I need a christmassy lamb shank recipe - anyone?

[JoshandJamie]

Am trying to decide what to serve for dinner on Christmas eve. As we'll be going to a church service I want something I can stick in the oven and leave, but still be nicer than a regular old casserole or lasagne.

So I was thinking lamb shanks would be good but I'd like to do them in a Christmassy way. I've done a search for recipes and have found one that is supposedly Christmassy using figs with the lamb and it sounds ok but I was thinking more of something using things like cloves, cinnoamon, port - I don't know, some kind of Christmassy ingredients.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Brown and seal the lamb shanks
Bung in a casserole dish with onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, a pinch of nutmeg, cranberry jelly, bay leaf, cloves, black pepper, cover with a glass of port and stock - Drink glass of port, bung in the oven at a moderate temp, another glass of port whilst getting everyone organised - off to mass - home bit more port and open up oven, remove casserole and serve with warm chunky bread - you can have wine now !!

Did you just make that up? If so, good job!

I've done a similar casserole but with prunes which go all mushy towards the end. i think there was treacle or similar in there too.

JandJ - I am an inveterate "ooh let's try a bit of this" sort of cook - I have though made something similar to that and it was delicious - cranberry sauce/jelly and mixedspice/nutmeg in a casserole at Christmas - time always makes it very festive tasting .... well if you can "taste" Christmas ???

This is divine