Lamb Chops

This recipe is inspired by the Social dimension of wellness.

Social wellness is about relating . It's about attracting and maintaining long-lasting relationships. Further, it involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you by taking the time to listen and learn from others.

“Food is everything we are. It's an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma.” - Anthony Bourdain

If your childhood was anything like mine, we traveled every Sunday to grandma’s house where she cooked the most amazing lamb chops. I used to live in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago where my parents would pack all four of us kids in an old Chevy and venture to the Southwest suburbs of Chicago to see my grandma. As you entered her two-flat, the smells of her home cooking permeated through the house. As I reminisce those special times, I realize I probably didn’t appreciate it back then like I do now. It is in her kitchen I learned to make her lamb chops - I am just so sad I didn’t get her recipe for her homemade mint jelly which made this meal complete.

For this plating, I used a sprig of rosemary as a skewer for the vegetables and made a side of creamed spinach for the base. Delicious!

Recipe of the Day: Lamb Chops

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves

• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves

• Pinch cayenne pepper

• Coarse sea salt to taste

• 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 6 lamb chops, about 3/4-inch thick

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, add the garlic, rosemary, thyme, cayenne, and salt. Pulse until combined. Pour in olive oil and pulse into a paste.

2. Rub the paste on both sides of the lamb chops and let them marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator and allow the chops to come to room temperature; it will take about 20 minutes.

3. Heat a grill pan over high heat until almost smoking, and add the chops to sear for about 2 minutes. Flip the chops over and cook for another 3 minutes for medium-rare and 3 1/2 minutes for medium.