Roast Lamb Rack for our Engagement (DF, EF & NF)

My life has changed a lot in the last 5+ years. I'm moved from Melbourne to my hometown of Perth where I began work with an amazing team of architect and interior designers and met a man there. A lovely man who I fell in love with. Hard. It's the first time I'd ever fallen in love and boy was I scared. Scared I'd lose him, scared he'd find someone better, scared that I'd do something wrong. However, I was wrong, as he's a steadfast man. A man of few words when it comes to love and life, yet, when he does say those words, boy do you know that he means it.

He picked me up the day that I was diagnosed Coeliac. The day that I stood by his emerald green ute and cried that I'd never eat liquorice or lamingtons again. That Redback beer would never again pass my lips on hot summer days and that charred sausages in soft buns would never be eaten again. Yet again I was proved wrong. I've had all of those things since being diagnosed 4years this past December, although Redback beer isn't one of them I have found reasonable gluten free beers around and I've fallen in love with a crisp dry apple cider on those hot summer days.

We moved in together the following June, as living with our friends was driving them nuts. In fact I'm quite sure my friend I was living with at the time was ready to well, throw up ever time we were there we were so sickeningly head over heels and enjoying the honeymoon stage of our relationship with alot of good food, friends and wine. We haven't looked back since moving in together and buying brand new toaster just for me. He helped me through my dizzy spells that would take over the first 12months after my diagnoses, and always made sure if we were eating out or at friends that there was something for me to eat. I need not have been so worried, as subconsiously I'd met and fallen for the most lovely guy. Someone who not only looked after me when I was ill, but even now ensure I've got something gluten free on the menu. He runs to the shops when I need ingredients, cooks delicious meals and does the dishes and laundry.

Earlier this year after his and my Dad's birthdays in late March we moved here, to Melbourne. It had taken a little convincing, my man had never lived anywhere else but Perth so moving interstate, away from family and lifelong friends was two years worth of convincing (read: nagging) on my part! However, we did make the decision together to finally move so exactly 9months ago today we moved to my little apartment that I bought over five years ago. We arrived with no kitchen and it took a few weeks to get out of the habit of doing the dishes in the bath and of cooking dinner on our camping stove after the kitchen was completed. It's done now and I will show you some pretty pictures of it someday soon, as I've only got these photos and it's no much nicer now!

We are thoroughly enjoying living in Melbourne and of course visiting some of the hidden bars in the city as well as new restaurants is one of the highlights for us as we both enjoy a tipple and some good food. Some favourites visited so far are Coda , Cumulus Inc (for my birthday - oh the lamb - I've no words!), Cookie and as I love a good late breakfast on the weekends, we've loved visiting Hardware Lane , Friends of Mine (pop up the road to Burnley and grad some of the delicious gluten free bread thay stock, Janes Bread from Three Ducks ), Spoonful & Coin Laundry for a delicious brunch. There are so many places to visit in Melbourne and I'm often found on the Broadsheet on my mobile finding somewhere to pop into for drinks or a bite to eat around town on the go.

Of course, when we're home we're enjoying some homecooked meals, my man does some delicious dishes - everything from a kick arse lemon lime bitters to slowed cooked ragu, pesto pasta , lamb shanks, with the creamiest of mashed potato (my beloved grandad would have been happy with his mash!) he also whips up his Mum's delicious banana bread in no time aong with stuffed, baked chicken breasts and as he cooked just over a month ago a yummy mustard crusted lamb rack.

He actually made these mustard crusted lamb racks at the end of November as a last minute savoury dish for the Gluten Free Scallywag Christmas Magazine , however due to the accompanying story I thought they deserved a post all to themselves...It was a balmy Wednesday night and I arrived home after work with the smell of lamb and potatoes in the oven. We opened a bottle of red, you know, 'for the photos' (hehehe) and we enjoyed the meal together. After we cleared up our plates I popped back onto the couch to relax and watch some crappy tv. My man was kneeling down andrustling around in front of the tv and I said:

what are you doing? Have you got a present for me?

He never does, but alas, this time I was wrong! His answer was something along the lines of:

Well, kinda.

At which point he shuffled over on both knees and asked me to marry him! I looked at him. At the gorgeous hand drawn engagement ring , complete with a space for my finger to go through that he'd presented me with the words

'will you marry me'

written on the bottom.

What?

Was all I managed to get out as I looked past him at the tv, back to him, the 'ring' down at my comfy pants I was wearing and back up at him. At this stage he got as far as saying:

So is that a.... Yes! Yes! Yes!

I said and flung my arms around him, tears flowing. Completely blown out of the water, shocked surprised and so overjoyed that the man I'd fallen for had chosen me. That loved up little 'us' were going to be spending the rest of our lives together. I couldn't stop crying, laughing and hugging him, or looking at the gorgeous hand drawn ring in awe.

So, as this year, comes to a close, I am so thankful for the little moments in life that can make our lives that little bit happier. Whether it be to go and get that dreaded test. To add an extra cup of chocolate chips to the banana cake (do it I say!). Say goodbye (for now) to friends and family and move interstate or overseas. Go that extra mile on your morning walk and see the butterflies flutter through the morning light. However, this year, most of all though, I'm thankful for the man that chose to spend the rest of his life with me.

I can't wait to enjoy all those firsts that come as a couple in love such as ourselves. We, whom moved in together and never really left the sickly kiss-at-any-moment, hold hands down the street, snuggle on the couch and write notes to each other when we go away, honeymoon stage of our relationship behind. I hope never to. I will tell you

I love you every day for the rest of our lives together. I love you .

Engagement Roast Lamb

Serves 2

1x 6-8 piece lamb rack

whole seeded mustard

4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

1/2 cup fresh or 2-3 tsp dried herbs - we used rosemary, sage and parsley to season

salt & pepper to season

steamed veg to serve

Preheat your oven to 180degrees celcius. Coat the fatty side of your lamb racked with the crushed garlic, mustard and herbs. Season with a little salt and a fair whack of pepper.

Place on a lightly oiled baking dish and roast with potatoes for approximately 50minutes or until lamb is cooked to your liking.

Cover with foil and rest for 5minutes whilst your steam the veggies. Carve (taste test a piece whilst doing so) and serve with the cooking juices.

Optional: Beard for Movember & proposing to your partner.