Belch.Com

I got to cook out last evening and had one of the most wonderful dinners: Grilled Rack of Lamb.

The Meat:
I got two racks of lamb, frenched, from the local butcher counter. You may find better quality cuts and prices at Sam’s club or Cosco. Trim any excess fat and apply the dry rub, (below) using your fingers to massage the spices into the meat. Intertwine the bones and cover the bones with aluminum foil to prevent them from scorching. Allow the meat to sit out at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before placing on the grill.

The Rub:

• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp dried garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp Herbs de Provence
• 1/2 tsp Thyme
• 1 tsp Rosemary
• 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1/4 tsp mustard seed
• pinch of cayenne pepper

Grind the ingredients together using a mortar and pestle until the mustard seeds are powderized.

The Grill:
The grill should be set for “direct medium heat,” and preferably, a charcoal grill. “Direct medium” is a single layer of hot coals tightly spaced. Place the twin racks of lamb on the grill with both sets of bones on the top for seven minutes. Then flip the racks so one side is touching the grill, bone side down, for seven minutes. Then flip so the other side is touching the grill bone side down for seven minutes. This should result in Medium Rare temps, or 130 degrees internally. Remove from grill and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

The Sides:
Grilled Asparagus, mashed potatoes, and fresh bread.

The Wine:
Preferably a smooth Syrah or semi-dry red table wine. Merlots or Cabs may be too strong for pairing.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have been using a recipe I found on Clemson University’s website for the past few years (apparently cribbed from Butterball), and added my own touches to make a consistent, delicious holiday bird. The Clemson website also has the best guide for thawing, smoking, stuffing and deep-frying that I have found anywhere, so refer to that site for more help.

This is my recipe to cook the best, picture perfect, oven-roasted turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy!
Roasting Method Only: The open pan roasting method will consistently create a juicy, tender, golden brown, picture-perfect turkey.

1. Place thawed or fresh turkey, breast up, on a flat rack in a shallow pan, 2 to 2 inches deep.
2. Remove giblets.
3. Using a basting brush, use 1/8 cup of peanut oil to lightly coat the whole turkey. Peanut oil results in a beautiful crispy red skin. If there are peanut allergies, consider olive oil, melted butter or vegetable oil as a substitute.
4. Mix and grind together 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp fresh rosemary, 2 tsp cracked black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp parsley flakes. Sprinkle mixture on oil-coated turkey.
5. Insert oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh.
6. Place in a preheated 325 F oven.
7. When the skin is a light golden color and the turkey is about two-thirds done, shield the breast loosely with a tent of lightweight foil to prevent overcooking of the breast.
8. Use the roasting schedule in the table below as a guideline; start checking for doneness a half-hour before recommended end times.
9. Turkey is safe when cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook turkey to higher temperatures
10. Let turkey stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to set.

A word about basting: Most turkeys do not require basting. Constantly opening the oven for basting cools the oven and adds time to the roasting. The turkey will be tender and juicy without basting. You can remove juices during roasting for gravy and stuffing, but basting will wash off the oil and spices.

Its getting near Thanksgiving, one of Belch.Com’s favorite holidays. And what better way to kick off the season that with a weird story about a reckless bird?

From the AP here:

Turkey day came early for one New Jersey family when one of the wild birds crashed through a house window and made a big mess.

The episode began around 3 p.m. Monday when Lisa Lane, her daughter, Lauren, and notably, their West Highland white terrier, Bubbles, pulled up to the house.

About 20 wild turkeys were feasting on crab apples in their yard, not an unusual sight.

When the birds saw Bubbles, they flew away in a hurry. One, though, did not have a smooth takeoff and crashed into a second-story window of the Lanes’ home.

After Lane called for help, state police, an animal control expert and a turkey-hunting neighbor sporting camouflage and toting a baseball bat showed up for the roundup. But by the time the turkey search party arrived in the bedroom of 8-year-old Jake Lane, where the bird had crashed, the gobbler was gone.

But not without leaving its mark.

“The bird had relieved himself all over,” Lisa Lane said. “The room was a disaster.”

One year I need to go to Germany for Oktoberfest. Enjoy a beer while looking at this picture. I know you will.