Lamb Sliders
The most requested lamb recipe in our collection
Its getting to be that season we dust off the outdoor grills. BTW, I hear you grilling artists out there saying grilling has no season, it’s year round! Have you noticed burgers are off the charts trendy right now? Restaurants, chefs and home cooks alike are changing flavor profiles, adding unusual ingredients like beets? Varying meats and meat combos or meatless options. Varying the bun type and gracious the add ons ! Well I’ve got one to add to the selection that could be your new superstar. I know every time I’ve made them I quickly become the best cook ‘for the moment’ I’ve made these Lamb Burgers for wedding functions, catering events and just hubbie and me. My very favorite rendition is as mini sliders
Stoney Mountain Farm Lamb Sliders
1 pound Ground American Lamb
1 link Italian sausage, casing removed
3-4 cloves garlic, grated or minced
¼ C grated onion
½ T cumin
½ t cinnamon
1 t fresh chopped cilantro or ¼ t coriander
1/8 -1/4 t hot pepper flakes
1-2T fresh parsley, chopped
1 egg
½ Cup oatmeal soaked in milk
S&P to taste
Feta or goat cheese
Place all ingredients, except cheese, in a bowl and mix well (I use my hands). The mix will seem wet. Form into 1” balls, place on roasting rack or prepare for grill. Flatten the patty gently, then press dime size ball of cheese into center. Cover with just enough additional meat mixture that the cheese is sealed in. Roast in 400 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes or starting to brown. You can turn to broil if you like a crispier texture. I also like to grill them. These are also great regular burger size but the sliders are alot more fun!
Serve in “slider” rolls now available in most groceries. “Hawaiian Bread “Slider” rolls are a great option. I serve these with pickled onions or an onion relish but tomatoe relish or any one or combo of these would be great.
Tagged: burgers, lamb burgers, ground lamb, grilled lamb, party food
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Lamb Bone Broth /Stock
Easy to make and a heathy addition to any diet. How about the perfect base for any soup? Make good use of leftover bones. How about an economical purchase of fresh bones from your local farmer? All great reasons to try bone broth.
A staple in cultures across the globe, bone broth is a key ingredient in cooking and for gut health. It can be enjoyed as a healing elixir, in stews, a welcome addition to casseroles, or the base for many a soup.
Generally made from chicken or beef bones, the comforting flavor of lamb broth will add variety to your epicurean or healing repertoire .
Lamb is high in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that regulates the control of serotonin, one of the key brain chemicals involved in regulating your mood, and making you feel calm, relaxed and sleepy. And even better, helps regulate your appetite .
Incorporating lamb in your diet will help you build a strong immune system, due to its generous antioxidant content. Lamb is rich in a very highly absorbable form of zinc, important for strength, hormone production, cardiovascular and bone health.
It is especially important to find stock bones from humanely raised healthy animals or wild game like deer.
Conventionally raised animals that are fed a diet of genetically modified grains loaded with pesticides and herbicides and other chemicals and heavy metals should never be used. The body naturally stores many toxins in the fatty portions of the bone and that is what you are consuming in your bone broth.
It is best to know the farm and farmer where you are getting your stock bones. The more grass and green foods the animals eat the more rich the nutritional value of the meat and bone contents. Some grain in the feeding is acceptable unless you have celiac.
So, how to do it?
I like to have a mixture of large and small bones. The larger bones have more marrow and smaller bones offer more gelatinous material. I toss them with olive oil and garlic and roast them in a 400 degree oven for about an hour or until I smell them. I then cover them with water and add the ubiquitous aromatics, celery, onion, carrots, raw, or start with a mirepoix. As you simmer it if any foam develops, remove and discard. After about an hour add parsley (or cilantro if you like. I’ve tried it, it’s good) a bay leaf and some fresh peppercorns. Allow it to simmer for another 4-5 hours. I then refrigerate it overnight and skim the fat, strain it, heat it again and add a bit of tomato paste, or not!
Healthy, yummy, and I always feel good making use of all the parts!
