"I Love Lamb!": Spicy Grilled Lamb Chops and Marinated Tomatoes!

This delicious meal from "Savor the Moment" got me thinking of a line from one of my all-time favorite movies, "Anchorman." The line is "I love lamp" but, after making this recipe, all I could think was "I love lamb!" The Spicy Grilled Lamb Chops (pg. 157) and Marinated Tomatoes (pg. 131) are a delicious duo to say the least!

Juicy, ripe tomatoes are marinated in a blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh basil, parsley, red onion, garlic and capers, perfect for making ahead of time if you are entertaining. The lamb chops are also marinated, but in cider vinegar, garlic, curry powder, dry mustard, cayenne pepper and olive oil before being grilled to juicy, pink perfection. As for the wine, we tried something a little different and went with the 2006 Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine is called "Black Box" because it does, in fact, come in a big, black box! Made primarily from grapes grown along California's Central Coast, I'm happy to report, the Black Box Cab was actually pretty good and makes for a great everyday option. One box is equivalent to four bottles of wine (for the price of two!) and remains fresh for up to four weeks after opening. Black Box is also environmentally friendlier than glass bottles, requiring far less energy to produce and transport. Lessen your carbon footprint while enjoying a glass of vino - not bad! As if that weren't enough, the wine was also a great match for the lamb chops and tomatoes.

These two recipes really make for a nice, easy and elegant Summer meal and will hopefully have you saying "I love lamb" as well! Click on the link to check out the hilarious clip from the movie (warning: silly sense of humor required!). I'm including the recipe for the Marinated Tomatoes and hope you enjoy them - let me know what you think!
Cheers,

Marinated Tomatoes

Cut 2 or 3 large tomatoes into thick slices and arrange overlapping on a platter. Combine 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 1 tablespoon minced red onion, 1 tablespoon drained capers, 1 crushed large garlic clove and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl and mix well. Drizzle over the tomatoes and garnish with additional parsley. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour or longer. Enjoy!