Spring has sprung and as I look at all my favorite blogs, it's amazing how many of us are serving lamb. Not be be out done, I just had to share this recipe for Lamb Shanks with Lentils. It's a great Sunday meal because it cooks slow and smells awesome. For those of you that don't cook lamb very often, I think shanks are the best bang for your buck and easiest to prepare. My only suggestion is that you try to find shanks that are locally raised. I find lamb from Australia has a whole different flavor (much stronger), than the lamb raised in the United States or Canada.
Reminds me of a story - I know, someday I'll run out of these and just post recipes, but for now you're stuck with me reminiscing. The spring of our first year of marriage, GMan and I took regular drives through the Willamette Valley, as he showed off my new home state that I grew to love so very much (Oregon). We spent many beautiful picture perfect, blissful afternoons exploring the lush country side with the top down on the Miata and Ian Tyson playing at a high decibel level. One drive stands out in particular as I pointed out the sweet little lambs running, jumping and playing in the rolling green fields. My very romantic husband, being a beef lover, quietly stated they were "just meadow maggots". About a month later, we were returning from visiting friends in Eugene, and GMan asked if I noticed anything different about the scenery. I replied that I did notice that the lambs weren't there - just adults, and asked if they grew that fast. He gave me that famous look - you know the LOOK, and said nothing until I finally caught on. It wasn't that the lambs grew that fast, but that they'd gone to slaughter. I was horrified - brought tears to my eyes.
The next year we ordered lamb from a local farmer and picked it up at a butcher shop in Turner - gotta say, it was the absolute best little meadow maggot I'd ever tasted. Funny how marriage can change one's perspective.
This particular recipe is adapted from "The Best of Bridge Series, The Rest of the Best and More". I tweaked it to suit our tastes. Download Braised Lamb Shanks with Lentils. Hope for leftovers because as with most braised meats, it is better the following day and the lentils - oh the lentils are just amazing. It really is a wonderful tribute to all things spring.
Still remember the drive and the face
Posted by: gman | 04/27/2009 at 08:23 AM
Well...you'd BETTER remember the face! LOL
Posted by: JBug | 04/27/2009 at 12:40 PM