Grilled Ramp Butter

While Grilled Ramp Butter, isn’t actually a meal in and of itself, and it’s really simple, just two ingredients: grilled ramps processed with salted cultured butter, I think it’s the ultimate in decadent Spring condiments. This delicious butter is amazing on grainy toast with a poached egg, a slice of fancy cheese, a little ham, or, it’s the base for my amazing duck tartines. Keep this Grilled Ramp Butter in the fridge for a week or so and you’ll find it dangerously disappears. A tablespoon will slip into the spring peas you make as a side for dinner, a teaspoon will be on a late afternoon piece of toast with a sliver of good parm. A dallop will land in a cup of store-bought soup. This Grilled Ramp Butter is a special spring treat that helps make ramps season (one of my all-time favorite seasons) last just a little longer. Because, of course, if you haven’t eaten it all too quickly, Grilled Ramp Butter could also be squirreled away in the freezer. … Continue reading

Lamb Burgers

It’s Summer, and that means lots of outdoor cooking and probably too many burgers. A little variation, like this Lamb Burgers instead of a hamburger makes even a very simple meal feel a little bit special and intriguing. I also switch out the conventional bun and serve it on some really good bread. It’s amazing what good crusty bread rather than a processed hamburger bun can do to complete the feeling of everyday elegance. The cool yogurt cucumber sauce and some Summer tomatoes enhance the Mediterranean flavors of the Lamb Burgers. Serve it with a lightly chilled pinot noir and you’ve got all you need. Serves 4 1 pound ground lamb 1 cup diced red onion 2 cloves minced garlic 1 teaspoon celery salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon hot paprika 1 teaspoon sumac if you can find it or lemon zest if you can’t 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 2- 4 ounces of feta cheese 4 inches cucumber ½ cup yogurt 1 stem mint leaves salt to taste lettuce tomato bread or bun Dice the onions. Sauté the onions in 1 teaspoon olive oil until they’re becoming translucent. Add the minced … Continue reading