I picked up some pointers last night from Celebrity chef Eden Grinshpan, just in time for the holidays. The host of the Cooking Channel’s Eden Eats, gave the traditional Thanksgiving dinner a Mediterranean-style makeover.
A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in London, Grinshpan delighted the crowd by taking all the usual suspects—
soup, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and turkey—
and elevating them to a whole new, mouth-watering level using a host of fresh ingredients.
Eden’s holiday meal makeover included a Curried Carrot and Lentil Soup; Mediterranean Turkey with paprika, cumin, and chicken stock; Pita Bread Stuffing with fennel, onions, red bell peppers, and garlic;
and Sweet Potatoes with Chimichurri Sauce. How’s that for adding a unique and tasty twist on a traditional holiday classic?!
I have always been a road less traveled kind of person, even in the kitchen. It’s fun taking cooking detours.
I love and totally relate to Eden veering off the traditional path just a bit, especially during the holidays, in favor of, or in this case, in flavor of something unexpectedly exquisite. What better time to celebrate all things unconventional in holiday cooking.
How about you?
Are you a by-the-book traditionalist when preparing your holiday meals or do you like to change things up a bit, surprising family and friends with a little something unexpected?
At the very least, perhaps I’ve given you some food for thought.
You can find Eden’s recipes at Cookmore.com.
