Downhill Part 1

So I started writing this blog when I lost my last job. I felt like the world was closing in and at my age I was all done. Well surprise surprise, unemployment kicked in, I had money for my bills, people sent me job leads, I didn't get sick but even if I did government mandated COBRA insurance was there for me, I was still worried about the future, but hey, doesn't everybody worry about the future, then I got a new job... So where is the downhill part? That wasn't downhill. That was a rough patch. Right? But?... while doing this blog and watching the news and talking to all of you and just getting my citizen on it became pretty clear to me that everyone thought we, and by "we" I mean America, were in trouble.

Oh no! The Taliban army has taken Disneyland

It seems that everyone across the entire political spectrum seems to think so. The current budget head butting just magnified the feeling. It was time for me to spring into action. Shaking the lethargy that had fallen upon me after an over dose of spring I decided to finally root out the destroyers of America. I knew this was going to be a difficult task. I didn't want to be like the pun-dents that cast wildly aggressive and only quasi accurate accusations at each other. No red state/ blue state war for this blogger. I didn't want to be a sissy either though. After all, someone was destroying America and it has to stop. So no Sunday service and breakfast today. Last week was sentimentality, the week before was both religious manipulation and saccharin secular up lift. My new hard investigative self decided to cancel todays original clip "Wing beneath my Wings" by Bette Midler ( sorry Bette Midler fans) followed by a danceable gospel tune from the 50's ( sorry danceable gospel fans) in favor of facing Sunday with...

If we are indeed lambs being led to the slaughter then we must embrace a new seriousness of purpose that has escaped our culture over the last 10 or 20 years.

So cute!

Of coarse with Easter coming and slaughtered lambs everywhere a little leg of lamb might be a good thing. It will keep with our new serious quest. Getting to the bottom of things can start at Sunday dinner.

So cute!

Now the beauty of leg of lamb is that the tapered shape and low fat content lends it to quick cooking at high heat. This produces an excellent crust on the outside and meat the ranges from medium rare at the thickest spots to well done at the extremities. There is something for everyone. You are also going to want to marinate the meat. Flavor enhancement and juice retention is a must for lean cuts of meat.

1. To a food processor or blender add 5 or 6 cloves of garlic, a healthy handful of parsley, the zest and juice of 1 lemon, salt, and a more aggressive herd like rosemary or thyme.
2. Give it a whirl slowly adding olive oil as you go. We are looking for something a little thicker than pesto.
3. Trim most of the surface fat off of the lamb.
4. Rub the gremolata all over the lambs surface then let it marinate in the oven over night.
5. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.
6. Place the leg of lamb on some kind of rack over some kind of pan.
7. Check after the first half hour. If the coating looks like it wants to burn turn the oven down to 350 degrees.
8. Roast until an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the meat comes out at 135 degrees.
9. Tent with foil and finish the rest of the meal.

If it is nice out you can also do this on a grill outside. Heat only one side of a gas grill, or pile the hot charcoal to one side, then cook the meat over the hot side for a half hour, turning once. Move the meat to the side away from the direct heat and put on the lid. 45 minutes later turn the meat front to back then check it with the thermometer after another half hour. 135 is still 135.

So what is the mission for the week? 1) I will, through a process of elimination, figure out who is destroying America. 2) I will become the Nietzschian uber-man I was meant to be by eating lamb despite the Disneyesque cuteness factor. 3) I will not hesitate to offend as many people as possible in the pursuit of my first 2 missions. The truth is out there.