'APRIL LOVE' ~ LAMB CHOPS with LEMON & HERBS / ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

"April is a promise that May is bound to keep."

~ Hal Borland

LAMB CHOPS with LEMON & HERBS

(Spring lamb calls as does the grill ... a delightful marriage of flavors - adapted from BON APPETIT April 2011)

3 minced large shallots

6 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

6 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano (3 tsp. dried is fine since fresh is often strong)

6 minced cloves of fresh garlic

(here I omit 1 Tbsp. of sugar plus 1 Tbsp. salt

and add freshly ground black pepper to taste plus a hint of coarse salt )

12 lamb rib chops (from 2 1 1/4 - 1/2 lbs. french cut racks of lamb

6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 hefty Tbsp. grated lemon peel (zest)

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

fresh mint sprigs for garnish

• Combine shallots, mint, oregano, garlic, salt & pepper.
• On a large baking sheet, press rounded mixture onto the top of each lamb chop. Turn over and press remaining mixture. Cover chops and refrigerate overnight.
• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, and peel until blended. Season gently with salt & pepper. Spoon over top. Turn and spoon remaining over other side. Let stand at room temp for 1 hour.
• Grill over med-high grill about 3 minutes/side. Let rest before serving. (4 servings)

________

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

1 head of cauliflower flowerets (broccoli is awesome too as is asparagus)

3 minced garlic cloves

juice and zest of 1 lemon

extra-virgin olive oil

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

• Preheat oven to 400º. (Not necessary but can spray roasting sheet with non-stick spray.)
• Toss cauliflower with garlic, zest, lemon juice, olive oil and salt & pepper. Plop on prepared pan and roast for 30-40 minutes, turning half way through. Fork will piece through when done.
• If desired, top with freshly grated Parmesan, a mellow flavor/marriage with all the above fresh herbs. (4 servings)

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

~ Margaret Atwood

'LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD'

LEGEND of the DOGWOOD

An old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it:

"Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross.

Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross ~ two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints ~ brown with rust and stained with red ~ and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember."

~ Author Unknown

TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS (with me)

"The tulip's petals shine in dew,
All beautiful, but none alike."

~ James Montgomery

(On Planting a Tulip-Root)

'THE TWILIGHT HOUR' ~ (Hubbard Lake Sunset)

“It is the hour when from the boughs

The nightingale's high note is heard;

It is the hour when lovers' vows

Seem sweet in every whispered word;

And gentle winds, and waters near,

Make music to the lonely ear.

Each flower the dews have lightly wet,

And in the sky the stars are met,

And on the wave is deeper blue,

And on the leaf a browner hue,

And in the heaven that clear obscure,

So softly dark, and darkly pure.

Which follows the decline of day,

As twilight melts beneath the moon away.”

Lord Byron

(George Gordon Noel Byron)

April Sunset

(Hubbard Lake, MI)

RUSTLE OF SPRING (Spring Fever)

“It's spring fever....

You don't quite know what it is you DO want,

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

~ Mark Twain

"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar."

~ Helen Hayes

CELEBRATE APRIL 'MICHIGAN WINE MONTH' ~ (Mini-Northern Michigan Wine Tour)

"Wine is the most civilized thing in the world."

~ Ernest Hemingway.

"Wine is sunlight, held together by water!"

Galileo Gallilei

Official Website of Michigan Wine Industry

Explore Michigan Wine Trails

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS ... 'A PROMISE MAY IS BOUND TO KEEP'

"April is a promise that May is bound to keep."

~ Hal Borland

"Rain is grace;

rain is the sky condescending to the earth;

without rain, there would be no life."

~ John Updike

APRIL GARDEN BLOGGERS' MUSE DAY ~

for more lively posts visit

Carolyn @ Sweet Home and Garden Chicago