So many things went wrong with just trying to place an order - discounts that disappeared at…read morecheckout, exorbitant shipping costs, etc., but finally I was able to place an order where I spent so much money, that I got "free" shipping. At those prices, free shipping is a bit of an oxymoron.
First, I cooked the rack of lamb. When I cut into it, to serve the chops, they were PERFECT. Just the way my family likes. Seared on the outside, red on the inside. I had a little "off" stomach that night, so I just had a bowl of soup, thus I never tasted them.
I don't need to "fish" for compliments. I've been written up in a major newspaper as a "great home cook." I know I'm a good cook, but I am accustomed to at least someone saying "this is really good." If I flub a bit, I'll be the FIRST to say, "thanks, but it could be better," or similar.
There was only silence around the table. Really? I finally asked, and the response was, "it's okay. There's nothing wrong, but there's really no flavor." Yikes.
I'm the only one in the family who eats steak, so the next night, I cooked the PRIME ribeye. For my taste, no steak can match a prime ribeye, for flavor and for texture..A quick sear on both sides in a hot cast iron pan, and into a hot oven for 3 -4 minutes, and I know I'm in heaven. You needed a SAW to cut that meat, that's how tough it was. That steak was no more USDA prime than a Jack-in-the-Box burger. I had two bites, and threw it into the trash. That steak wasn't even choice. It was probably standard.
Finally, I defrosted a 3-pound ribeye, so I could cut a thick steak - same process of sear and finish in the oven. Same result. No flavor, and tough.
I threw in the towel on the rest of my order, and gave the lamb shanks to my neighbor. My experience tells me that PT Barnum was right. Lesson learned.