Last night was a night when I really didn't want to make a complicated meal, but rather eat messily in front of Strictly.  So, decided upon Sticky Spare Ribs and Spicy Chicken Wings, along with thai stir fry veg and plain rice.  The joy of both these recipes is that once the marinade is made, it is very quick and easy and easy meal to prepare.

The dogs were outraged to see their chicken wings being used for human food so were banished from the kitchen and "helped" my husband finish his jigsaw in the living room (snowy scene, took 3 weeks to complete).

Anyway, as usual, turned to Nigella for inspiration www.nigella.co, and decided upon "Conker shiny spare ribs with pineapple and molasses" from her Kitchen book.  I didn't have any molasses so substituted molasses sugar and used grapeseed oil rather than groundnut, all to no ill effect.  I am also a great believer in CSI gloves for prepping chilli's to keep hands safe (particularly for petting animals).  I keep a handy stash of frozen chopped jalepeno chillis in the freezer but receipe demanded without seeds so could not use them.

The dish was delicious.  My husband, scathing about those who photograph food, remarked he "was sorry he hadn't grabbed his camera" and also "best and tastiest spare ribs ever".

I always have chcken wings in the fridge as the dogs are on the BARF diet so whipped a pack of them to make Dragon Chicken (again Nigella Lawson - Kitchen).

Easy as anything and absolutely finger licking delicious (and this from someone whose proud boast is that she has never eaten KFC).

Tomorrow, I am out, so my husband is cooking shoulder of lamb in rose wine