American Lamb Love Is In The Air This February

DENVER, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- February is National Lamb Lovers Month, and in celebration, the American Lamb Board is calling all fans of lamb to show some love – and shoot some photos. 

Starting February 1, fans of lamb are invited to enter the Lamb Lovers Month Photo Contest. Entrants should visit lambloversmonth.com and click the link to enter the contest. They'll then post a lambspotting photo of an American lamb dish at a restaurant, themselves purchasing American lamb at a butcher shop or retailer, or an American lamb dish cooked at home. All photo entries must be submitted with an explanation and a complete questionnaire (located on the Facebook page). Entrants can increase their chances of winning by sharing the contest on Facebook, submitting multiple pictures (up to three), and tweeting about the contest using the #lamblovers hashtag. The lamb lover who submits a lambspotting photo that best showcases American Lamb during Lamb Lovers Month will be eligible to win a year membership to the Lamb Lovers Month Club., which includes lamb once a month and $100 Ingredients gift card to cook a monthly romantic meal for your loved one. A winner will be contacted by March 4, 2013.

For those lamb lovers looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen, here's an ideal recipe to showcase your love this February:

American Lamb Chops with Chipotle Cherry Sauce

2 servings
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

2  American Lamb chops (loin, rib, sirloin or shoulder)
2  tablespoons red onion, minced
1-1/2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup ruby red port*
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon chipotle peppers in adobo, canned, drained, minced

Salt, to taste

In a medium-sized saucepan, over medium heat, cook onion in butter for about 2 minutes.  Add port and stir; simmer until liquid is reduced by 1/3.  Stir in dried cherries, chicken stock, honey and thyme; simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.  Thicken sauce by mixing 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water and whisking into simmering mixture.  Add chipotle peppers and salt.

Cook times will vary depending on thickness of chops.  For 1-inch chops, broil, grill or pan-fry chops over medium heat for approximately 4 to 6 minutes per side or until desired doneness.  Spoon warmed sauce over chops. 

*1/4 cup of alcohol-free red cooking wine and 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar may be substituted.

In addition to the contest, the American Lamb Board is celebrating the month of February with a blogger recipe contest, the Boston Lamb Jam and a number of new recipes fantastic for sharing with loved ones. For more information on events and activities, and for new recipes, please visit www.lambloversmonth.com.

For more information about the American Lamb Board, visit www.lambloversmonth.com, become a fan on Facebook and follow @FANofLAMB on Twitter.

About the American Lamb Board

The American Lamb Board is an industry-funded research and promotions commodity board that represents all sectors of the American Lamb industry including producers, feeders, seed stock producers and processors. The Board, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, is focused on increasing demand by promoting the freshness, flavor, nutritional benefits, and culinary versatility of American Lamb. The work of the American Lamb Board is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the board's programs are supported and implemented by the staff in Denver, Colorado.

For more information, please contact Chloe Mata Crane ([email protected]) or Laura Shunk ([email protected]) at Baltz & Company—212-982-8300

SOURCE The American Lamb Board