To Wean or not to Wean
Observing a mother and her new born is a heavenly site. We respond based purely on emotions, whether we've actually "mothered" or not. At the moment you lay your eyes on this site all the world around is a blur and all that matters is the true love that halos around them. It is such a pure connection that under no circumstances one should want to come between them, right?
A lot of the methods used in sheep farming are about "management" of the flock. The larger the number your trying to manage the harder it is to keep "order". Orderliness becomes a goal for efficiency. Efficiency adds to profits. Follow me? This is a slippery slope.
Weaning is one of those "management" tools. According to reference books, lambs should be removed from their mothers at 8-10 weeks old. The reasons are mainly that the needs of the lambs for maximum market potential are different then the mamma's. Growth of the lambs requires richer, higher protein grasses or grains which the mamma's don't need. The only way to accomplish such a task is to separate them. The other argument we found (didn't read it in a reference book) to support weaning is the mothers will give and give until they are basically spent. We find the heat of the summer, coupled with the very selfless nature of mom's takes everything out of them and begins to compromise their own health.
For these reasons one might wean.
Wean:accustom (someone) to managing without something on which they have become dependent or of which they have become excessively fond.
Now that I've given you a bit of knowledge about weaning I'd like to share our journey with this decision.
We began this farm knowing we would make choices about the care of our animals based on our experiences, not just because everyone said so. Many topics of care and handling were researched and we found enough disparaging information that we felt strongly our decision to observe first was a worthy one.
Many of our farming practices were established by observing, educating ourselves, then we'd established our way. Weaning the lambs was one really challenging task. Now 8 years later, after going back and forth, this year, we're not weaning again. The first three years we didn't wean. I wish I could tell you why we decided to wean the 4th year but I'm betting we succumb to the "text" book ways. Most other shepherds around us weaned which made us question our decision even more. Our farm was growing and as often happens after you've immersed yourself in something you loose some of your "curiosity" or better yet, the luxury of time to remember to be curious and ask questions.
So, we spent a few years weaning. It is a very difficult task, not physically challenging, just heartbreaking really. They cry and baa for easily 48 hours. The mothers also. Eventually they all settle in but gosh it never felt right. As often I'm guided on this farm, if it goes against nature my heart cannot find peace with it...this is one of those lessons.
With most industrial farming models, maximum growth of the lambs became the shepherds primary goal in order to get those lambs to market fast and efficiently. Is fast and efficient our ultimate goal. Those that know this farm know our answer to this question is NO. We strongly believe you sacrifice so much in order to achieve those fast/efficient goals. It is this very reason that so many breeds of livestock are in danger of being lost for good...they don't meet these industrial models!
In summary, we've have some of the best looking, healthiest lambs ever, happily growing on mothers milk...there must have been some divine wisdom in that!
What I know now....
Before I begin the real content of this post I want to dedicate this to a couple that came to our farmers market booth last week-end. I had the perfect opportunity and a willing audience and so the discussion began. They were looking through our coolers for some lamb. As it happens from time to time, she looked up at me and said,
"how can you do it?"
here it comes, get ready for it, the predictable yet perplexing comment..........
"I could never eat an animal I raised."
Before farming, I never really thought about how food got to our local grocery stores. Through that plastic wrapping at our local SUPER market I felt confident I had enough experience to spot freshness, what else should matter?
Now, as a farmer growing sheep, pastures, eggs (no worries, I'm not laying eggs), and vegi's I have a whole new perspective. I truly didn't have any idea what was involved. I didn't have to know how the food got to me, the choices were provided and available to me and I knew no other options.
My bet is many of you can relate.
I remember once my family was in England for the holidays and we decided on prime rib for our Christmas dinner. We went to a local butcher because that's often the way they still do things in England. He presented Bessie, photos; family photos, and all. The butcher and his family loved Bessie. Needless to say I couldn't eat Christmas dinner.
If I knew then what I know now!
Through my journey I have concluded, we as consumers are so disconnected from the whole dang process.
Every time we take a few lambs to the arbitrator to be processed, we shed a tear, we hold hands and say a prayer, then we bless them ...it never gets easier.
