In terms of Food Network chefs, I wish I cooked like Ina, had the business mind of Bobby, and looked like Giada.
Well heck, I actually just wish I was Ina. Does anyone disagree? I am not biased or snobby about Food Network chefs at all. I have been known to legitimately sit down, undistracted in front of my TV, and watch full marathons of The Pioneer Women. In fact, I will cross the line and delve into the extremely unpopular opinion of actually enjoying Guy Fieri. Go ahead, lock me up in a jail cell with Guy and Nickleback. I'll own it. My love of Ree Drummond will be saved for another post.
The one area where I draw the line is when washed up ex celebs decide to try their hand at cooking on TV. I'm talking about you Trisha Yearwood, Valerie Bertinelli and everyone's favorite 90's heart throb Kelly Kapowsi. There also is another realm of wives of famous men who dabble in cooking. Cough Alisha Curry, cough Chrissy Teighan. I know, I know. I'm literally staring at Chrissy's cookbook on my shelf because I too am a victim of product marketing. I'm sure all listed above are decent humans, but I struggle to hop on board with some of their recipes because they seem just a bit forced. However as we approach a new season, I decided to "look inward" and analyze why I scoff at d-list celebrities cooking. Have I fallen into an Anthony Bourdain mindset of thinking my food is just too good? Have I forgotten my roots? Thirty Minute Meals with Rachel Ray was the soundtrack of my high school years, sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. These ex-celeb cooks aren't a disgrace, they represent the beauty of cooking. Anyone can cook. Even someone who spent their life having personal assistants wait on their hands and feet.
The one area where I draw the line is when washed up ex celebs decide to try their hand at cooking on TV. I'm talking about you Trisha Yearwood, Valerie Bertinelli and everyone's favorite 90's heart throb Kelly Kapowsi. There also is another realm of wives of famous men who dabble in cooking. Cough Alisha Curry, cough Chrissy Teighan. I know, I know. I'm literally staring at Chrissy's cookbook on my shelf because I too am a victim of product marketing. I'm sure all listed above are decent humans, but I struggle to hop on board with some of their recipes because they seem just a bit forced. However as we approach a new season, I decided to "look inward" and analyze why I scoff at d-list celebrities cooking. Have I fallen into an Anthony Bourdain mindset of thinking my food is just too good? Have I forgotten my roots? Thirty Minute Meals with Rachel Ray was the soundtrack of my high school years, sitting at the kitchen table doing homework. These ex-celeb cooks aren't a disgrace, they represent the beauty of cooking. Anyone can cook. Even someone who spent their life having personal assistants wait on their hands and feet.
Today's post is inspired by the Valerie Bertinellis of the world. Not only is this recipe quick, a la Rachel Ray, but it's inexpensive, easy, healthy, and actually tasty. Most of the time, I find myself trying to beef up recipes and over complicate them. Not today. We are setting aside the beef and working with turkey.
Let's talk meatballs. Yes, if I'm cooking meatballs and sauce, beef is a necessity but I have been majorly in love with baking meatballs made from ground chicken or ground turkey during the week. You can tweak seasonings to make them any flavor you want, and best of all, they only need to bake for 20 minutes or so. Today I wanted to make a greek style meatball, which (thanks to the relevant ingredients in my fridge) turned into full out greek gyros. I know turkey isn't the first thing you think of when you think of gyros, but like our Food Network fellow ladies, we aren't being authentic, we are just making food that tastes good.
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1 tsp oregano
1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
zest of one lemon
1 clove garlic minced
salt and pepper
Gyros
4 pieces pita bread
sliced cucumber
kalamata olives
sliced red onion
feta cheese
tzatziki
hummus
french fries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Combine meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix together with your hands until everything is combined. Roll the mixture into 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Bake meatballs for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove and place in pita with desired toppings.
Ingredients:
Meatballs:
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1 tsp oregano
1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
zest of one lemon
1 clove garlic minced
salt and pepper
Gyros
4 pieces pita bread
sliced cucumber
kalamata olives
sliced red onion
feta cheese
tzatziki
hummus
french fries
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Combine meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix together with your hands until everything is combined. Roll the mixture into 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Bake meatballs for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove and place in pita with desired toppings.
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