Spring lamb

For ➍-➏ *
1 boneless, trimmed shoulder of baby lamb, weighing approximately 1,250 kg**
60 cl red wine
60 cl water
250 g pearl onions, peeled
1 tbs black peppercorns
6 pieces allspice
1 bay leaf
250 g mushrooms, halved
250 g sliced carrots
6 garlic cloves
4 tbs vegetable oil

Place the oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat.
Season the lamb shoulder with sea salt and pepper. When the oil is fragrant and rippling, brown it on all sides in the Dutch oven. Once the lamb is nicely browned, remove and reserve.
Add the vegetables, spices and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 m to caramelize the mushrooms and onions.
Return the lamb to the pot. Add the water and wine. Bring to a simmer, cover and lower heat to retain a slow simmer. Cook on the stove top for 90 m, covered, turning the lamb every 30 m.
Remove lamb and vegetables to a platter, and let rest for 10 m.
Meanwhile, reduce your sauce over medium heat, uncovered in the Dutch oven, until it has some body and is able to coat the back of a spoon.
Slice the lamb and drizzle with the sauce. Season and serve.

*For 2, use slices of leg of lamb. Brise and add to the stew (10 cl wine, 10 cl water, 200 g mushrooms and 200 g carrots, 3 bulbs of garlic, for 25-30 m on moderate heat. Serve.
**To ensure the lamb stays moist while braising, have the butcher roll and tie the roast for you, running a small thin piece of lamb fat down one side.

Tabbouleh

For ➍
15 g medium bulgur wheat (optional)
30 g fine bulgur wheat (*)
400 g ripe tomatoes
6 spring onions
2 lemons, juice only
½ ts ground black pepper
½ ts ground allspice
½ ts ground cinnamon
½ ts ground coriander
¼ ts ground nutmeg
¼ ts ground cloves
¼ ts ground ginger
175 g flat-leaf parsley
45 g mint
5 tbs olive oil
2 tbs pomegranate arils (optional)

Preheat the oven to 140°C if using the medium bulgur wheat. Rinse the fine bulgur wheat in cold water until the water runs clear, then drain well in a sieve and put in a bowl. Fluff up with a fork.
Rinse the medium bulgur, if using, in boiling water, drain well, spread out on a baking tray and put in the oven for 20 m. Fluff up with a fork when done.
Meanwhile, finely chop the tomatoes and finely slice the spring onions and add both, plus juices, to the wheat. Add the juice of 1½ lemons. Mix the spices together well, and add 1 ts to the bowl.
Douse the herbs in cold water, chop most of the stalks off the parsley, and then take a small bunch, gather together on the board and slice it as finely as you can. Repeat with the rest. Pick the leaves from the mint and do the same, being as gentle as possible.
Add the herbs to the bowl along with the oil, season and toss well. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice or spice mix to taste.
Scatter with the pomegranate and toasted bulgur, if using, just before serving.

*Use couscous instead. Adapt cooking method.

Tomato & pomegranate salad

For ➍
200 g red cherry tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
200 g yellow cherry tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
200 g tiger (or plum) tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
4 medium vine tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice (500 g net)
1 red pepper, cut into ½ cm dice (120 g net)
1 small red onion, finely diced (120 g net)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ ts ground allspice
2 ts white wine vinegar
1½ tbs pomegranate molasses
6 cl olive oil, plus a little extra to drizzle at the end
1 pomegranate, seeds removed (170g of seeds)
1 tbs picked small oregano leaves, to garnish
salt & black pepper

In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, red pepper and onion and set aside.
In a small bowl whisk the garlic, allspice, vinegar, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and ⅓ teaspoon of salt, until well combined. Pour this over the tomatoes and gently mix.
Arrange the tomatoes and the juices on a large flat plate. Sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds and oregano.
Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

*Serve as a side dish for grilled lamb.

Montezuma chocolate cocktail

For ➋ (large)- ➍(medium)
60 cl milk
75 g plain chocolate
pinch allspice
pinch powdered ginger
1 tbs honey
7.5 cl rum
5 cl eau de vie de marc or brandy
rind ½ lemon, grated

Heat the milk gently with the chocolate, spices and honey.  When the chocolate has melted, leave to cool. Pour the milk into a cocktail shaker, add rum and brandy/eau de vie de marc, and grated lemon rind. Shake well.
Refrigerate.*
Shake again before serving.

*Serve it warm, without cooling. Don't shake,but blend.

A cold grog variation on Mexican spiced hot cocoa.