The Food Network is soaring with popularity these days. Celebrity chefs are putting out cookbooks faster than you can say “Rachel Ray,” and to their credit, have transformed cooking into a glamorous activity. And although cooking may be “in,” women — who are still primarily the ones responsible for meal preparation in the home– are spending less time in the kitchen than ever before. Consider this: According to a study done in the year 1900, a typical woman spent 44 hours per week preparing meals and cleaning up after them. That is an astounding figure. Everything made was fresh and from scratch; cooking for the family was a full-time job. By 1950, with the advent of the modern electrical kitchen and many packaged convenience products, that number had dropped by more than fifty percent. Dare we ask how many hours the average woman spends in her kitchen nowadays?
While it is true that technology has freed up so many hours previously spent cooking, this has been more than offset by the time women now spend at work. As a result, women today have far less time to cook. We own rice cookers, bread makers, waffle makers, and every other gadget to “simplify” and quicken our cooking, and yet despite our desire to provide nourishing homemade meals for our families, the main frustration amongst women today is that we have no time! As a result, “30-minute meals”, OAMC (Once A Month Cooking), and prepared frozen foods are more the norm than the exception.
In most families, weeknight “dinnertime” is not what it used to be. With longer school days and more extracurricular activities for kids combined with a longer workday for parents, the family bonding that has long been synonymous with supper is becoming more and more challenging to sustain. But try we must! The Project EAT team (Eating Among Teens) at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health has been investigating the many health benefits for teens eating family meals. Their research has found that teens who reported eating more family meals per week reported significantly less substance abuse, fewer eating disorders, and significantly better academic and mental health than those eating fewer meals with family. Getting a healthy dinner on the table is a challenge and can often seem like a chore. But if you consider the importance of what you’re really doing – establishing family cohesiveness and connectedness while nourishing your family — it’s one of the best investments you can make.
Here is a game plan for a simple “30-minute meal” that is healthy and flavorful to boot. Kosher shoulder lamb chops are a treat for anyone at the end of a long day and take no time to prepare. Spend 5 minutes in the morning to marinate the chops, and they’ll be ready to throw into the pan when you get home! While the chops cook, prepare rice and steamed broccoli as an accompaniment; the whole meal should only take 20-25 minutes to prepare and is a tasty well-balanced supper. Enjoy!
Savory Minted Lamb Chops 
These lamb chops marinate for a few hours, but the actual cook time is very short – only 10 minutes!
- 3 tbsp. olive oil
- 3 tbsp. fresh mint leaves, minced
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
- ½ tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. ground coriander
- 1/8-1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (how hot do you like it?)
- ¼ tsp. curry powder
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- 2 tsp. canola or vegetable oil
- 4 ½-3/4 -inch-thick shoulder lamb chops
Place all ingredients (except for veg. oil and lamb chops) in a small mixing bowl and mix well. Spread a little bit of herb mixture (about 1 tbsp.) over both sides of lamb chops. Transfer lamb chops to a large plate, cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.
Place oil in a large skillet over high heat until pan is very hot. Transfer lamb chops to skillet and sear on each side for 4-5 minutes, until brown and slightly crusty. (This may produce smoke, so use your exhaust fan!). Transfer chops to platter and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.
Serves 2-3.
