Food TV

We have officially entered into Let’s Talk Turkey Month on the Food Network. How can I tell you ask? Well besides the endless ad’s on the Network itself proclaiming it as such, every show I have watched in the last week has featured turkey. From Throwdown with Bobby Flay, who challenged a 20 year Butterball “call girl”, to Iron Chef America, where Too Hot Tamales challenged … Bobby Flay.

Thanksgiving is a Flay heavy time of year it seems to me. I like him and all, but good lord, his grinning mug was on virtually everything I saw. And Rachael … I loooooove Rachael, but good lord how many different thirty or maybe 60 minute Thanksgiving meals are there really? And are we going to see each and every one of them every single year?

I am really enjoying them though, even though I make fun. The Food Network All Star Thanksgiving Feast is always fun to watch, although I was disappointed at the absence of my favorite … say it with me now friends … Alton Brown!!! On the plus side we have the re-play of the very same Feast we have seen every year since 2005. I have seen people say that that particular feast was slightly awkward and weird, but you have to love Emeril hand feeding Paula Deen his Bruschetta… It was strange and slightly erotic in a really twisted kind of way. I love every minute of it.

I have been torturing my family with all of the random Good Eats episodes that have been on this month, featuring the things I will be serving in our home on Thanksgiving. Stuff It is a funny episode where Alton finally breaks down and admits that stuffing is perhaps, maybe, possibly, if done properly, not evil. And that is the stuffing I will be using for Thanksgiving, although not with mushrooms … cause Ick. Romancing the Bird features the finer points of brining the turkey, and The Bulb of the Night is humorous, as well as educational. Because who doesn’t love garlic, and we’ve all burned it, or overpowered a recipe at least once. Not anymore friends!!!

The new Iron Chef, Michael Symon, will be starring in an all new Thanksgiving Iron Chef America!!! Although, so far this week we have seen Battle Turkey, with Bobby Flay, and Battle Cranberry, which featured 2 Iron Chefs each competing with a special guest star. Giada DiLaurentiis and Rachael Ray guest starred in that episode, and it was an absolute BLAST!!! I am really looking forward to seeing Iron Chef Symon’s first battle, it should prove to be exciting!!!

OK, now I’m off to go to bed so that I can get up early and prepare this delicious recipe for my hubby in the morning!!!

Sweet Potato Waffles Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
See this recipe on air Tuesday Nov. 27 at 2:00 AM ET/PT.

Show: Good Eats
Episode: Potato, My Sweet

1 1/2 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 egg whites, at room temperature
1 cup milk
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
Vegetable spray, for waffle iron
Special equipment: steamer basket and waffle iron

Put cubed sweet potatoes in a steamer basket. Place the basket in a large pot of simmering water that is no closer than 2 inches from the bottom of steamer. Allow potatoes to steam for 20 minutes of until fork tender. Mash cooked potatoes and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

In another bowl combine the sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, butter, and grated orange rind. Stir the sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture and thoroughly combine. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold egg whites into batter 1/3 at a time. The batter will be thick. Using a No. 20 disher (scoop), place 2 scoops of batter onto a preheated, oiled waffle iron, and cook until lightly browned, about 5 to 6 minutes.