A strange afternoon. A few quiet hours. The house is silent, and yet loud by what it’s missing: the hustle-bustle of the playing toddler, playing and busying elsewhere. I am left with my thoughts. With myself.
Yesterday, I longed for it. Today, I’m not sure what to make of it. My mind swirls, unproductively. Doubt, insecurity, idleness, questioning. And planning, listing, comparing, anticipating. It’s quiet on the outside, but I feel unsettled on the inside. I can’t see my North. Like standing in the middle of a large deserted intersection, not knowing where to go. Feeling like I should. I should know.
That “should” is a bad word.
So I decide to sit in the middle of that intersection. Ground myself. And see what happens.
A strange afternoon. A few quiet hours. I wasn't sure what to make of it. So why not improvise an apple tart, thought I.
A botched attempt. Flavorful, but unsatisfactory. Crust too crumbly. Falling apart within my hands. Just not coming together. A lot like this day.
So I try it again tomorrow. What else can one do? Learn. Try again. That was my Thursday.
That, and a simple dinner, in the haven of the garden. Some spring carrots. And lamb. And rosemary too.
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 + 7-15 min for the meat
Age for babies: You could make this into a baby puree steaming together a bit of lamb with carrots, mixing to desired consistency with milk or coconut milk (which you steep the rosemary in before adding.) You can give from 8 months on. If you give the carrots alone, cook them as described below, they make an easy finger food, also from 8 months old on. (I used ground lamb for Pablo's baby purees mixed with vegetables starting at 6-7 months).
Note: I am a big fan of cooking in parcels as I've blogged about before. It's easy, it's very healthy, it keeps the nutrients and flavors in. No downside really.
1 bunch of new carrots
2 sprigs of rosemary
3/4 cup coconut milk
salt & pepper
2 cloves of garlic
Lamb chops (however many per person you would like. I recommend the thicker pieces with two chops, unless you like your meat well done, in that case, you could get a thinner piece.)
Olive oil
Peel the carrots, and cut them up.
Preheat the oven at 425°F
In a pan over medium heat, bring the coconut milk to a simmer for 2 minutes. Take the rosemary leaves off the stem, wash them, mince them (I cut them up with kitchen scissors) and put them in the coconut milk. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for a few minutes.
Place one sheet of unbleached parchment paper on a baking dish. Place the carrots in the center. Spoon the rosemary coconut milk over them.
Fold up the parchment paper over the carrots to make a parcel. You can use string, or I just fold and crumple up each side.
Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Open the parcel when ready to serve (it will keep hot if closed).
Meanwhile, brush the lamb chops with some olive oil (rosemary olive oil if you have some, or put some rosemary in the olive oil for a few minutes before brushing). Rub the chops with the garlic cloves.
Cook the lamb chops as you prefer. For convenience, we often just pan-fry them (we like them rare, so it usually takes about 7 minutes total over high heat, turning them on each side. About 11-12 minutes for medium rare).
Of course, you can also cook them in the broiler (turning them over half-way through), or on the grill.
A botched attempt. Flavorful, but unsatisfactory. Crust too crumbly. Falling apart within my hands. Just not coming together. A lot like this day.
So I try it again tomorrow. What else can one do? Learn. Try again. That was my Thursday.
That, and a simple dinner, in the haven of the garden. Some spring carrots. And lamb. And rosemary too.
Rosemary carrots in coconut milk baked in a parcel & lamb chops
Serves 2-3Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 + 7-15 min for the meat
Age for babies: You could make this into a baby puree steaming together a bit of lamb with carrots, mixing to desired consistency with milk or coconut milk (which you steep the rosemary in before adding.) You can give from 8 months on. If you give the carrots alone, cook them as described below, they make an easy finger food, also from 8 months old on. (I used ground lamb for Pablo's baby purees mixed with vegetables starting at 6-7 months).
Note: I am a big fan of cooking in parcels as I've blogged about before. It's easy, it's very healthy, it keeps the nutrients and flavors in. No downside really.
1 bunch of new carrots
2 sprigs of rosemary
3/4 cup coconut milk
salt & pepper
2 cloves of garlic
Lamb chops (however many per person you would like. I recommend the thicker pieces with two chops, unless you like your meat well done, in that case, you could get a thinner piece.)
Olive oil
Peel the carrots, and cut them up.
Preheat the oven at 425°F
In a pan over medium heat, bring the coconut milk to a simmer for 2 minutes. Take the rosemary leaves off the stem, wash them, mince them (I cut them up with kitchen scissors) and put them in the coconut milk. Remove from heat, cover and let steep for a few minutes.
Place one sheet of unbleached parchment paper on a baking dish. Place the carrots in the center. Spoon the rosemary coconut milk over them.
Fold up the parchment paper over the carrots to make a parcel. You can use string, or I just fold and crumple up each side.
Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Open the parcel when ready to serve (it will keep hot if closed).
Meanwhile, brush the lamb chops with some olive oil (rosemary olive oil if you have some, or put some rosemary in the olive oil for a few minutes before brushing). Rub the chops with the garlic cloves.
Cook the lamb chops as you prefer. For convenience, we often just pan-fry them (we like them rare, so it usually takes about 7 minutes total over high heat, turning them on each side. About 11-12 minutes for medium rare).
Of course, you can also cook them in the broiler (turning them over half-way through), or on the grill.