I have really wrestled with this. I've contemplated my options. We could stop raising lamb and I could become a vegetarian. For a variety of personal reasons I won't go into, vegetarianism isn't for me. So, what would I do if I stopped processing our lambs because it was difficult? If I didn't give up meat would I go into the grocery like most of America and buy those hermetically sealed packages of meat from animals pushed through a food chain living uneventful lives with no tenderness or compassion for their uniqueness on this earth?
This is an example of where most grocery store meat comes from.
It would certainly have been easier to do.
And that... would be so hypocritical.
If folks had to engage in the process there would be a much greater respect for the animals and the food on their tables.
If folks would engage in the process or at least be aware, they couldn't eat meat raised in the horrible conditions so many are raised in.
If folks would engage in the process and be aware, fewer people would be eating meat.
In our house, if we are going to consume meat/fish it will be humanely raised which I also believe is difficult (not impossible) to do if not from a small farm and definitely not from a factory farm.
Because of our new found respect for meat and how it gets to our tables, we don't eat a lot of it.
When we do eat meat it is only from healthy happy animals and farms that strive for that. Yes, it's more expensive and that is part of the reason why we eat less.
Regarding the interaction with the customers last week-end, I followed up her comment sharing the content of this soon to be realized blog, in a few less sentences of course. They were so thankful that I shared the experience. I truly believe they will be more respectful of the process.
I want to thank them for reminding me there are people out there that want to know....
Lamb Ribs
ingredients: lamb ribs, spice rub, BBQ sauce
Remove from oven.
Do you see the GOOEY?
Voila!
Too easy?
Lamb Sliders
Requested again and I'm finally getting "round 2 it". It wasn't until I saw our recipe published in another newsletter that I felt the boot in my backside.
We all have a few favorite recipes in our collection. Why do we love one recipe over another? Is it all about taste? I think not. Preparation being such a huge part of the creation plays a huge role in my liking a recipe or not. I've made a few things in my life that tasted good to me but I just didn't enjoy preparing. If a recipe is too technical or requires too much of my attention it's usually not for me. Like, puff pastry....why would anyone want to slave over such a process when you can buy such an excellent option as Dalfour? I know and respect those cooks out there that love the preciseness of such an endeavor it's just not me. Long story short, you won't find a recipe like that in my collection anywhere.
Some might argue that I love making breads, preserves, and pastries and they require thought. RightO, but I've learned that with practice you become more adept at these and therefore less thought is required.
So, here you go. A recipe we've served at many functions, weddings (mine included), art events and just round our table. Hope you enjoy!
Recipe
of the Week
With summer time
comes summer grilling! This week's recipe comes from Olga Elder from Stoney
Mountain Farm.
Stoney
Mountain Farm Lamb Sliders
1# Ground Lamb
1 link Italian sausage,
casing removed
3-4 cloves garlic, grated or
minced
¼ C grated onion
½ T cumin
½ t cinnamon
1 t fresh chopped cilantro or
¼ t coriander
1/8 -1/4 t hot pepper flakes
1-2T fresh parsley, chopped
1 egg
½ Cup oatmeal soaked in milk
S&P to taste
Feta or Chevre cheese
Place all ingredients, except
cheese, in a bowl and mix well (I use my hands). The mix will seem
wet. Form into 1" balls, place on roasting rack or prepare for
grill. Flatten the patty gently, then press dime size ball of cheese into
center. Cover with just enough additional meat mixture that the cheese
is sealed in. Roast in 400 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes or
starting to brown. You can turn to broil if you like a crispier
texture. I also like to grill them. These are also great regular
burger size but the sliders are fun and trendy!
Serve in "slider"
rolls now available in most groceries. "Hawaiian Bread
"Slider" rolls are a great option. I serve these with a tomato and
onion relish but any one or combo of these would be great.
Experiment; there are many
condiments and such that really compliment lamb!
|
Roasted Coffee Marinated Leg of Lamb
Leg of Lamb, marinated with roasted coffee, garlic, and rosemary? Need I say more?
