Saturday, August 3, 2013

lean on me...

I know this is early, but today (as in Sunday) I'm linking up with my very talented, extremely young, fantastic mother's blog for Song-ography Sunday.  My mom is an amazing photographer and she's the one who inspired me to start this blog, so you should probably check her out over at her blog.  Although it's a photography link-up and my photographs are decidedly not artsy, I told her I wanted to link up if I could figure out a way to tie my food into her photo-prompt for the week.  She gives a song every week and the point is to represent that in pictures.  I figured this week's prompt of "Lean On Me" could be represented by food.  Did I make this dinner specifically to be photographed for the song? yes.  Did my fiance make fun of me for doing that? yes.  Did he stop making fun of me because his stomach is now pleasingly filled? yes.

Today the fiance and I had an unbelievebly productive little Saturday.  We went to Macy's to register for our wedding... translation?  I totally abused the power of the scanning gun and registered for everything in the store.  Four hours later we emerged from the store feeling like we had spent more money that either of us have, tired, and hungry.  I knew exactly what I wanted to make for dinner, so we went to one of my favorite places on earth, Findlay Market, and got the supplies. 


I've always had a love of farmers' markets.  I trace it back to when I was a little kid and we would go to the farmers' market on Thursday.  My mom would give my brother and I each $0.50 to get some candy and we would run to the candy stand and figure out how we could get the most candy possible with that money.  I still think that's where my math skills came from (sorry high school algebra teacher).  Looking back, it was just a way to get us out of her hair, but that's where my love of the farmers' market came from.  Fast forward 20 years and it's still one of my favorite places to go.

Anyway... on to the food.  When we went to the food tasting for our wedding I found out how much the fiance loved lamb, so I decided to make lamb tonight for dinner.  We bought a rack of lamb from the butcher at the farmers' market and started cooking away.  If I have one suggestion, go to a butcher to get a rack of lamb.  The only other time I've made lamb I had to french the chops myself... not pretty.  I love cooking, but let someone else do the dirty work for ya!

As long as it's trimmed up and frenched, lamb is a pretty lean cut of meat.  I'm not gonna go eat it every day, but as far as red meat goes it's a good splurge.  I left the loin whole and cut it into individual chops after cooking.  This was MUCH easier than cutting it before cooking.  When I got home I put it in a little marinade made with 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cut extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon of honey, and lots of rosemary and thyme.  I only let it marinade for about an hour, but the longer the better.  If I planned it out I would let it marinade overnight.


After marinading, pat the lamb dry.  Pre-heat a pan to medium high heat and pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Brown the lamb in the pan.  I let it sit on each side for about minute.  You want to get a good sear on it to seal in all the juices.  Then transfer it to a pan and roast in the oven until it's done to your desire.  We like our meat pretty rare/medium-rare, so I let it roast for 20 minutes.  I would say 25-30 minutes for medium.  Take the rack of lamb out of the oven and let it sit, covered with aluminum foil, for 10-15 minutes before cutting it into individual chops.


And here, my friends... are the "Lean on Me" pictures....



Let me tell ya... it was perfect! You can cut the meat off the bone like I did or save on the dishes and pick the bones up like lollipops (like the fiance did).  Either way, tastes like heaven.  I also threw the left over marinade in a pan and heated it to a boil.  We used that as a dipping sauce and it was perfect.  So perfect that the dog went crazy for it...

 ...and then she begged for more.

17 comments:

  1. So, do you think I can hire you to cater your own wedding? :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very creative 'lean on me'!! Another thing the husband loves that I've never dared to cook...hmmm...good thing I met you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Adrienne! It's an intimidating cut of meat, but actually very quick and easy after the first time you make it

      Delete
  3. I think this blog is a case of... like Mother like daughter... clearly talent runs in the family. I can see this is a blog that is going to constantly leave me with a hungry tummy!

    Mollyxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't know which "thing" you are, but I hear a touch of your mom's humor passed along the genetic apple tree. Look, Molly said so too-only in sweeter language.
    Your shopping spree sounds funny-and a preview for your fiance, however you played it well-the way to a man's heart is thru his stomach I hear.
    Yummy looking chops. I've done a similar marinade with roast chicken and that works well. And yes, leaving the rack a rack until after roasting-that's the way to go.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You certainly are your mother's daughter. Your creativity and humor really comes through.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very creative take on the song this week!!! Stopping over because your mom told me too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. If it's good enough for your baby - Dog#1 if your following your mom's ID methods :) - no doubt it's more than good enough for that fiancé of yours! Hard to believe, but we have never eaten lamb. Yours looks delicious. I'm not sure I could sway Uncle Tom on that though. Glad your choice of foods aligned so perfectly with Lean on Me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'll refer to her as "The Goober" in my blog from now on :o)

      Delete
  8. Welcome to blog land! Your meal looks amazing, and I just think your mom is awesome! I'm sure you being her progeny will be equally as awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great interpretation of this week's theme and I have a new recipe and blog to follow!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Welcome to the world of blogging! Your mom raised your right! You both are very talented in your own special way. The lamb looks fabulous although I must say I've never eaten lamb and I prefer my meat as they say (crispy crittered) rather then rare. Hope to see you again on Song-ography.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oops I also forgot to mention that I love the photo of the Findlay market.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Kylene, popping over from your Mum's blog. Love your interpretation of Lean on Me (although as a vegetarian I'll close my eyes to the actual subject matter :O)). Great photos (you're obviously a talented family), and your dog is a real sweetie. Good luck with the blog!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Kylene...i am popping over too! Love your blog...nice to find new receipes!!

    ReplyDelete