with gusto.

Rita's Hearty Vegetable and Chickpea Soup

I must thank everyone for sending such fantastic recipe links and ideas for easy meals, they will keep me going for months and keep the family very happy.  The Holiday Season is upon us and most food bloggers are posting festive menus to see us through to New Year and wonderful menus they are too.

Sadly with one foot non operational for some time to come, there is no cooking frenzy in this house. I'm easing my way back into the kitchen.  Ease, comfort and nourishment means only one thing to me and that is soup.  I actually can't take credit for this one.  My wonderful mother in law Rita has made bucket loads of this soup (at my request) and it has warmed the soul and nourished the foot. It's a power house and lets face it, everyone could do with a bowl of delicious goodness to sustain them through the holiday season no matter what their circumstances. 

Meanwhile, there are no walks for our little Jack Russell, who seems to be enjoying catching up on her naps snuggled on the sofa with me.

Oh Dear! Wait, I Have an Idea.

Every picture tells a story.  Well, this is mine.  Last week I found the tiniest bit of black ice.  The result was a fractured ankle (three breaks) and dislocated bone (I really don't know which one but it looked very strange).  I wasn't brave, the stiff upper lip immediately gave way and I begged for drugs. In fact I'm still on them so if I ramble, forgive me.  I'm now the proud owner of a titanium plate in my ankle with plenty of bolts to hold it all together.  I'm told I will make a full recovery in about 4 months. For the next 6-8 weeks, no weight on the foot, no driving the car and keep it elevated.  For any mother out there, you realize this is completely impossible, if I let myself think about it I become highly agitated, so I don't think about it.  It's one day at a time.  At least it will give me plently of time to visit all the wonderful blogs out there.  My children are looking forward to decorating my cast, my husband has claimed my mangled foot with his initials. I did however have an idea in the cooking department which I hoped you may be able to help me out with.......