Garlic & Herb Grilled Lamb Chops

Ingredients

1 rack of lamb
coarse salt and ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
4 to 5 garlic cloves, pressed
2 to 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup red wine
For Tzatziki Sauce:
1 1/2 cups greek yogurt, higher fat content
1 English cucumber, or 4 cocktail cucumbers
4 garlic cloves, pressed
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp fresh chopped dill
1 tbsp fresh chopped mint
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

This recipe is great for scaling up for more servings! Increase the marinade ingredients for each additional rack. First, carefully portion the rack of lamb into single chops using a large, sharp knife. Turn the rack towards yourself to see the bones for easier portioning. Place the portioned chops into a casserole dish. Watch my video recipe to see how it’s done.
Drizzle a the olive oil over the lamb chops, then season generously with coarse salt and black pepper; I recommend using Maldon salt flakes or kosher salt. Season both sides of the lamb chops. Next, sprinkle the fresh herbs over the chops. Gently press the pressed garlic into the chops so it sticks better to the meat. Drizzle the vinegar and wine over the chops and turn them to ensure they are well coated. Marinate the chops for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, turning after 15 minutes to marinate the meat evenly.
While the lamb chops are marinating, prepare your choice of dipping sauces and side dishes. Check out my recommendations above in my recipe post! Once the lamb is marinated, preheat an outdoor grill to 500F for 5 minutes, until the grill grates are extra hot. Reduce the flame to medium and add the lamb chops, spacing them 3 to 4 inches apart.
Grill the chops for 2 to 3 minutes per side, more for thicker chops. Once both sides are grilled, transfer them to the top rack of the grill, or to the side. Finish cooking the lamb with indirect heat for another 2 to 3 minutes. These instructions are for medium-done chops. Grill for 1 minute less per side for medium-rare doneness. Ensure that the temperature reaches 145F. Remove the chops from the grill and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before serving.
For the tzatziki sauce: gently peel the cucumber(s) and remove large seeds, if desired. Grate the cucumber(s) into a bowl lined with a cheesecloth; you’ll need approximately 1 1/2 cups of grated cucumber. Season the cucumber lightly with salt and let it stand for 5 minutes to release water. Wring the cucumbers of excess water as much as possible. Place the grated cucumber into a large bowl with the greek yogurt, pressed garlic, chopped dill and mint. Add the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. If desired, add also 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

Shrimp baked potato

Ingredients :

6 large Idaho potatoes

Vegetable oil, for coating

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature

1 cup sour cream

Salt and ground black pepper

1 pound sauteed shrimp, peeled

8 ounces grated Cheddar, plus more for sprinkling

Paprika, for sprinkling

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a baking sheet or pan with aluminum foil.
Begin by washing the potatoes, drying them and gently pricking them with a fork on the sides. Coat each potato with vegetable oil, place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour.
Remove the potatoes from the oven and slice the top third off of each potato. Gently scoop out the potato and place in a large bowl. Place the butter in the bowl. Using a mixer on high, mix together, and then add the sour cream and salt and pepper to taste.
Chop the shrimp into large pieces. Fold in the shrimp and cheese into the mixture. Gently stuff the mixture back into the potato shells, making sure not to break them. Pile the mixture as high as you can on top of the potato shells. Sprinkle each potato with more cheese and some paprika for color. Bake in the oven until browned on top, 20 to 25 minutes.