Well, last night I decided to get creative again with dinner. I’m still having fun creating in the kitchen. Although, I do find myself still afraid to make mistakes. I keep reminding myself that this is fun, and food mistakes are allowed. That’s how people get better at anything whether it be driving, singing, sewing, playing an instrument, and of course cooking.
I’m realizing with my cooking that I am more of a perfectionist than I thought. This cooking is allowing me to let go those things I so fondly call “perfect pictures” down my grounding cord and of course into my rubbish can. Teehee!
Last night I decided after looking a several youtube clips I was going to create honey balsmic mint glazed lamb chops, with a savory mint lime garlic mayo dressing for the side. I thought I would also add in some cubed sweet potato, a fresh herbed salad with a light feta vineagrette dressing tossed with a few cherry tomatoes. Sounded good to me.
I diced the sweet potatoes, and tossed them in the oven. Meanwhile I blended the garlic, fresh squeezed lime, mayo, with freshly cut mint. I tasted it, and YUMMY it was tasty. Good stuff. Next, in a glass bowl I threw in the balsamic vinegar, honey, and freshly cut mint. After whisking briskly I tossed in the fresh lamp chops allowing the tender meat to be marinaded in this sweet and sour sauce for a half hour.
I preheated the pan over the stove, and put on what I thought was medium high heat. I’m still trying to master the fahrenheit to celsius temperature shift. Awww, the learning never ends. I love it.
Anyway, I took the first lamp chop, and decided to put it on the heated pan. I knew something was wrong when the sizzles instantly turned to smoke, and that glorious smelling balsamic and honey started to smell beyond burnt. I used the fork to peek under the chop, only to discover that my once beautiful lamp chop had now turned on me. It had become the “black sheep” of the family. I turned it over, and proceeded to make it a well rounded black sheep. After fully bringing the chop to a charcoal crisp I then turned the temperature down, and tossed this little “baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-d” lamb chop into the rubbish.
However, the next lamb chops luckily refused to follow their black sheep brother. They ended up beautifully caramelized with their honey balsamic glaze, and I proudly put them on the plate. I was pretty tickled with myself. I brought beautiful shaped plates, so my food can look extra special. Ohhhhh, I am loving this cooking thing…even if I have to burn a few before the good ones come out.
Discovered I love the taste of lamb, and it was tasty!
Oh down, below I am adding in a funny I received in my e-mail on communication and women. I think it’s accurate on my part anyway. I know I am guilty of using all of the 9 words down below. What about you guys?
NINE WORDS WOMEN USE
(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission.. Don’t Do It!
(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6) That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you’re welcome. (I want to add in a clause here – This is true, unless she says ’Thanks a lot’ – that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say ‘you’re welcome’ .. that will bring on a ’whatever’).
(8) Whatever: Is a woman’s way of saying F— YOU!
(9) Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to # 3.
Mmmmm! Lamb! I’ve just started experimenting with lamb myself this year. So far, a fav way to do it is a lamb roast in the slow cooker. The meat just falls apart.
You know Shannon, when cooking Mistakes are great, it’s how you get a new taste or a new twist to the recipe. Hmmm, you could of called this dish fired grilled lamb chop. I do hope it was New Zealand Lamb
Shannon- good for YOU!! I would have been WAY too terrified to terrified to try lamb when I was learning how to cook! Once I made a recipe that called for a tablespoon of fresh rosemary. I did not have fresh, so I substituted a tablespoon of dry- not knowing you are supposed to reduce the amounts when you use dried herbs. In the end- the meal was literally painful to eat. We had to throw the entire thing out and get take out. That is just one of my MANY horrible meals. But, thankfully now most of the stuff I make comes out pretty good. Just like anything, you can never get really good unless you are willing to take some risks..