Hell. My butcher seems to have sold me eight lamb shanks that have come from a flock of giganticor mutant rhino-sheep.

[Slubberdegullion]

They are HUGE. Stupid huge. Completely and utterly non-elegant dinner party huge.

When I serve them it's going to look like a scene from One Million Years B.C.

arse.

[Thredworm]

Could you make it a Flintstones-themed dinner party?

[Hassled]

But if you do the slow cooking thing for hours and hours then lamb shanks just seem to disapparate - I put in sizeable bits of meat and take out a bone with a small bit of (very nice) lamb on it. So starting with mutant shanks might actually be the way to go.

[Slubberdegullion]

I could.... it's not quite what I had in mind though. Themed dinner parties teeter precariously on the cusp of naff don't you think?

It's a kitchen supper and not a dinner party btw if that would help.

[Slubberdegullion]

Oh that is heartening Hassled. My shoulder nearly dislocated when he handed me the bag.

I am slightly concerned they won't all fit in my biggest casserole either.

[Hassled]

Well if they remain enormous, at least you'll have a talking point. There'll be no awkward silences - you can spend the evening speculating on the size of the mutant sheep .

[whingeomatic]

sorry, have nothing of any value to add but would just like to say your thread title just made me choke on my lunch

thanks for that - needed cheering up!!

[Slubberdegullion]

There's going to be an awkward silence when I serve them up and my guests wonder how they are going to consume their own body weight in lamb.

[lavenderkate]

Nor me, but your OP was so funny.

Loving the idea of Flintsones Dinner party

[QuintessentialShadow]

You have to tell your dinner guests that rumour has it that the sheep had blue fur.

[Slubberdegullion]

What, like from Sulley from Monsters Inc QS?

[Thredworm]

In what what would this be naff?

[deepdarkwood]

Do mutant rhino-sheep flock though? I would have thought they were more on the silent solitary menace end of the behavioural spectrum...

[moondog]

I'd be delighted but I am exceedingly greedy.

[Slubberdegullion]

lol at the picture. Umm I'm thinking not for this time round, I haven't given my guests any time to get costumes or anything.

deepdarkwood, oh I imagine they flock, eyes on the sides of their head haven't they.

moony you are more than welcome anytime (but not this saturday as I've only got 8).

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Oooooo I wish I was coming. Lamb is my favourite food in the world. And the bigger the lamb the tastier the meat, imvho.

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

Better than if he gave you tiny measly shanks from sheep-gerbil hybrids. I think you're over thinking this a bit and have lost sight of what truly matters: the booze - the key being "Lots of"

(There really should be a [pregnant and vaguely sulking] emoticon)

[Slubberdegullion]

Well it should be very tasty meat that's for sure. Lovely Welsh lamb from my lovely Welsh butcher.

Oh well, I'll only give them 5mls of soup each for the starter and then a peppermint tea and a bit of a lie down for pudding.

[Slubberdegullion]

The will be NO ROOM for booze James .

Nope it's just a meal heavy on the meat.

[lavenderkate]

I know the New Zealand sheep are massive.
More like our cows.

Could they not be Welsh perhaps?

1 shank between 2 and put the rest in freezer?

[Mmmmcoffee]

I love the title of this thread, it made my day

I second what hassled said - if you've never cooked them before, you don't know just how much they shrink. They have lots of fat which just melts away when you slow-cook them. That's why when you get lamb shanks in a restaurant they've always got an inch or so of bone sticking out of both ends - it's where the meat has shrunk.

Let us know how your party went!

[Slubberdegullion]

They better bloody be Welsh.

No, I'm sure they are. I drove over the border to get them. He would have said if they were forrin wouldn't he.

I can't let a couple share a shank.

[Slubberdegullion]

Thanks coffee, I'm hoping you are right.

Right, off to get them started now.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

I've shared more than a shank with my dh.

[fedupofthisnausea]

Oh please can i come to dinner? Please please please! I love lamb shanks. The bigger the better lol!

Please say you are going to cook them in red wine - omg actually don't i am now craving lamb shanks cooked in red wine with yummy mash. Ohhhhh! Last pregnancy i was completely vegetarian through no choice of my own - this time all i want is meat (no pun intended, lol)

[Slubberdegullion]

Well they shrunk down a bit. They are still monstrous Jeff Capes size lumps of meat though, there's going to be no room on the plate for nowt else. I will have to put the buggers on top of the mash.

Oh Lord they smell good though.

fedup I'm using a ST Style recipe, which has them slow cooking away in white wine, with oranges and olives. I can't seem to find the recipe on line but I'll post it if they taste as good as they smell.