Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks with Rosemary Polenta

Cooking Time: 6 hours on HIGH plus another 6 hours on LOW
Slow Cooker Size: 5 quart
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
1/2 cup dry red wine
2 heaping tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 to 6 pounds lamb shanks, not trimmed of fat
1 large, firm head garlic (about 15 cloves), separated into cloves, each crushed and peeled
2 medium yellow onions, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and cut in 1/4-inch slices
Finely grated zest of 1 large lemon
2 heaping tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves

Preparation
In a small bowl mix the red wine, mustard, salt, and pepper and place in the insert of the slow cooker. Layer the shanks in the insert so they fit. Scatter the remaining ingredients around and on the shanks.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours. Use tongs to reverse the position of the shanks, top to bottom. Reduce the setting to LOW and cook for an additional 6 hours.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the shanks to plates, serving over the polenta (see below). Skim the fat from the cooking juices, taste, and add salt and pepper, if needed. Pour the juices & carrots over the shanks, and serve.

Polenta:

4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup polenta or finely ground yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

To prepare polenta, bring chicken broth, 1 teaspoon rosemary, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a boil in a large saucepan. Gradually add polenta/cornmeal, stirring constantly with a whisk. Reduce heat to medium; cook 4 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in cheese. Serve immediately with lamb and sauce.

Red Wine Braised Lamb Shanks

4 lamb shanks
1 large Spanish onion or two small yellow ones, diced into 1-inch cubes
4 carrots, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
4 celery ribs, diced into ½-inch cubes
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons finely chopped rosemary
3 cups red wine1 cup tomato paste
4 bay leaves10-12 thyme branches tied together in a bundle with kitchen twine
Salt
Extra virgin olive oil

1. Purée onions, carrots, celery, and garlic in a food processor until it is a coarse paste. Set aside. Preheat oven to 400˚.

2. Season the shanks generously with salt. Coat a large sauté pan generously with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Add the shanks to the pan and brown well on all sides. Make sure the shanks are fully browned — don't rush it.

3. Remove the shanks from the sauté pan and place in a roasting pan. Remove the excess fat from the sauté pan and add the vegetable paste. Season generously with salt and sauté until the vegetables are very brown and aromatic. The browned puree should form a sort of crust on the bottom of the pan, but don't let it burn.

4. Add the tomato paste, wine, and chopped rosemary to the sauté pan. Stir frequently and cook until the wine has reduced by about half.

5. Add 3–4 cups of water to the sauté pan to loosen the vegetable–tomato paste mixture. Pour this over the shanks in the roasting pan. The shanks should be submersed; if they are not, add more water. Add the bay leaves and thyme bundle to the pan. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the preheated oven. After two hours, turn the shanks over. Continue cooking until meat is incredibly tender, another 1½ to 2 hours, checking every 45 minutes to see if the liquid has reduced too much (if so, add more water). For maximum browning, remove the foil during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.

Serves 4.

Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks

6 lamb shanks
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 large carrots, cut into 1/4 inch rounds
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 (750 milliliter) bottle red wine
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
5 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

1. Sprinkle shanks with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook shanks until brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer shanks to plate.

2. Add onions, carrots and garlic to pot and saute until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in wine, tomatoes, chicken broth and beef broth. Season with rosemary and thyme. Return shanks to pot, pressing down to submerge. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and simmer until meat is tender, about 2 hours.

3. Remove cover from pot. Simmer about 20 minutes longer. Transfer shanks to platter, place in a warm oven. Boil juices in pot until thickened, about 15 minutes. Spoon over shanks.

Pad Thai Sauce

1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/8 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. minced shallot
1/8 tsp. chili paste
1 Tbsp. tomato ketchup
1 Tbsp. honey
1/8 Tbsp. light soy sauce
1/8 tsp. Thai fish sauce
1/3 cup of water
1/8 tsp. minced lemon zest

Start by sautéing the shallots and garlic, then add the rest of the ingredients. Cook until mixture is reduced in volume and has a thick aromatic smell. Toss over stirfried veggies, chciken, fish or beef and serve over noodles of your choice.

Frosted Apple Cake

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

2 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
4 cups diced peeled apples
1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Frosting, below

Preparation:

Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar, oil and vanilla. Into a separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg; stir into first mixture. Stir in apples and walnuts. Put in greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan and bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Let cake cool in pan on a rack for 10 to 15 minutes. Spread apple cake with cream cheese frosting. Cream

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pkg.(3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth.

Apple Pecan Cake

Apple pecan cake is made with butter, brown sugar, and apples and pecans.

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups peeled and finely chopped apple
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

Preparation:
Cream together butter, shortening, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and the granulated sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add sifted dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternately with the 1 cup milk. Fold in chopped apple.

Pour batter into a generously buttered and floured 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

Combine 1/2 cup chopped pecans with 1/2 cup brown sugar; sprinkle over top of cake. Bake at 350° for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until done. Cake will bounce back when lightly touched in center.

Applesauce Cake

An applesauce cake made with butter, applesauce, molasses, vanilla, and cinnamon, along with other spices and ingredients.

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preparation:

Cream butter and sugar; beat in molasses, vanilla, applesauce, and egg.
Sift together the flour, spices, salt, and soda. Add to creamed mixture; beat well. Pour batter into a greased and floured 8-inch square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35 to 45 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or dessert sauce.