Easter Sunday Leg of Lamb with Apricots

Serves 6

Description/Notes:

A special treat for a special day. The flavor of the apricots and the honey and mustard coating makes this a most enjoyable experience.

Ingredients:

5-6 lb (2-3kg) leg of lamb, part boned

6oz (175kg) ready to eat apricots

1lb(500g) shallots

juice of one orange

1 tbsp. clear honey

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

Cooking Instructions:

Soak the apricots in orange juice for 2 hours to soften, then pack the meat with the apricots in the space where the bone has been removed
Tie the lamb joint neatly with string
Heat oven to 350F, Gas Mark 4, 180C
Put the meat on a rack in a roasting tin, place above the center of the oven and cook allowing 25 minutes per 1lb (500g)
About an hour before the end of cooking time, place the whole unpeeled shallots around the joint in the tin
Mix the mustard with the honey
Thirty minutes before end of cooking time, lift the meat from the tin and pour off nearly all the fat
Replace the meat and spread the honey mixture over the surface
Return to oven to complete the cooking time
Leave to stand for 20 minutes before serving with a little of the pan juices heated with stock