Holiday Countdown Dec 23rd.

The day before the day

In my family we would always wait until the 23rd to decorate the tree.
My grandmother always refered to that day as "the day before the day".
Ever since I was a kid that day have been spacial to me.
Dad would get the tree from the garage and get all the boxes with ornaments from the attic.
The radio would be on with christmas carols, there would be plenty of cookies and marzipan and not to forget Mormor's lam pies.
The filling had been cooking all day and driving us crazy with its amazing smells.
We would ask all day when they where ready and the answer was always the same, "When the tree is decorated and lit".

I forgot to mention one thing, we where all in pajamas and robes.
Don't know how that started, but that was the rule.

The tree got decorated more or less the same way every year. Red apples, silver ornaments, red ribbons and my collection of old ornaments that I bought at local flea markets.
The year 4 off them fell of the tree and broke is still called the Annus Horribilus.

When all was done and the tree was lit the door to the kitchen would open and Mormor would carry out the pies.
Then we all knew christmas is here!

Mormor's lamb Shank Pies
Makes 6 small pies

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
4 lamb shanks
salt and pepper
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 cup red wine
3 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon tomato pure
1/2 teaspoon sugar
puff pastry

Heat oven to 375F.
Melt oil and butter in a large pan.
Rub the shanks well in with salt and pepper.
Brown on all sides in the pan.
Take them out and add onion and garlic.
Saute until the garlic is soft.
Add bay leaf, cumin, red wine, stock, tomato pure and sugar.
Stir well and add the shanks.
Put on a lid and place in the oven for 2 1/2 hours.
Take them out and let it cool.
Pull of the meat and add the meat to the sauce.
Put the mixture into small pie pans.
Roll out the puff pastry and top each pie with it.
Cut out hears and place on top.
Bake at 375F until golden.
Serve varm.
Photo by Melina Hammer

Comments

[Rebecca]

Oh perfect! My in-laws gifted us with a (butchered) lamb for Christmas. I will have to try this for sure!

[Birgit]

Ach, ich träume von einem Weihnachten im Schlafanzug. Eine sehr schöne Regel :-)

[Indiana Lori]

I can just smell it. Lamb is my absolute favorite. Thank you so much for sharing!

[thishumbleabode]

I love those sorts of traditions- espcially ones that require you to be in pjs.

[Sarah]

Just wanted to thank you for this perfectly delicious recipe! We have made it a couple of times from our freezer full of lamb with slight variations. So yummy and easy!!!

[nuvali restaurants]

Thank you for the recipe, I will try to cook this one.

Alvin