steely primitive has lamb emergency

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x63100

Oh my.

The steely primitive, who works in a thrift store (nothing wrong with that, though) and pays his rent by "cooking" for the people who pay his rent:

Richard Steele  (1000+ posts)        Fri Apr-10-09 11:54 PM
Original message
 
I could use some help ASAP with a minor LAMB emergency.

Sunday is Easter, and I'm cooking an all-out 8-dish feast for my housemates and some of their friends and family.

I've spent two weeks planning the menu around a main course of herb-encrusted roast leg of lamb.

Well, today was PayDay, and by the time I got off work and made it to the grocery store, all the whole lamb legs were GONE.

I barely managed to grab the last lamb SHOULDER out from under a nice sweet old lady.

So, now I've got a 7lb lamb shoulder, and no idea what to do with it.

I ain't no master chef, but even I can see that it's not something that will cook like a leg. Very different shape, much higher bone/meat ratio...

all the studying I did when preparing to cook that lamb leg is RIGHT out the window,
and I'm flying BLIND here.

Sunday Dinner is at 4:00, so I've got about 30 hours to come up with a plan for Lamb Shoulder that will result in a first-rate entree.

The Rita Hayworth primitive rushes to the rescue:

Tangerine LaBamba  (1000+ posts)      Sat Apr-11-09 01:25 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. I found this - 

Maybe it'll help?

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/02/the-art-of-s... 

Richard Steele  (1000+ posts)        Sat Apr-11-09 02:04 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. Sure couldn't hurt. I'm off to check it out! Thanks!

Richard Steele  (1000+ posts)        Sat Apr-11-09 11:31 PM
Response to Reply #1
 
7. OK, after reading links, that's the preparation I'm gonna go with.

Simple and easy- since I'm making 8 other dishes tomorrow, "simple and easy" really appeals to me!

Tangerine LaBamba  (1000+ posts)      Sun Apr-12-09 12:00 AM
Response to Reply #7
 
8. Great!

It looked simple and good, and the remarks about it were very enthusiastic.

So, let us know how it turns out, OK?

Good luck, kid ..................

To the Rita Hayworth primitive, anybody under 60 years of age is a "kid."

grasswire  (1000+ posts)      Sat Apr-11-09 02:57 AM
Response to Original message
 
3. recipes

Here's Martha Stewart's delicious and reliable recipe for lamb shoulder. Because it's a tougher cut than a leg, a braise is the best remedy.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/braised-lamb-should...

What else are you planning to serve, Michael?

Oh, here's another braise recipe that looks really delicious:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/white-wine-braised-l... 

Richard Steele  (1000+ posts)        Sat Apr-11-09 04:14 AM
Response to Reply #3
 
4. Michael? No Michael here, my name is DICK.

Other than that, I appreciate your help.

I don't pretend to be an expert cook, but the basic construction of this big hunk of animal had me thinking that a BRAISING operation might be the best way to deal with it.

That link is SOO helpful- Thank you so much!

Take a step back, and brace yerself with your good leg, because you've got 200 pounds of big sloppy DickSteele HUG coming your way at high speed!

BOOM!

Ick.

The diet cola primitive, who never checks the oven before he turns it on:

Tab  (1000+ posts)        Sat Apr-11-09 04:34 AM
Response to Original message
 
5. Can you take the bone out and then tie it so that it's even sized?

I know the meat is tougher, others have helped with that.

The obvious other thing is, is there another store you get a leg from and use the shoulder for something else later?

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)      Tue Apr 14th 2009, 02:18 AM
Response to Original message
 
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why do people pay this guy to cook anyways?

[franksolich]

why do people pay this guy to cook anyways?

If I recall correctly--it's been a while--the steely primitive, unemployed, was given a room by some friends, in exchange for household chores, including cooking.

Nothing wrong with that, although one must reasonably sense that the steely primitive's chore-doing and cooking doesn't, really, add up to the cost of his rent.

I'd just as soon take the money, and do my own chores and cooking.