Page 4A
East Oregonian
EASTERN OREGON MARKETPLACE
Tuesday, March, 20, 2018
FAMILY FEATURES
T
his Easter holiday, hop into a new tradition and
swap your classic ham for savory lamb.
Cooking lamb can be easier than many might think,
especially when using a pressure cooker. You can
combine aromatic herbs with white wine for a juicy leg
of lamb in under an hour. Or try baking a rack of lamb
crusted with a quinoa-hazelnut combination and topped
with a mint pesto.
For a perfect, set-and-forget side, try slow cooker
carrots, sprinkled with dill weed and lemon extract
for a delightful spring dish. End the meal with festive
cupcakes modeled after the Easter bunny, which can
satisfy the sweet tooth of guests of all ages.
Find more Easter recipes at McCormick.com and find
McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.
Bunny Butt Cupcakes
Recipe courtesy of Amanda Rettke of “I am baker”
Prep time: 45 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 24
1 2-layer size white cake mix
1 tablespoon, plus 2 teaspoons, McCormick
Pure Lemon
Extract, divided
1 tablespoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
2 sticks butter, softened
16 ounces confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
10 drops McCormick Green Food Color
1-2 drops McCormick Red Food Color
12 large marshmallows, halved crosswise
3 tablespoons white nonpareil sprinkles
Prepare cake mix as directed on package, adding
1 tablespoon lemon extract and vanilla. Spoon 3
tablespoons batter into 24 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake
as directed on package for cupcakes. Cool cupcakes on
wire rack.
To make bunny feet: In medium, microwave-safe
bowl, microwave white chocolate chips on high 30
seconds. Stir until completely melted and smooth.
Spoon into pastry bag or re-sealable plastic bag. Snip
small corner from bag. Pipe 24 pairs of bunny feet
onto parchment or wax paper-lined cookie sheet.
Use toothpick to smooth out bumps or rough edges,
and gently tap cookie sheet on counter to help settle.
Allow to harden 2 minutes in freezer or 15 minutes in
refrigerator.
To make frosting: In large bowl, beat butter
and remaining lemon extract until light and fluffy.
Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating well after
each addition and scraping sides and bottom of bowl
frequently. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Remove
half the frosting and place in medium bowl. Add green
food color; mix until evenly blended. Spoon into pastry
bag fitted with grass decorating tip. Set aside. Remove
half the remaining frosting into small bowl. Add red
food color; mix until light pink. Spoon into another
pastry bag.
Using pink frosting, pipe three toes and padding on
each bunny foot. Once frosting has set (about 1 hour)
gently press down on pink frosting to create smoother
look.
To assemble cupcakes: Pipe green frosting onto each
cupcake in series of short motions to create individual
grass spots. Cover top of each cupcake completely.
To make bunny butts: Place cut sides of
marshmallow halves onto each frosted cupcake, leaving
room for bunny feet. Shape remaining white frosting
into dime-sized balls then roll with white sprinkles
to cover. Pipe small drop of remaining pink or white
frosting onto top of each marshmallow. Press bunny tail
on top.
Place both bunny feet against base of marshmallow
with toes facing down.
Bunny Butt Cupcakes
Lemon Dill Slow Cooker Carrots
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 3-4 hours
Servings: 6
Nonstick cooking spray
2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into
1/2-1-inch chunks
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons McCormick Dill Weed
2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Lemon Extract
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Spray inside of 4-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking
spray. Add carrots, water and salt; toss to coat. Cover.
Cook on high 3-4 hours, or until tender.
In small bowl, mix olive oil, dill weed, lemon extract,
Dijon mustard and vinegar. Stir into cooked carrots in
slow cooker before serving.
Lemon Dill Slow Cooker Carrots
Rack of Lamb with
Quinoa-Hazelnut
Crust and Mint Pesto
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6
2 tablespoons red quinoa
2 tablespoons white
quinoa
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon,
finely chopped
toasted hazelnuts,
divided
2 racks of lamb, about
1 pound each
3 tablespoons olive oil,
divided
1 1/8 teaspoons McCormick
Gourmet Sicilian Sea
Salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon McCormick
Gourmet Organic
Black Pepper
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons
McCormick
Gourmet Organic
Mint
1/8 teaspoon McCormick
Gourmet Organic
Garlic Powder
1 cup plain Greek
yogurt
Rinse quinoa; drain well. In
small saucepan over medium-
high heat, bring quinoa and
water to boil. Reduce heat
to low; cover and simmer
13 minutes, or until liquid is
absorbed, stirring occasionally.
Spread cooked quinoa on baking
sheet to cool. Stir in 1/4 cup
hazelnuts. Set aside.
Heat oven to 450 F. Brush
racks of lamb lightly with 1
teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with 1
teaspoon sea salt and pepper.
Coat lamb with quinoa mixture,
pressing firmly to adhere. Place
lamb on roasting rack in foil-
lined, shallow roasting pan.
Drizzle with 2 teaspoons oil.
Roast 20-25 minutes, or until
desired doneness.
To make Mint Pesto: In
small bowl, mix remaining oil,
remaining hazelnuts, lemon
juice, mint, garlic powder and
remaining sea salt until well
blended. Stir 1 teaspoon pesto
into yogurt.
To serve: Carve lamb into
chops. Drizzle with remaining
pesto. Serve with yogurt sauce.
Electric Pressure
Cooker Lamb
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 48 minutes
Servings: 12
1 tablespoon McCormick
Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon McCormick
crushed Rosemary
Leaves
2 teaspoons McCormick
Sea Salt
1 teaspoon McCormick
Thyme Leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground
McCormick Black
Pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable
oil
1 semi-boneless leg of
lamb (about 4
pounds)
1 cup Kitchen Basics
Original Chicken
Stock
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 medium carrots, peeled
and cut into 2-inch
chunks
1 medium yellow onion,
cut into wedges
Rack of Lamb with Quinoa-Hazelnut Crust and Mint Pesto
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
In small bowl, mix garlic powder,
rosemary, sea salt, thyme and
black pepper. Set aside.
In electric pressure cooker,
heat oil on saute setting until
simmering. Sprinkle half the
seasoning mixture evenly over
lamb. Place lamb in pressure
cooker. Cook 8-10 minutes,
or until browned on all sides,
turning occasionally. Add stock,
wine and remaining seasoning
mixture to pressure cooker.
Arrange carrots and onion
around lamb. Close lid.
Cook 25 minutes on high
pressure. Once complete, allow
pressure to release naturally with
vent closed 15 minutes. Vent
to release remaining pressure;
remove lid. Remove lamb and
vegetables from pressure cooker;
set aside and keep warm.
Set pressure cooker to saute.
Cook, uncovered, until liquid
is reduced by about half, about
5-10 minutes. In small bowl, mix
water and cornstarch. Stir into
pressure cooker with wire whisk.
Cook, stirring occasionally, 1-2
minutes, or until thickened. Serve
lamb and vegetables with gravy.