Tagli di Agnello Cotti - Grilled Lamb Chops

Simply marinated and cooked quickly in a skillet, this is a dish full of Italian flavor and a favorite in my house. This dish is a good entertaining entree as well.

You will need:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 large garlic cloves

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper

6 loin lamb chops (each about 3/4 inch thick)

In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, blend all the ingredients except lamb chops to form a paste. Rub the paste over the lamb chops and marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.

Heat a grill pan or a nonstick skillet until almost smoking. Add the chops and sear for 2 minutes on each side. Reduce the heat to medium and cook chops to desired doneness, about 3 minutes longer per side for medium-rare.

Note: You can play with this, using a different combo of herbs and flavored salts. This paste also works wonderfully with a full rack of lamb (just double recipe), or for a leg of lamb (triple recipe).

Salsa della Carne con il Vitello e la Crema - Meat Sauce with Veal and Cream

This is a lovely sauce, layered with distinct flavors that blend gently to make this a favorite in my household. The light flavor of the veal and prosciutto, layered with the aromatics of the carrot, onion and parsley, the hint of Marsala and nutmeg grounding the sauce, and a touch of cream taming the tomato and adding a slight richness to the sauce. Dishes such as this cooking on the stove top bring a sense of place and a warm soul to my kitchen.

Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a cooking pot over medium heat. Add finely minced 1 small carrot, 1 small onion and 2 tablespoons parsley and cook, stirring now and then, until the onion is pale yellow and soft, perhaps 4 to 5 minutes. Add 10 ounces of ground veal and 1/4 pound sliced prosciutto finely diced and cook, until the meat is no longer pink, stirring now and then.

Add 1/2 cup dry Marsala wine and cook until it is almost all reduced. Stir in 3 cups strained or crushed canned tomatoes, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper.

Cook, uncovered over low heat (gentle simmer) 45 minutes or so, until the sauce has a medium-thick consistency.

During the last few minutes of cooking add in 2 tablespoons double (heavy) cream and stir a few times. While the sauce is cooking, cook penne rigatta, fresh made gnocchi de patate (potato gnocchi), spaghetti, noodles or rice to serve with the sauce. When serving, top with freshly grated parmigiano. I like to stir in perhaps a 1/2 cup of the cheese to potato gnocchi and sauce.