Gyros

Note: This blog was written back in early Feb I believe.  With my mom being sick I am just sending it live tonight.


Hello friends!  Thank you for hanging out until my entrance back into the foodie world.  Life has had some pretty worrisome events taking place, but I think we are on the upswing and I miss the kitchen, I miss my foodie friends and it is great to be back!

Before I left town on an emergency 3 days ago, I had bought all the ingredients to make our own gyro meat.  My husband has been asking for quite some time and I just haven't researched it enough.  Well, I have had plenty of all-nighters lately so I did some research.  Everyone has an ingredient they say you can't be without.  I kind of took what I thought was imperative from each of them and just went for it.  My husband is asleep and he has no idea we are having it for dinner.  I hope it is spot on and I won't be retesting it tomorrow, but if you are seeing this, I likely hit a home run!

Ground lamb is not hard to find in any of my grocery stores.  If necessary you can buy some boneless lamb chops and have them ground by your butcher.  Just ask if you don't see it prepackaged. 

1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground lamb
3 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. garlic powder
3 tsp. onion powder
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Combine all ingredients in a food processor.  You want this mixture to become almost like a dough.  If you don't have a food processor, use a hand or stand mixer and mix for 2-3 minutes.  If you have your hands, use those!  Now, excuse my honesty, but, the look of this mixture isn't going to be appetizing.  I have never been accused of not being truthful, so I am just laying it out there.  Be prepared.

Dump out on to a sprayed or lined baking pan. With wet hands form into a loaf shape.  Don't look at it, just do it.  HA!  If you want to use a loaf pan, go for it, otherwise let's get our "free form" on!

Place into the oven for 45-55 minutes.  Remove baking dish.  Carefully flip the loaf of gyro meat out, so that the bottom is now the top.  Place back into the oven for 10-15 minutes.  Our goal is to brown up all sides, just like it would be on a spit.

Remove and let cool 5 minutes.  My husband used this "retro" electric knife.  Retro is my way of saying my husband found it at a thrift store for 99 cents and it appears it has never even been used!  My husband is slightly obsessed with the electric knife at the moment.  Slice as thin or thick, but more thin, as you like.  Place on your warmed pita bread, top with any toppings you normally like.  We enjoy lettuce and tomato.

While I don't groove on tzatziki sauce, I do make an alternate sauce that I love!

1 cup sour cream
4-5 inches of a peeled and seeded cucumber
1/2 tsp dill seed (feel free to pulverize it in a spice grinder)

Mix together and chill until ready to use!

ENJOY!