The traditional Sunday ritual of eating a large family meal following a church service has been, since time immemorial, common to all of Europe and other countries with a Christian heritage. In fact the institution of the 'Sunday roast' is one of the best things about British food culture.
Sadly statistics show that nowadays only 2 per cent of families in the UK regularly sit down to a family Sunday roast. Despite 54 per cent of us having children, the busy lives of adults have led to a fragmented family life. Where once 'mum' would spend a relaxed Sunday morning pottering in the kitchen whilst dad washed the car or spent time gardening and the children played, we have now been eroded by the frantic pace of modern life. Sunday, much like any other day, is now spent shopping or enjoying individual pursuits such as going to the gym. Added to which the prevalence of technology such as tablet computers and smart phones are playing a huge part in alienating family members.
When I was growing up, the roast was at the heart of every Sunday and a similar story would unfold in most households across the UK. Nothing was nicer than to be sat at the laden table with family and sometimes friends, a truly convivial experience which is still widely practiced in many European countries such as Spain, Italy and France.
After Sunday lunch my parents would have an afternoon nap, but come teatime we would all gather round for 'the golden shot' and 'stars on Sunday' however, in a further departure from tradition, fewer families are congregating in the living room to watch television together.
I was watching a reality programme recently following the lives of a very modern family, surprisingly the glamorous mother cooked a huge Sunday roast for her family which she touchingly referred to as 'be home.' Most people are nostalgic for the Sunday roasts of their childhoods and children today are growing up deprived of this once loved tradition-a tradition where every mouthful spells home!
Beyond the wonderful thing that is a 'roast dinner' is the fact that it is the finest source of leftovers. My weeks cooking is based on my Sunday roast, last week I cooked a gammon ham and stretched this out into three dinners in total. This Sunday I roasted a organic lamb shoulder, an economical and tasty cut that has provided plenty in the way of leftover meat for the week ahead. If you don't cook a regular Sunday roast I hope this will inspire you in time for next Sunday, it beats eating a bowl of pasta or pizza which is somehow wrong on Sunday. Make an exception next Sunday and 'be home'.
Roast shoulder of lamb
Recipe
1 x 2kg shoulder of lamb
fresh rosemary
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Preheat oven to its highest setting
Rub the lamb with olive oil, season and top with sprigs of rosemary
Place lamb in a baking tray and cover tightly with tinfoil, place in hot oven and immediately turn oven down to 170c/gas mark 3 and cook for four hours
When the lamb is nearly cooked, peel and chop a selection of roasting vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips, place in fast boiling salted water for 10 minutes, drain and set to one side
Remove the cooked lamb from the oven and place on a chopping board, cover with tin foil and leave to rest
Add vegetables to baking tray lamb has been cooked in, baste well and cook for 30 minutes or until golden and crisp
Make a Yorkshire pudding batter: 1 cup plain flour, 1 cup half water/half milk, 1 cup beaten eggs, pinch of salt
Use a scant amount of oil from your roasting tray and heat until spitting hot, pour batter in and cook for 20 minutes
When roasting vegetables are cooked remove from oven and transfer to plates
Drain any excess fat from roasting tray, over a medium heat sprinkle 2 tablespoons of flour into tray and make a roux, gradually add water, scrape all the meaty, sticky bits from the tray and stir until gravy has thickened
Carve meat, add to plates, add Yorkshires and return plates to oven to warm through for a few minutes
Add gravy and tuck in!
Cover any cooled remaining lamb and follow me next week for leftover lamb recipes.
'Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan.'
-Albert Schweitzer
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