A recipe from award winning chef, Louis Osteen
One of the primary reasons I started blogging was for all the folks that have approached me at the Durham Farmers Market with such wonderful lamb recipes. There has been a tremendous interest in "sharing" the recipes and I too am excited to hear and try all these mouth watering ideas.
This post is to share one of our legendary lamb favorites!
My family was lucky to have known and loved the renowned chef, Louis Osteen. Two of my sisters actually worked for the Osteen’s. One of my sisters was super lucky to work alongside him in his kitchen. It was quite an experience for her and we still recall many of Louis’ best recipes. For me personally, when she recreates his masterpieces it’s as if she channels him. She knew his tricks, if you will…I mean he taught her.
She knew this recipe long before I was raising sheep. Now the joke is I often forget to give credit where credit is due. I use this recipe so often, whether sharing it or cooking it. I’ve converted folks to the love of lamb with this recipe. I don’t mind saying with full assurance, you will NOT be disappointed!
with out further ado…here is the recipe. I realize measurements aren’t clear. Just know your looking for about 2 cups of marinade. The measurements will accumulate quickly. the ground coffee is 1/4 cup and the red wine, olive oil and coffee take up most of the liquid space. Just begin, it will make sense and it's also very forgiving!
Roasted Coffee Marinated Leg of Lamb:
1. S&P entire leg
2. Mix marinade:
· Coffee beans, roasted under broiler unitl crisp…be careful they burn easily. Grindcoarse,not fine, ¼ c
· Fresh Rosemary LOTS, chopped
· Coarse ground Mustard
· Very dark brewed coffee, expresso if possible
· Red wine
· Garlic, LOTS
· Olive Oil
Combine all in food processor to yield about 2C. Coat lamb w/ paste and pour liquids over. Marinade for at least 2 hours.
Grill. IMO, your looking for about 130°
Excuse me, my mouth is watering. I’m going to fire up the grill now. You won’t be surprised to know I just so happen to have a leg of lamb!
And finally, to my dear sister, it is written, I am forever grateful that you shared this divine recipe with me
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September 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Back to basics with sheep healthcare Sep 10, 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Mac and Cheese Bites Sep 10, 2024
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August 2024
- Aug 12, 2024 Tales of a female farmer Aug 12, 2024
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July 2024
- Jul 12, 2024 Caring for sheep hides Jul 12, 2024
- Jul 11, 2024 Cucumber Lemonade Jul 11, 2024
- Jul 1, 2024 Cucumber Gazpacho Jul 1, 2024
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May 2024
- May 23, 2024 Almonds, Sweet and Spicy May 23, 2024
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January 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 Sheep fencing gone wrong… Jan 17, 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 In the beginning :Tales from the shepherd Jan 17, 2024
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April 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 The journey to vegetarian, or not? Apr 3, 2023
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March 2023
- Mar 20, 2023 Making sense of scents, or not... Mar 20, 2023
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February 2023
- Feb 26, 2023 Lamb Sliders Feb 26, 2023
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March 2022
- Mar 15, 2022 HOW TO BE THE BEST SHEPHERD: Lessons from a sheep Mar 15, 2022
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January 2022
- Jan 17, 2022 Lamb Bone Broth /Stock Jan 17, 2022
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April 2021
- Apr 26, 2021 Farming through Covid Apr 26, 2021
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June 2020
- Jun 19, 2020 Turning 60 Jun 19, 2020
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January 2020
- Jan 12, 2020 wool dryer ball transparency Jan 12, 2020
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September 2019
- Sep 10, 2019 It's hard not to project Sep 10, 2019
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June 2019
- Jun 21, 2019 Weaning, a whole new meaning Jun 21, 2019
- Jun 17, 2019 Strawberry Balsamic Basil Pops Jun 17, 2019
- Jun 10, 2019 Collard Salad Jun 10, 2019
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February 2019
- Feb 28, 2019 Shearing Day was not a washout! Feb 28, 2019
- Feb 5, 2019 The life of a sheep! Feb 5, 2019
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January 2019
- Jan 25, 2019 Lamb Liver Paté Jan 25, 2019
