[tubebender]

Our neighbor here in Eureka has a sheep farm in New Zealand AND one over near Alturas in the NE corner of California. She was born & raised in NZ. My wife refuses to bake lamb because of her experience with Mutton at her grandmothers ranch in Humboldt County in the late 40s early 50s...

[Fungi]

She is missing a lot. Mutton is technically an adult sheep whose age is not specified. Lamb is defined as being younger than one year, some insist on six months. In any case, even mutton can be cooked with great results. Birria is a Mexican dish traditionally done with mutton and also lamb. It is cooked long and slow with typical herbs in a tomato sauce. Done right it is excellent! Many Mexican restaurants specialize and cook only one dish--birria. Your wife has missed fabulous cuisine, all for the sake of a bad meal in her past.