It has been one of those weeks. The only possible cure of which is a new pair of shoes or a roast dinner. Apparently we're in the midst of a Global Financial Crisis so I went with the roast.
Good thing too, because as it turns out husbands tend to be awfully forgiving of a wife's foibles when the smell of roast lamb, garlic and rosemary is caressing their nostrils. (Maybe I should have got the shoes as well?)

Smear (please use your hands - trust me) a paste of mustard, olive oil, garlic, fresh chopped rosemary and parsley over lamb racks. Cover and hide the lamb racks in the fridge for as long as possible, overnight if you can manage it. If you're doing it at the last minute as I often am, pop the lamb in the fridge and get started on some accompaniments.
BTW: I find that soup on the stove can hide a multitude of sins (or at least an utter failure to start dinner at a reasonable hour) so home-made soup in the freezer (or a good quality bought product) can be useful!
The lamb needs a quick sear in a medium-hot pan for 1-2 minutes on each side, then, depending on the size of the racks, about 15-20 minutes in a hot oven. Cover and rest the lamb (and yourself) for about 10 minutes.
Deglaze the pan and pour the pan juices over the lamb and serve with roasted vegetables, paris mash potato, (or for a lower GI option) sweet potato rosti, steamed greens or whatever takes your fancy.

Healthy Eating Update
While the addition of olive oil and the carbiness of roasted root vegetables meant our dinner wasn't all that low-calorie, it was delicious, healthy and satisfying.
I find I need carbs in the evening to prevent me craving over-processed sugary sepulchres in the middle of the night. A glass of wine also helps me sleep and avoid the binging. It seems to be working - it may be my imagination but I'm feeling a little lighter!
So there we have it. My love handles are still prominent but I'm healthy and happy.
(Challenge for later: weigh myself. Regularly.)
Other posts you might be interested in reading
- Quick and easy weeknight “roast” There is something comforting about a roast dinner on a cold winter's night. However it is not altogether practical when you don't have time to...
- How to plan your meals (flexibly) – part 2 I recently posted the first in a series of I don't know how many yet, on how to plan your meals. This is the second...
- Not Indian – dinner in a flash I'm a very big fan of Indian food. However my favourite curries involve a lot of cooking time (and ghee). Fine for a weekend -...
- Easy weeknight dinner – Bill Granger’s seared beef and rice noodle salad Ok so maybe it is a little cold for salad, but this one does have a little bit of chilli to warm you up. I'm...
- Risotto Cakes with prosciutto and sweet balsamic tomatoes It was horribly cold tonight. I had no intention of going out shopping so I ransacked the fridge and pantry instead. I have no idea...
Tags: dinner, easy, garlic, lamb, meal, quick, recipe, roast, weight loss

Beyond Beeton is a post-modern guide to household management inspired by Mrs Beeton’s 1861 Book of Household Management.