Braised Lamb Shanks
I used a slow cooker because lamb shanks can be a little tough... These are fall off the bone good! Ingredients: * 1 yellow onion, diced * 2 celery stalks, diced * 2 carrots, peeled and diced * 3 garlic cloves, crushed * 2 cups chicken stock * 1 cup peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes * 2 Tbs. tomato paste * 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme * 1 bay leaf * 4 lamb shanks, external fat trimmed * Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste * 2 Tbs. olive oil * 1 cup red wine Directions: Put the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, stock, tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme and bay leaf in a slow cooker and stir to combine. Season the lamb shanks with salt and pepper. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until nearly smoking. Add the shanks and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to the slow cooker. Remove the sauté pan from the heat, pour in the wine and return to medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring to scra