August 13: Lamb Patties

Tonight, my wife and I enjoyed our first "date night" of the Summer. Luckily, it wasn't anything at all like the last one Steve Carell and Tina Fey went on, but, unfortunately, it wasn't nearly as exciting either. Let me clarify, going on a date with my wife is always a fun and enriching experience no matter what we do, it's just that tonight's date night was all about needs. And, as luck would have it, we needs to do some grocery shopping. So, there we were, two sweethearts enjoying each other's company and mixing in good conversation on our romantic strolls through Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Ahh, it was just like the days back when we were dating...minus the grocery stores, shopping lists, and kids back at home, of course. Anyway, in Whole Foods, near their seafood/meat counters, they had set up a "sample station" - those little booths where they give out free samples. This one happened to have a lamb focus. Now, I don't know how many of you like lamb. My wife loves it; specifically rack of lamb. I, for one, believe it has a very distinct taste and you either love that taste or loathe it. I'm still not sure where I stand on that one. This "station" did have rack of lamb, but it also had samples of Atkins Ranch frozen lamb patties. Yup, lamb meat, ground and molded into burger-like patties. So, we tried it. Not bad, I must say. In fact, it bordered on tasty. Of course, we eventually took the bait and grabbed a box to take home for one of those evenings when we can't quite plan out what to have for dinner, so we inevitably whip up some mac and cheese for the kids, but usually are left scrounging about for something for ourselves. If you have kids, you know exactly the evening I'm talking about.