Stylish Entertaining Archives - Page 37 of 63

One Leg of Lamb, Two Presentations

Roasted-then-Grilled Leg of Lamb Medallion
Soy Sauce-Olive Oil-Garlic Marinade, Cracked Pepper Crust
Minted Edamame Puree, Whole Wheat Couscous
Grilled Zucchini, Shiitake, Tomato

Roasted-then-Grilled Leg of Lamb Medallion
Soy Sauce-Olive Oil-Garlic Marinade, Cracked Pepper Crust
Minted Edamame Puree, Whole Wheat Couscous
Grilled Zucchini, Shiitake, Scallion

Nine ingredients remain the same. Only one ingredient varies – swap a grilled tomato for a grilled scallion to create two totally different presentations. We served these leg of lamb dishes as a test for the “Lean on Lamb” challenge to create healthy recipes for entertaining. The challenge is to cook a leg of lamb as the main-course for 8 people using no more than 10 ingredients (excluding salt & pepper) with a prep time of under 30 minutes.

After preparing 4 lamb dishes over several days, we decided on Leg of Lamb, Curry Quinoa Crust as the one to submit to the contest. That dish, served over Steamed Spinach with a Curried Heirloom Tomato Salsa with Mint and Avocado & Serrano Chile with Lime had it all – color, flavor, texture, balance plus the seasonal element. Though our Lamb Medallion Stack, Warm Anchovy-Pine Nut Vinaigrette with a Dijon Mustard Anchovy Crust, Polenta Cake, Spinach, Parsley, Tomato was pretty popular too, especially with that warm savory vinaigrette.

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An Inelegant Table Setting?

Initially I set the table with turquoise cans of sparkling water because they complemented my color scheme. But on further consideration, I liked the idea that my guests would pour their water into a tumbler full of ice, nice and fizzy, straight from the can.

Water glasses were filled with ice just before everyone took their seats. Guests popped open their own cans. Guess what? They liked this too. La Croix is naturally pure sparking water with no sodium, just a clean taste with crisp effervescence. Inelegant. Casual. Refreshing.

Cans on the table? What say you?

Leg of Lamb, Curry Quinoa Crust

Roast Leg of Lamb Medallion, Curry Quinoa Crust
Over Steamed Spinach
Curried Heirloom Tomato Salsa with Mint
Avocado & Serrano Chile with Lime

So here’s the challenge: Cook a leg of lamb as the main-course to serve at a dinner party for 8 people using no more than 10 ingredients (excluding salt & pepper) with a prep time of under 30 minutes (not including cooking times). It must be healthy, lean, and nutrient-rich – using only “good fats” and “good grains.” The folks at Tri-Lamb are sponsoring this “Lean on Lamb” challenge for cooks in Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington DC with a focus on healthy ORIGINAL recipes for entertaining.

So, as is Taste With The Eyes style, I was looking for harmonious colors, various textures, and memorable flavors to create a vibrant lamb entrée for my guests. All ingredients had to be commonly available, so while the dish is not exotic per se, it is alluring and appealing on a hot summer evening. Heirloom tomatoes add a seasonal element, while the curry adds a bright sunny quality, spicy serrano gives it just enough kick while fresh lime juice (from my tree) brings the tart acidity balance…

10 Ingredients

Leg of Lamb
Quinoa
Curry Powder
Olive Oil
Spinach
Heirloom Tomatoes
Avocado
Serrano Chile
Mint
Lime Juice

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5 Fabulous Bloggers: Foodalogue

“A 5-Tapas Cocktail Party for 5-Years of Blogging”

No, it’s not me. I’m only approaching 4 years. But my friend, Lori Lynn of Taste With The Eyes, is celebrating her fifth anniversary by inviting 5 bloggers to guest post on her blog. If you know LL’s work, you know this is an honor with a capital-and-bolded H.

Lori Lynn is a goddess of good taste, a high priestess of entertaining, a hostess with the mostest. I’ve been following her blog since 2008; I guess shortly before we met at the first FoodBuzz Festival in San Francisco. To visit Taste With the Eyes is to have an open door to Lori’s warm and inviting home and gardens, and to meet her family and friends. I feel like I’ve celebrated holiday dinners with the family … attended a seasonal Sunken City Supper Club event … sat at the table and enjoyed creative and exquisitely presented recipes (some of which use ingredients I haven’t heard of) … and vicariously dined at the top notch restaurants she takes us to … and, to all of those I’ve often said, “I wish I was your neighbor!” (Of course, taking the big leap that if I were her neighbor, I’d be invited.)

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Our Precious Slice of Americana

Happy Birthday America, Sweet Land of Liberty!

This morning, as on every Fourth of July for the last 26 years, my neighbors and great Americans, Vince and Dee Villa, host an Independence Day Celebration on 18th Street in front of their San Pedro (Los Angeles) home. By his own admission, Vince is “pushing 90,” and has announced that this year’s event will be their last. Dee assures us that the cherished flags will still fly at their home every 4th, but encourages another family on 18th Street to take over the honor and responsibility of the celebration. We are witnessing the end of an era, and we’re sad yet grateful to Vince and Dee for generously hosting this patriotic neighborhood treasure for over a quarter century.

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