POPSUGAR Food

Fresh, Flavorful Lamb Chops With Mint-Pistachio Pesto

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:45:56 PDT

While this may seem like a complicated recipe, it's deceivingly simple. The lamb chops practically cook themselves in the broiler, and the pesto forms like presto after a whirl in the food processor.

The bright green star of the show is pesto made with mint, pistachios, and Pecorino Romano, rather than the typical trinity of basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan. Keep the mint-pistachio pesto slightly chunky so you can top it over the lamb chops like salsa.

While appetizer appropriate, lamb chops are a fairly expensive item that you may want to reserve for a special occasion dinner. To keep with the Mediterranean theme, serve these lamb chops over a bed of couscous or orzo.

Keep reading for the recipe.

Get a Leg Up on Lamb: A Shopping Primer

Susannah Chen — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:56:58 PDT

Aside from the occasional lamb chop, how frequently are you eating lamb? Chances are, not terribly often. While lamb was big in the 1940s and 1950s, it's taken a nosedive thanks to the rise of other animal proteins. Currently, the average American consumes 85 pounds of beef annually; in contrast, Americans eat less than a pound of lamb each year.

Part of this decline, I suspect, is because many home chefs don't feel comfortable working with the meat; at its best, lamb is sweet and tender, with a distinctly exotic flavor, but it can also be ruined when the animal is old and gamey. But working with lamb is easy: all it takes is a simple understanding of seasonality, visual cues, and cuts. Master this, and you're virtually guaranteed to sit down to a succulent meal.

First Things First: What Is Lamb?

Technically, lamb refers to the meat of a sheep that is less than a year old. If you spot the term "hogget," that's the same animal at 1 to 2 years of age; anything older than this, and it's mutton. Unless you're a fan of a much stronger flavor, choose lamb, as sheep develop a gamier flavor as they age.

More - including the best season to buy lamb, what to look for, and popular cuts - when you read on.

6 Fresh Celebrity Styles That Wowed Us This Week and Why!

Melody Nazarian — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:15:03 PDT

We saw many well-dressed stars this week, but there were a handful of ladies who were extra inspiring. We especially loved Alexa Chung in her all-maroon look - who else can make a turtleneck look so chic? - Reese Witherspoon's boho-chic daytime outfit, and Sarah Jessica Parker's fair isle Splendid sweater and purple jeans pairing. But that's not all; there were many more celebs who stole our attention, including Gwen Stefani in camouflage, Julianne Hough in a menswear-inspired tuxedo, and Beyoncé in leather pants and sneakers. Check them all out and find out what about their looks wowed us.

Gwen Stefani Visits the Pumpkin Patch in Plaid Pants

Melody Nazarian — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:25:03 PDT

Gwen Stefani and her family visited the pumpkin patch in LA over the weekend, but a little bit of dirt didn't stop the stylish mama from looking fabulous as usual. She wore skinny plaid pants with gray suede booties on bottom and a black tie-neck blouse up top. Tortoise cat-eye sunglasses, a few gold jewels, and this L.A.M.B. Tolman bag ($228, originally $425) completed her polished daytime look. Whether or not you're headed to the pumpkin patch, re-create Gwen's latest look by pairing up a pair of plaid pants with a feminine bow blouse and chunky suede booties. Shop similar pieces below to get started.

Celebrities Punch Up Their Closets With Printed Suits - Shop the Trend!

Mandi Villa — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:46:03 PDT

Hollywood's hottest women have been inspired by menswear for some time now, from crisp button-downs to loose-fitting trousers to cleavage-baring shorts suits, and the latest is printed suits. Christy Turlington chose an understated black brocade Stella McCartney number with a sparkling Edie Parker clutch in NYC, Ashley Madekwe blossomed in a floral Topshop blazer ($136) with matching trousers ($80) and leather UGG Australia ankle boots ($225) in Costa Mesa, Halle Berry went rock 'n' roll in a blue textured Roberto Cavalli pantsuit and Sergio Rossi pumps in Toronto, and Gwen Stefani donned a funky black-and-white print L.A.M.B. suit in LA. Take a cue from these fashionistas and opt for a daring printed suit instead of the standard solid suit for your next night on the town. Warning: this trend is not for the timid, so expect to get lots of attention!

