Tag: lamb

Lamb Shanks

Every first Friday of the month, except for July when our Basque club has it’s picnic, we have a dinner open to the public.  We always serve lamb chops and I alternate chicken, pork, albondigas (meatballs) and fish for the other meat.  We also have lamb shanks, lamb ribs or lamb stew along with homemade soup, Basque rice, a vegetable, salad, homemade bread and desserts.  I never know how many people will show up, it could be 80 or 160 so I always try to prepare enough food and I always keep my fingers crossed. So far we have never run out…came close a few times but we have never run out.  There have been some mad dashes to the grocery store for more lettuce for the salad.

I made up this recipe from a couple of ones that I had tried and this recipe has become a regular on the menu.  I also use it for lamb ribs.  Lamb ribs can be fatty, but this combination goes really well with them. Don’t be alarmed of the large amount of lamb shanks pictured in the pan.  This was for the first Friday dinner and I made two large pans of shanks.

20130923-222320.jpglamb shanks

20130923-222341.jpgAdd minced garlic and chopped onion

20130923-222406.jpgAdd sliced carrots, can of crushed tomatoes, 1/2 can of beer, cup of red wine, salt and pepper to taste.

20130923-222419.jpgCook at 350 degrees for about 4  hours.  This is an approximate. It may be more or less depending on your stove.

You just want to slow roast them.

20130923-222448.jpgFinished!

Lamb Shanks

4 to 6 lamb shanks

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion chopped

3 carrots peeled and sliced

1-28 oz can of crushed tomatoes

1/2 can of beer

1 cup red wine

salt and pepper to taste

Put a little oil in the bottom of a roasting pan or a large dutch oven.  Add shanks, garlic, onion, carrots, tomatoes, beer, wine, salt and pepper.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees approximately 4  hours.  This may be more or less.

Enjoy!

World Series Game 2

Last night I was thrilled to be asked by my younger brother to go with him to Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco.  It was an awesome game with the Giants beating the Tigers 2-0.  The air was filled with the aroma of the food at the concession stands at the park.  AT&T Park has some of the best ballpark food.  Their lamb sausage is wonderful, smothered in peppers and onions.  (But I have to say that my brothers homemade lamb sausage is more flavorful.) The garlic fries are to die for with salt, parsley and minced garlic. The aroma of the cinnamon sugared walnuts roasting is mouth watering and they taste as great as they smell.  I partook in the lamb sausage and the garlic fries on Monday night when I was with my older brother at Game 7 of the pennant race.  He is more into the ballpark food than my younger brother.  He also likes to park the car in the more expensive garage across the street from the park.  My younger brother parks in the cheaper outdoor lots and walks about 5 blocks to the park.  Along the way he stops at a deli and gets these fantastic turkey sandwiches which we take in a cooler tote with drinks we brought from home.

This was only my 7th Giants game in my lifetime.  I am almost 60 years old.  My Dad had season tickets ever since the Giants moved from New York and my brothers have continued on with the tradition.  I live in Idaho and go down to California often during the year to visit.  It just happened that it was perfect timing that I was here for the playoffs and the Series.  My brothers sold their tickets to the first game of the series and were supposed to go together yesterday, but the eldest wasn’t feeling well so he was kind enough to give me the ticket.  My friends jokingly asked if I had poisoned him… but he had a really bad cold.  I had hinted around enough about maybe that this was my one chance to go to a Series game in my lifetime, subtly of course, and they took pity on their only sister!

It was the thrill of a lifetime and I will never forget it!