Lamb Chops with a Balsamic Reduction. Holidays. Family.

“Live in each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit,  and 

resign yourself to the influences of each.” Henry David Thoreau

This season of my life i have truly cherished the moments spent with my sister in the city of san francisco. painting. drinking wine. coffee. riding our bikes to the nearest market.  cooking together in her quaint and cutest little kitchen. . . with no measuring cups.  .  .  we guess in blue dixie cups haha. it gets the job done! . . . and very well.  if I do say so myself  ;  )  

Easter. It could have passed by as any other day, but i have a strong conviction that the thing that makes holidays special and important is not that they are pre-marked on some standard mass- produced calendar, but the potential they have to bring family together to create new memories and share special moments. Notice i use the word potential. because its not guaranteed. it doesn't just happen. Family/ relationships & actually taking that potential of making a holiday into a "special day" requires effort. maybe some degree of planning to organize the family for a get -together. or  going out of your way to prepare an extra special meal. saving $$$  for  a flight to "be there" for that milestone moment.  buying a card or gift. or even as simple as saying something (that person might already know, but. . . ) you don't normally say. like, how thankful you are to have them in your life, and how much you love them. etc. etc. the possibilities are endless. point is: Exceptional, Extraordinary, Beautiful and Strong family relationships (or relationships in general) don't just happen. There is one guarantee though; however you choose to show your effort,  or whatever it is you choose to do,  It'll be worth it, because: 

In the end, nothing, absolutely NOTHING is more important in life than the people  we love, and the special moments we spend with them. 

ok, so together, my sister and I cooked up a fancy-schmancy Easter Dinner  for our special little family;  even though our family wasn't completely complete, it was complete in that moment. 

and the food was BOMB.com haha, No but really, it was absolutely delectable.  

de·lec·ta·ble/diˈlektəbəl/

Adjective:

(of food or drink) Delicious. Extremely beautiful.

ENJOY! 

Lamb Chops with Balsamic Reduction

Ingredients

3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, Salt and pepper to taste

4 lamb chops (3/4 inch thick)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup minced shallots

1/3 cup aged balsamic vinegar

3/4 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1. In a small bowl or cup, mix together the rosemary, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Rub this mixture onto the lamb chops on both sides. Place them on a plate, cover and set aside for 15 minutes to absorb the flavors.

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place lamb chops in the skillet, and cook for about 3 1/2 minutes per side for medium rare, or continue to cook to your desired doneness. Remove from the skillet, and keep warm on a serving platter.

1. Add shallots to the skillet, and cook for a few minutes, just until browned. Stir in vinegar, scraping any bits of lamb from the bottom of the skillet, then stir in the chicken broth. Continue to cook and stir over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half. If you don't, the sauce will be runny and not good. Remove from heat, and stir in the butter. Pour over the lamb chops, and serve.

Accompanying Dishes: 

Oven-roasted asparagus: lightly drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and pepper. Simple. 

Mashed Potatoes: From scratch. Boil potatoes. Add in butter and salt to taste. We added chicken broth instead of milk/cream for texture for a leaner and lactose-free alternative. Trust me, this substitution does not sacrifice one bit of flavor.