Sazzy's Degustation Diary: Thursday 5th March '09

I got called out at 5:30am and since I started work at 8am, I stayed at work until noon and then drove home with a Red Bull in my hand.

I needed to get some groceries, so I stopped by at Centro Maddington and surrendered to an old habit. I believe that one of the stalls in the food court there make the best hot chips and gravy I have ever had. Whenever I go shopping there, I usually end up buying some to gobble up while walking around in the supermarket. I love the gravy that makes its way to the bottom of the cup and I make sure to scrape it all up with the last few chips.

Back at home, I put my groceries away, watered my plants, then went inside to change to go back outside to do more gardening, but instead fell asleep kneeling beside my bed. Why this position, you ask? Well, Simba had jumped up onto my bed and I had knelt next to my bed to give him a hug and then I must have been overcome with sleepiness, put my head down and passed out.

I woke up shortly after with my whole right arm feeling numb. I crawled up onto my bed and slept until about 9pm. Ack! I must have woken up because I was hungry!

I cut small slits into the lamb's surface and then pushed some pieces of garlic and rosemary into each slit. I rubbed some sea salt over the surface and then drizzled some olive oil over the lamb and potatoes. I sprinkled some dried thyme over the potatoes and then put it all in the oven.

Meanwhile, I made a little entree. I had some fresh figs, which I cut a cross into, but not all the way to the bottom. I pushed a small bit of butter into each fig, a few pieces of fresh sage, and then wrapped each one with some pancetta. There was only pancetta with chilli left at the deli, so hopefully the chilli will compliment the dish and not ruin it. I poured some orange juice over the figs, then put them into the oven for about five-ten minutes until the butter melted.

Oh my god, these were heavenly! Deliciously sweet, warm and soft. I'll definitely have to experiment with figs more.

After almost an hour, my lamb was ready.