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August 2018
- Aug 23, 2018 Pokeweed, Friend or Foe? Aug 23, 2018
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July 2018
- Jul 20, 2018 Cucumbers Galore Jul 20, 2018
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September 2016
- Sep 5, 2016 Mother Nature's Lessons Sep 5, 2016
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August 2016
- Aug 23, 2016 Walking the Walk Aug 23, 2016
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July 2015
- Jul 2, 2015 To Wean or not to Wean Jul 2, 2015
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February 2015
- Feb 1, 2015 Sustainability & Our Precious Soil Feb 1, 2015
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July 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Lasagna Jul 24, 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Squares Jul 24, 2014
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June 2014
- Jun 2, 2014 Sustainability...What's it all about! Jun 2, 2014
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May 2014
- May 29, 2014 What I know now.... May 29, 2014
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April 2014
- Apr 4, 2014 Is the boss the farmer or the sheep? Apr 4, 2014
- Apr 3, 2014 Felted Chicks Apr 3, 2014
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January 2014
- Jan 28, 2014 Lamb Ribs Jan 28, 2014
- Jan 26, 2014 DIY Wool Dryer Balls Jan 26, 2014
- Jan 15, 2014 Let the New Year Begin Jan 15, 2014
- Jan 13, 2014 DIY Heat Jan 13, 2014
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October 2013
- Oct 30, 2013 WHOLEsome Food: EGGS Oct 30, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Cinnamon Pickles Oct 7, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Dog Biscuits Oct 7, 2013
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September 2013
- Sep 18, 2013 Peaches, Peaches everywhere Sep 18, 2013
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August 2013
- Aug 14, 2013 The Spider and the Butterfly Aug 14, 2013
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July 2013
- Jul 30, 2013 They don't wear galoshes Jul 30, 2013
- Jul 21, 2013 Blackberry Lime Jam Jul 21, 2013
- Jul 11, 2013 Lamb Sliders Jul 11, 2013
- Jul 9, 2013 Our Little Orchard Jul 9, 2013
- Jul 2, 2013 The Hay Bale Fiasco Jul 2, 2013
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May 2013
- May 17, 2013 My Secret Place May 17, 2013
- May 2, 2013 April. Did I miss it? May 2, 2013
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March 2013
- Mar 28, 2013 Prada to Carhart Mar 28, 2013
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February 2013
- Feb 21, 2013 Puttin Up the Fence Feb 21, 2013
- Feb 7, 2013 Lovely Cup of Chai Feb 7, 2013
- Feb 5, 2013 Looking for Llama's Feb 5, 2013
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January 2013
- Jan 29, 2013 Winter Garden Jan 29, 2013
- Jan 24, 2013 The rams are back in their pasture Jan 24, 2013
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September 2012
- Sep 7, 2012 Pickles! Sep 7, 2012
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June 2012
- Jun 13, 2012 Morning Gifts Jun 13, 2012
- Jun 5, 2012 Finding the Words Jun 5, 2012
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April 2012
- Apr 13, 2012 The girls and a few token boys! Apr 13, 2012
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March 2012
- Mar 30, 2012 Flavor! Mar 30, 2012
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October 2011
- Oct 9, 2011 Hay. A little three letter word that packs a PUNCH! Oct 9, 2011
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July 2011
- Jul 22, 2011 The Glorious Tomato Jul 22, 2011
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February 2011
- Feb 10, 2011 Shearing Day 2011 Feb 10, 2011
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November 2010
- Nov 30, 2010 This farm gives me Goose Bumps Nov 30, 2010
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July 2010
- Jul 23, 2010 Another aHaa Moment in Farming Jul 23, 2010
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February 2010
- Feb 24, 2010 Farmers Wearing Lace? Feb 24, 2010
- Feb 16, 2010 Girls with no Coats Feb 16, 2010
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January 2010
- Jan 4, 2010 Midnite on the farm Jan 4, 2010
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April 2009
- Apr 22, 2009 Hard Day on the Farm Apr 22, 2009
- Apr 15, 2009 Lamb Meatballs Apr 15, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Spring Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Roasted Coffee Marinated Leg of Lamb Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 13, 2009 In the Beginning Apr 13, 2009