T'was the Night Before Easter

It started about two or three weeks before Easter.  I found a recipe in the newspaper and cut it out to give to my friend, Linda.  It kind of grew from there.  The recipe was for Lamb Chops with Parsley-Pistachio Pesto.  Then she found a recipe for Curried Carrots.  I offered to make couscous to go with the lamb.  And, she decided to add asparagus to the menu.  A little fresh crusty bread with some olive oil and fig-balsamic vinegar to dip it in and a cousin with a great desert recipe.  We were all set for our 'the night before Easter' dinner.

Stevie is the meat master so he was in charge of the lamb.  We decided to do a leg of lamb instead of the chops ('cause we are too cheap to feed that many people lamb chops).  Stevie did the 'set it and forget it' method, which turned out great!

You probably want to know why we decided on 'the night before Easter'.  I don't know what to say about that.  We were lazy?  We needed a full day to recover before going back to work on Monday?  It's more fun to party on Saturday night than Sunday morning?  Who knows!

Inspite of our choice of day and hour, it was a huge culinary success.  More about the details for the other recipes later.  This post is dedicated to the pesto.  Which, of course, was spectacularly yummy!

So, here's the whole recipe.  But keep in mind, I only made the pesto.

Lamb Chops with Parsley Pistachio Pesto

INGREDIENTS

For the pesto:

2	c fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley leaves
1	clove garlic, peeled
⅓	c shelled pistachios
⅓	c olive oil
4	T shredded Parmesan cheese
	water as needed
	salt
	freshly ground black pepper

For the lamb:

8	lamb chops, about 1 to 1½ inches thick
	salt to taste
	black pepper to taste
1	T olive oil

Directions

1. To make the pesto:  In a food processor, combine the parsley leaves, garlic and pistachios; pulse to combine. With the motor on, add the olive oil and process until mixture is smooth. Add the cheese and pulse to combine. Add water as needed so the pesto has the consistency of thin, grainy mustard. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste. Set aside until ready to use.

2. To make the lamb:  Remove the lamb from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before cooking. Trim any excess fat from the chops. Pat the lamb chops dry with paper towel. Season the lamb on both sides with salt and pepper or favorite all-purpose seasoning.

3. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until just shimmering. Working in batches, place 4 lamb chops in the skillet and cook until nicely browned, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side for a medium-rare that is more on the rare side. Remove lamb chops from the skillet and transfer to a plate; tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining 4 chops. Serve with the pesto on the side or place a dollop on each chop.

It followed me home

My husband called it ‘the year of the pomegranate’. I’m not sure how it happened - again. But, it’s been happening for several years in a row. Around Thanksgiving time I get in this food mood. I get focused on some kind of food theme and everything I’m planning to make is swirling around it. One year it was mandarin oranges. Another year it was mushrooms. This last Thanksgiving it was pomegranates.

Well, maybe I do know how it happened (this year). I was at COSTCO and they had pre-packaged, already picked out of the peel & pulp, plump, beautiful arils (pomegranate seeds). I couldn’t resist them! So, they came home with me and I set off on a journey of discovery (via the internet) to find recipes that used arils.

Along the way, I found some wonderful websites and blogs. (One of the most beautiful blogs I found was called ‘My Persian Kitchen’. I’d highly recommend that you check it out…not just for pomegranates…if you like Mediterranean food at all.) Using ideas and inspiration from the various sites & blogs, I created my own set of pomegranate recipes for our Thanksgiving menu.

My family still lives. So, the recipes must not have been too bad! And, my husband, who started the labeling (complaining?) ate right along with the rest of them. I ended up buying pomegranate vinegar, pomegranate juice, & pomegranate infused oil to go along with those arils. And, I’ve been able to use most of them up with repeat requests to bring along ‘that pomegranate thing you made’.

I suppose the question is, “Should I try to avoid themed holiday food?” Or, should I start planning now for next Thanksgiving? If you’ve read one of my other posts, you’ll know that I’ll probably be bringing along a ‘weird salad’ if we get an invite to my cousin’s place again this year. Just thinking ahead…you know, just in case.

So, here’s one of the recipes I came up with: Pomegranate Salad with Pomegranate dressing. Enjoy!

Pomegranate Salad

INGREDIENTS

Vinaigrette:

¼	cup pomegranate juice
2	T pomegranate vinegar
1	T honey
½	t kosher salt
½	t freshly ground black pepper
½	cup pomegranate infused olive oil *

Salad:

1	head butter lettuce
½	cup pomegranate arils
½	cup shelled pistachios
½	cup feta cheese

Directions

1.     For the vinaigrette, combine pomegranate juice, pomegranate vinegar, honey, salt, & pepper in a bowl.  Gradually drizzle in olive oil while whisking vigorously.  Set aside.  *Extra virgin olive oil will do just as well, if you can’t find the flavored oil.

2.     For the salad, wash butter lettuce leaves and spin dry.  Tear into bite-sized pieces and place in large salad bowl.  Sprinkle lettuce with pomegranate arils and pistachios. Crumble feta cheese over top.

3.     Dress salad with pomegranate vinaigrette.