This Week's Most Spotlight-Worthy Celebrity Styles to Work Into Your Mix

Mandi Villa — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:30:03 PDT

Welcome to Friday, the wonderful day when we reveal CelebStyle's top stars of the week. We had quite the fashionable crew this week from Gwen Stefani's crisp and cool Cali look to Solange Knowles's vibrant printed blazer pairing and Dita Von Teese's sexy red sheath and leopard combo, with a few more including Dianna Agron, Katie Holmes, Selena Gomez, and Kate Moss. Check out all of our style-setting winners, find out why they were crowned, then shop one or all of their looks for yourself.

Shop Kim Kardashian's Closet For a Cause: L.A.M.B. Shoes, Gucci Skirt, Peter Pilotto Dress, and More

Melody Nazarian — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:00:04 PDT

eBay's Fashion Vault has opened its doors to the Kardashians, which means from now through Monday, May 21 at 8 a.m. PST, you can take home your favorite pieces previously worn by the star. Shop Kim's designer dresses, shoes, bags, and more, and a few of Kourtney's items, too. A portion of the proceeds will go to Life Change Community Church. We went through the entire auction and handpicked our favorite pieces from Kim - a jewel-tone Gucci skirt, killer L.A.M.B. shoes, a sunny Peter Pilotto dress, and a few other frocks - so click through to see her in them and to place your bid. Then enter eBay's Kardashian vault to see the rest of the designer auction items from the sisters.

Gwen Stefani's Yellow Zara Blazer Is Springy, Versatile, and Affordable!

Mandi Villa — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:06:43 PDT

Gwen Stefani showcased her flawless weekend style by pairing a yellow Zara blazer ($129) with edgy black leather pants, retro Stella McCartney shades, and a black-and-white L.A.M.B. tote. The designer injected pops of color via red lipstick and orange nail polish, then completed her LA cool with a top-knot bun while walking hand in hand with son Kingston. This sunny Zara blazer works with polished or edgy pieces, making it the perfect Spring staple. Plus it can be worn two ways, regular and cropped. And it won't break your bank. Shop the exact topper here to layer over a flirty dress for your next brunch date or rough it up like Gwen with a pair of leather pants and killer kicks.

Springtime Is Ripe For Loving Lamb!

Susannah Chen — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:33:00 PDT

Artichokes, asparagus, peas, and rhubarb aren't the only products of nature that taste best between April and June - so do certain cheeses and meats, which are at their palate-pleasing pinnacle, too. Perhaps the most notable of these is lamb, not only for its symbolism during Easter, but also because the birth of lambs coincides with the first grass growth of Spring.

Enjoy the tender meat's unusual barnyard notes with a few of our top-choice recipe ideas below - like pistachio-pesto lamb lollipops to a classic French navarin.

Moussaka	Pesto Lamb Lollipops	Moroccan Lamb Tagine
Cardamom Lamb Chops	Navarin of Lamb	Roasted Leg of Lamb

The Star of the Easter Feast: Rosemary-Roasted Leg of Lamb

Camilla Salem — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:42:14 PDT

It wasn't until recently that I started to feel comfortable cooking large roasts. In particular, I'd always been intimidated by roasting legs of lamb, until I learned that with high-quality meat, minimal preparation is all you need for a result that's truly impressive.

Any roast requires significant cooking time, so this may not technically be a fast recipe, but it most certainly is an easy one. I prepped my massive leg of lamb in just five minutes. Garlic cloves buried into the meat, a bed of rosemary, salt, and pepper, and a bit of red wine in the pan, and things were good to go.

Timing and internal temperature are everything when it comes to this type of cooking. There is the "slow and steady" school of thought, which recommends low temperatures and long cooking times, but frankly, I just don't have patience for that most of the time. I start my roasts at a high temperature for about 25 minutes or so and then lower the temperature to finish the cooking process. One huge factor in cooking time is whether or not your leg of lamb has a bone. A bone-in roast will take more time, and you're looking for a slightly higher temperature on your meat thermometer to determine if it's done. Those factors aside, it makes a more impressive table presentation.

For the recipe, keep reading.