Book 11: Sunday Lunch - Gordon Ramsey

I've been massively motivated, cooking wise, this weekend. Usually when I get motivated I pick a stack of recipes I'm going to make, purchase everything and then get distracted and only make part of one... The part recipe is very reluctantly done, usually in a half-arse manner! The stupid thing is its never anything awesome that I get distracted by. It could be anything, bright lights, butterflies, page 43 on the book I'm reading. If I'm not in a cooking zone, we are having 2 minute noodles or canned spaghetti for tea and nothing will change my mind (although I will usually pretend I'm going to cook something and then fake tiredness). Happily one of the bonus' of having so many books (novels and cookbooks) is I can always make it look like I'm going to cook something fabulous, while having no intention of doing so. A few times now I've had the family convinced that any second I'm getting up to create a culinary masterpiece for us to dine like kings. Only to sadly realize that the recipe I was going to cook takes way longer than I anticipated (I like to allow 1 hour more than I've got) and we better order fish and chips. Don't get me wrong, I love cooking, apart from going to the movies its sadly my only hobby. But sometimes I think I want to cook something fabulous like roast beef and Yorkshire puddings, when really its noodle omelet time (noodle omelets are awesome!). I try not to do this too often (Matty might pick up on it otherwise) but its a great way of me getting out of cooking tea and still look like I'm not a mega slacker. This weekend wasn't like that (it surprises me to!) I managed to get two things baked on Saturday afternoon and one sweet and one savoury today, all without the help of redbull! Granted my floor looks like a herd of goats live here (not really sure what a goats house looks like?) but I got almost everything I wanted accomplished. Which means for the next few weeks I can concentrate on slacking off and the things I'm going to buy when I take a road trip to the Dubois Boutique in Warrnambool (they have a huge sale on!).   Woo Hoo :)

On a side note, probably not my best idea to put my number one excuse (reason?) up here, I may have to put it in retirement or at least send it on holiday for a while.....  Time to break out number two, which you will not be hearing about, at least until the heat cools down on number one.  :)

Recipe - Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb

4 large racks of lamb, cut in half (3-4 bones in each)
olive oil, for cooking
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp English mustard

Herb Crust
4 slices of day old bread, crusts removed
large hand full of parsley
small hand full of coriander
small hand full of thyme
few rosemary sprigs
50g Parmesan, freshly grated
Heat the oven to 200c.  Score the lamb fat in a criss-cross pattern and season well.  Seal the racks in a hot ovenproof pan with a little olive oil until golden brown, about 4 minutes each side.  Transfer the pan to the oven for 10-15 minutes to finish cooking the lamb.  It should feel springy when pressed.  Leave to rest while you prepare the herd crust.

Tear the bread into pieces and put into a food processor. Roughly chop the herb leaves and add to the processor. Roughly chop the herb leaves and add to the processor with the Parmesan and a little seasoning. Whiz to fine crumbs, which will take on a bright green colour. Brush the lamb with mustard and coat with the herb crust, patting it on firmly. Return the lamb to the pan and warm through in the oven for 5 minutes

Slice the lamb int individual chops and serve three per person, with the Pommes boulangere and Courgettes provencale.
(I didn't include the recipe for the pommes or courgettes)

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I actually think of this recipe as Steph Pridham's rack of lamb, more so than Gordan's. Steph (my best mate) has made this before(and has this book) and I can still remember being jealous about not being invited to try them! She's also spoken about how awesome it is and I've been killing to try it for ages. Anyway, the book itself is good, got a good selection of different things although they all tend to be a little bit spiffy. There is a recipe for a Mocha Mouse which is awesome!!

The lamb racks them selves were delicious!! I cooked mine for a few minutes more than Gordan, only because although I like my meat pink I hate it when its running around the plate :). The crust is very fresh and doesn't take over but compliments the lamb. The potatoes were full of flavour but a little bit sloppy so they didn't work as well as they should of with the lamb. (that wont bother you cos I haven't included the recipe for them). All in all this is a delicious recipe, although I wouldn't make it if people were coming over cos its a lot of farting around in a short amount of time! I love lamb so I will definitely be cooking it again....
 
Please excuse my plating, I really should practice that because I can spend hours on a meal only for it to end up like slop on a plate... still tastes good though :)

Thanks
Kate
xx