Co Mui's Rack of Lamb

Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 1 hour

YOU WILL NEED:

• Simmer pan
• Mixing bowl
• Baking pan

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 Racks of Lamb
• 2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
• 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoons Fresh Thyme (finely chopped) OR 2 teaspoons Dried Thyme (finely chopped)
• 3 Springs of Fresh Thyme OR 1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 2 tablespoons Fresh Mint (finely chopped) OR 2 teaspoons Dried Mint (finely chopped)
• Zest of a Lemon or Orange
• 1/3 cup Olive Oil
• 1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 cup Currants (chopped)
• Water
• 1 can Beef Broth
• Salt
• Pepper

STEPS:

1. Place currants in a bowl, add water and let soak for 15 minutes. Drain currents to save the water but remove the scum at the bottom of the bowl.
2. Trim excess fat and meat between the bones of the lamb. Save trimmings for sauce.
3. Season the lamb racks with salt and pepper. On medium heat, sear the each rack until browned. Place seared lamb racks on cookie sheet or baking pan, 2 racks per pan.
4. Clean the pan with a paper towel to remove the fat. Pan fry the trimmings of meat and render the fat. Drain the fat out of the pan.
5. Add currants, currant water, springs of thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme) and simmer pan until liquid has reduced to half.
6. Add 1/2 can of beef broth and simmer until reduced to half. Add remaining ½ can of beef broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling turn off the stove.
7. Combine the bread crumbs, garlic, thyme, mint and zest in a mixing bowl.
8. Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar to bread crumb mixture and let sit for 5 minutes before dressing lamb.
9. Preheat over at 350°F.
10. Spray lamb racks with Olive Oil or PAM spray. Dress lamb with bread crumb mixture to cover meat. Place additional bread crumb mixture in pan to bake until crispy.
11. Place lamb in 350°F oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, rotate baking pans and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
12. Remove from oven and let lamb rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Co Mai's Soy-Sauce Baked Tofu

Prep time: 20 minutes (+ 6 hours inactive prep time)
Cook time: 3 hours

YOU WILL NEED:

• Baking pan
• Saran wrap

INGREDIENTS:

• Medium firm or firm tofu
• 2/3 cup light sodium soy sauce
• 2/3 cup cooking oil (olive oil is best)
• 1 dash of five star powder
• 1 tsp seasoning mushroom
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

STEPS:

1. Blanch tofu for 1 minute and drain. (Blanching = plunge into boiling water, remove after a short time interval, and plunge into iced water or placed under cold running water to halt the cooking process)
2. Slice and layer on bottom of baking pan.
3. Mix soy sauce, oil, five star, mushroom, water, and pepper.
4. Pour water mixture over the tofu and allow it to soak at least 6 hours in the fridge. Cover it with saran wrap. The longer you allow it to soak, the better. Make sure the tofu is submerged or keep basting.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the tofu until all the liquid has evaporated. Keep flipping the tofu so that it does not harden or yellow. Make sure both sides are even. (about 3 hours)