A slight cheat last night, though it still needed work. I had in my freezer a huge hunk of shin of beef on the bone (big bone!) that had already been slow-cooked for 12 hours. I'd bought it on special offer a few months ago from the Scottish online butcher Donald Russell. Once thawed, it needed 75 minutes in the oven at 180C. I use diced shin a lot in winter for beef stews, so I know that it has a lot of sinewy bits that need slow rendering, so I was a bit worried. It was gorgeous, tender and flavoursome. Once it had cooled slightly I was able to pull the chunks away with my hands, no carving needed. Five of us had generous portions of that with peas, steamed organic carrots and hearted cabbage, roast potatoes and gravy (always home-made with leftovers assiduously frozen in portions-for-two) enhanced by the meat juice.   Not one scrap was left on any plate, which I love to see more than anything. Mrs Steve had made a semifreddo with dark cherries and lots of chocolate for pudding, and that masterpiece also vanished rapidly (she always does the puds, though I can be a devil with the ice cream scoop...) It was a birthday nosh for one of our friends, so that was just great. Naturally, as ever in our house, the wine flowed freely. There's enough cold meat left for the two of us tonight. I think I'll reheat it (thoroughly!) wrapped in foil and serve it up in bite-size chunks with mash, greens and the leftover gravy and we'll eat it out of bowls in front of the telly.

I've put that huge bone back in the freezer for now, but I'll roast it and make beef stock, which I could then use to make the real McCoy French onion soup...