To be honest, I am not really a romantic, light hearted plot type of girl. I really enjoy things a bit more sinister. However, I really loved this book! Blessed are the Cheesemakers by Sarah Kate Lynch was a great read from start to finish. Truth be told, I cried a little at the end! The novel centers around Abby and Kit, two people that happen to converge on the dairy farm of Joseph Fee and Joseph Corrigan just as the two are looking for a new cheese maker. Surrounded by a group of quirky but lovable characters Abby and Kit attempt to mend their broken lives and start over. This book is definitely worth checking out and cooking along with. There is of course the obvious mentioned food-cheese, (which will be a featured post a little later), but also various other treats like “Bone-Bone Chicken”, Avis’ raisin bread and a delicious sounding beef roast that Fee prepares.
Fee’s roast is the focus of today’s post. I knew when I read the ingredients that this was something I had to try. I am habitually taken in by simple recipes, and this one doesn’t get any simpler!
“”That’s right,” said Fee again, bashing thyme, garlic and lemon rind together with olive oil using an ancient mortar and pestle.”-Lynch
Just like in Lynch’s novel, I gathered the basic ingredients listed and combined them with the lemon zest and olive oil and bashed. I didn’t have a mortar and pestle (it’s on my wish list though!) so I used a measuring cup and a spoon.
It became a very delicious smelling paste so I smeared it all over the beef roast. I cut up some potatoes (white and sweet)and an onion to cook with it. I also cut up the lemon that I had zested for the paste and threw that in there as well.
After spending some time in the oven; magic happened! My house smelled amazing, the meat came out tasting exceptional and the potatoes etc. were a delicious, roasted, bunch of amazingness! I would have posted a picture of the finished product but we started eating it immediately out of the oven! Overall, I can’t say that this dish had a hand in the fates of our beloved characters in Blessed Are the Cheesemakers but it did bring a lot of joy into my house the night I made it! Enjoy!
Fee Corrigan’s Roast:
Lemon Zest of One Lemon
1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1Tbsp Thyme
1Tbsp Olive Oil
2-3 pound Roast
- Mix first 4 ingredients together to form a paste.
- Spread paste on top of Roast
- Add any potatoes, carrots, onions to dish if desired, throw in the rest of the lemon too!
- Roast at 375 degrees for about an hour.
