(Today’s recipe: Beef Stew originally by Jamie Oliver)

It’s become a Christmas tradition that we have Beef Stew with the lovely Carola and family when we’re in Germany. This year she was in hospital so no stew – quel dommage! But at least she’s well again and she gave me the recipe for this deelicious meal. She always doubles the recipe, so instead of for 4-6 she makes for 12 and the 6 of us eat it all… The less said here, the better.

Here's another one of the lovely Nynke's lovely Thai food. I know To Thai For is a really old joke, but I still really love it! And this really is To... Seeing as I was (trying to) make a joke, I looked up Thai jokes on google and allow me to assure you, I ain't printing any of them. The "best" I could find that was still printable was: How to make a Thai laugh - try speaking their language. Well that person has not heard me speaking French as they would be laughing all their way a la maison!

I forgot the starter! I was so excited about the Herbed Crown Roast of Lamb that I forgot to tell you about the starter. We are now into Day 4 of Laura Praise. My other friends are going to start getting annoyed at all the attention she’s getting. My mate Em is also a great cook and I have tons of dishes of hers yet to post – we’re having dinner at theirs on Saturday so I’ll be sure to get more material to post sooooon. But back to LLL Starter.

Today’s recipe: Herbed Crown Roast of Lamb served with redcurrant and mint sauce and mustard mayonnaise
As we drove up the 1km of beautiful field and tree lined driveway, I wondered what awaited us. We crossed the little bridge over their ponds and entered into the world of perfection. “Well”, I said to my hubby and to the hostess later on, “we can't have them back to our hovel now. It's a chateau!”

We had this super meal with the wonderful Jo and Michel - I doubt they used their computer to defrost the meat (see http://www.acookonthefunnyside.com/content/computers-defrosters-and-pork... ), but it was fantastic anyway. The starter was a modern fantastic version of a Prawn Cocktail that blows the 70's version out of the water and will definitely be posted later, so stay loyal folks. Well done and thank you both for the great company and a wondefrul meal!

aka Carol's concoction
“You're never too old to learn” and today I learned that Cottage Pie and Shepherds Pie are actually not exactly the same thing. It may be a case of splitting hairs here, but a Cottage Pie is a Shepherds Pie made with beef or pork and a Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb. Voila. You live and learn. I know, your life will never be the same again. (UPDATE: Please read the comments for the real difference between the two - thank you Frances!)

Today's recipe: Lamb shanks with olives & preserved lemon

Sigh, it ain't easy being me. Just this week I had to (1) get help opening the boot/trunk of my rental car – would you have known to press the VW logo at the top down to get the bottom up? And (2) did you know that you have to press the central lock button to get the petrol/gas tank to open? And (3) did you know that if your ticket says South Terminal, your flight probably isn't leaving from North Terminal? Groan.

I am finally posting a recipe in February with just a few minutes in hand before March kicks in. I impress myself! Today's recipe is for bunny and although I too don't like to think of the cute cuddly pet in relation to what is on my plate, when I see what “cutey” is currently doing to my cabbages, I become less sentimental.

I clearly remember the first time my Granny said she was having black pudding for supper. I asked her what it was and she said it was made from blood. Well, I just about threw up and seriously questioned her mental health for a long time. What does pudding have to do with blood, I still ask, but even Wikipedia didn't go into the origin of the name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pudding . Do you perhaps know why it's called a pudding?

My mate Jane has asked for recipes using chutney as she keeps getting bottles of the stuff as gifts (sorry about that!) and doesn’t know what to do with it. I’ve come up with loads of recipes as I make soooooo much chutney and (short of giving it to Jane) I had to come up with uses for it. Should you be doing nothing this festive season, you will find me at various Christmas markets around the Gers with piles of Barbie dolls clothes (don’t ask) and yes, you guessed, chutney…