Put down that bottle of Mint Jelly… those lamb chops are screaming for something much sexier: Mint Chimichurri.

C’mon, you know what chimichurri is, right? It’s that tangy, garlic-infused parsley-based sauce-like condiment that is a must-have on every table in Argentina. For a split second a few years back, chimichurri was the darling of every chef and on every menu in every restaurant everywhere.

Okay, I’m exaggerating a little. But, I’ve just made standard chimichurri a bit more interesting by substituting fresh mint for the parsley to create an easy to make Mint Chimichurri. The mint brings a sunny, spring-like freshness to this sauce while still keeping the heat. And, yes, it IS gluten-free!

Double this Easy Mint Chimichurri recipe because, once you taste it, you’re going to want to slather it on everything from scrambled eggs, to hamburgers to roasted asparagus!

And if you need help with the lamb chops, here’s my recipe for Roasted Rack of Lamb.

       Print this recipe.    

How do you like your steak… still mooing or like a piece of shoe leather?

At this time of year there are plenty of strange (and strangely wonderful) gadgets to boost your grilling mojo. Here’s one I really like: The SteakChamp.

The German-made SteakChamp is a high-precision steak thermometer that will help you cook your steak exactly the way you want it, either on the grill, in the oven or in a pan on the stove. The stainless steel probes come in four models to suit your temperature preference (rare, medium rare, medium and medium well), and are tuned to USDA temperatures guidelines.

But before I continue, may I digress a moment? The word “probe” has always bugged me. It reminds me of aliens, or something like that. Okay… back to the best tool for grilling the perfect steak, the SteakChamp.

Here’s how it works:

1. Remove your meat from the fridge about half an hour before cooking. The meat should be at least 1½-inches thick.
2. Select the SteakChamp probe (there’s that word again) for the level of doneness you want (rare, medium rare, etc.). Insert the SteakChamp into the center of the meat sideways, until it is completely inside the meat and only the end of the SteakChamp protrudes.
3. Sear both sides of the meat on high heat for 2 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to medium. When the SteakChamp begins to double flash, remove the meat from the heat. Let the meat rest until the double flashing signal stops. Remove the SteakChamp and serve your perfect steak.

This is a great video to show you exactly how the SteakChamp works on a grill:

Visit the SteakChamp website to see how this gadget works on top of the stove and in the oven. You can find it at Sur la Table.  Follow the directions and you’ll be grilling like a champ all summer!

Here’s how you buy a little more kitchen real estate without blowing out a wall: Dexas’ Over-The-Sink Strainer Grippboard®. This 22-inch durable cutting board has non-slip handles that grip the surface to keep the board securely in place over your sink. This means you’ve instantly got almost 2-feet of additional counter space to slice, dice, mince and chop that you didn’t have before.

Dexas’ Over-The-Sink Strainer Grippboard® has a removable silicone strainer basket makes it even more convenient to wash and strain fresh fruits and veggies. And it expands to a 2½-quart capacity so you drain hot pasta or vegetables. The board is made of non-porous and odor-resisting poly board, so it won’t dull your knives (I loathe dull knives!).

And when you’re finished… it folds flat for storage. How’s that for efficiency?

Click here to order, or find them at Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate & Barrel, The Container Store, Williams-Sonoma, Macy’s Dillard’s and Sur la Table! Check out Dexas’ website.  They design some pretty cool kitchen tools and gadgets as well as specialty products that will really stimulate your culinary creativity (as well as help you eat healthier!). Oh… and they’ve got some pretty great pet products, too!