Another cool rainy day! Another Perfect Sewing Day!

And also a perfect day for making this - Lamb Shank and Pasta Soup.

I need a really easy appetizing a meal for Friday nights and tomorrow night is no different.  First I have to collect Guitar Hero (and his backpack, laptop, folder of workbooks and electric guitar) from school at 3pm. Head to the post office to post off a round of care packages to our Aussie soldiers - I am taking advantage of the fact that my son will be in the car and therefore volunteering to help!!!  SSHHH don't warn him!  We will get home around 430is I guess.  Then at 530 I have to take Fly Boy to his keyboard lesson - one hour's driving and 30 min sitting in car.  Back home again - arrive about 7pm and have to leave again around 745 to take Fly Boy to Youth Group.  Hubby will probably walk in around 8pm from interstate flight and he will want food too.  So, soup it is tomorrow and this is a goody!

LAMB SHANK AND PASTA SOUP

2 lean lamb shanks

1 brown onion finely chopped

2 carrots, 2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

400g can diced tomatoes

4 cups salt reduced beef stock

¾ cup small shell pasta

¼ cup basil leaves, finely shredded

Lightly spray a large saucepan with oil.  Heat over medium heat until hot.  Add lamb shanks and cook, turning, for 5 minutes.  Transfer to a plate.  Reduce heat to medium and add onion, carrot and celery.  Cook stirring for 2 – 3 mins. Add garlic and cook for 1 min.

Increase heat to medium high. Return lamb to pan.  Add tomatoes, stock and 2 cups cold water and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low and cover and cook for 1 hour and thirty mins or until lamb is cooked.  Remove lamb shanks and shred meat.  Return soup to boil.  Stir in pasta.  Cover and cook for 7-8 mins til pasta is tender.  Add lamb and basil.

Now note - I didn't add pasta to mine this time - I usually do - but I have a few cans of beans that need using up so I added borlotti beans instead.  Still yum!

And sewing?  I gave my self the day off from sewing for Aussie Heroes and concentrated on sewing my stars.  I just had a feeling that today was a good day to make some progress on the last stars that need to be sewn. I haven't managed to make them all but I have managed to finish all the mostly cream stars and pull out fabrics for all the remaining coloured stars.

I have decided that this quilt is going to someone who has been affected by the recent floods in QLD.  Tonight I heard that one town, Mitchell, had 93% of its houses go under.  How devastating for them.  That is the whole community!  Just awful!  Makes you really appreciate being dry and safe.

Till next time......happy stitching!