Last cooked meal of 2012

I have started to dedicate my Fridays to preparing fun meals.

We haven't been home since before Christmas break, much needed by the way. But the last meal that I made my hubby and I was a rack of lamb.  I've never made it before.  I've always wanted to, ever since I saw Matthew McConaughey prepare it for Kate Hudson in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." One of my all time favorite movies by the way. 

So, the last time I was at our new Costco I saw a lil baby rack. Thought, what the hey..... and voila.....

I got the sides and herbs at the local market: Eastern Market, one of my favorite places to shop on the Hill.

I purchased fresh rosemary and oregano for the rub.  I chopped it up and mixed in some EVOO. I also chopped up some garlic to add to the rub. The longer it sits, the more the flavors seep in, however, I was only able to let it marinate for an hour or so. However it still had tons of flavor. I also cross scored the meat so that I could rub the mixture into the cuts.  

 I also bought fingerling potatoes. I also brushed them with some of the rub, added some additional smashed cloves of garlic and sprinkled with kosher salt.  I started roasting them up first because I hate when my potatoes aren't cooked enough.

Green bean almondine, I boiled the beans with again, some smashed cloves of garlic. Are you getting that I love garlic?!

Toasted almonds - yeah toaster oven

 OF course I took a picture of my chopped garlic!

 There it is just coming out of the oven. Beauty eh?!

Voila!

Dinner a la me

The other night I made dinner for my hubs.

Don't get too excited, I really didn't have the energy to be that creative. 

Here's what I made:

Brussel Spouts

I typically parboil my brussels first so that they cook all the way through and a little faster. Then, I roasted them in some chopped garlic, oil and sea salt.

I also fried up some bacon and toasted the chopped walnuts in the bacon grease(yes, I know, not exactly healthy, shame on me!)

Then, I tossed them all together, YUMMERS!

I also made boiled potatoes, boring I know. 

For dessert, Ghiradelli brownies! Yes Please!

Beautiful sear on my steak, thanks to the hubs. Usually I grill, but it was displaced, as in not right outside my back door.

 Here's the finished product. Grilled steak, boiled potatoes and roasted brussels with bacon and walnuts- I think that was the most exciting part of the dinner. 

Later this week I'm going to dabble in grilling a rack of lamb. If anyone has any tips....and or recipes....send them my way!

Freshness

Ah Lancaster, home to the many Amish and Mennonite, as well as many others.....but mostly Lancaster is known for its large Amish populations. 

We had to make an early trip up to Lancaster this morning due to a funeral, for my wonderful and kind hearted grandmother, Grammy.

Since Lancaster has so many farms they have LOTS of fresh produce, something we do not get that often hear in DC.  We got to Lancaster sooner than we expected so we headed off for some fresh produce.  There's this one corn stand that we pass when we go up and it's always packed. At 9:45 people are showing up in the hoards. I believe it is bring your own bags and or boxes.  YES, people come and buy SO much corn, they must be feeding a small community. I mean I can eat corn with the best of them, but at some point I have to stop. Corn there costs $3 per bakers dozen. I don't know how much it costs by all of you, but here it runs about 75 cents an ear. I only bought 7 ears for the hus and I for a buck fifty.

Corn soaking before the grilling

Freshly grilled and steamed corn....note how burned and charred those ears are? 

 Yet, not even damaged, not dried out, not burned soo severely.
 I of course buttered and salted, but I decided to add a little cayenne, my spice of choice to add a little extra heat and flavor.

 
 Sugar Plums

After that we headed to a local orchard where I picked up some white and yellow nectarines, red cherries and some sugar plums. Yup, you know the ones who dance in your head....they are bite size and delish! 

After the service we all had lunch as a family at a local smorgasbord.  I always think that's a funny name.  I wasn't overly impressed with their options although their salad bar was nice.   

 I asked Gary if he wanted to go for a buggy ride, but he declined....

That sign says Doll Outlet, over 5,000....sorry if you are doll lovers, but that kinda creeps me out.  I'm pretty sure dolls come alive at night and run all over the place, not killer like, like Chucky, but still...

Then Gary and I drove to Bird-in-Hand (yup, true name). Lancaster has all sorts of fun names, Paradise, Blue Ball, Intercourse....

We hit up a bakery and an antiques place.  We don't do this often, we aren't pickers or collectors, but since we watch many of those shows we though, what the heck.  I found an old Maxwell House coffee tin (Maxwell being my maiden name) and Gary found some old beer cans, as well as a old mirrored Schlitz sign.  I was hoping that I could find some sleigh bells. Nothing screams Christmas to me than hearing those (I know, Christmas is about 6 months away, what's the hurry, but I'm always looking).  There was one strand for $125 a little out of my price range and a smaller strand for $20, but they just didn't sound right in my mind.  I think they would look great hanging on my door with some Christmas tree branches and a bright red bow. Oh well, next time.