TALLGRASS KITCHEN

Shortcut 'gyros' leave time for picture-worthy fun

Tallgrass Kitchen

Anna Thomas Bates
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

While scrolling through a Facebook newsfeed of dismal news events, apple-cheeked children romping on the best vacation ever and photos of glorious sunrises from people who get up way earlier than I, one post caught my eye. It was from a high school friend, the caption was “Sunday” and the photo was a truly enormous pile of laundry.

As I admired this pile of dirty clothes, probably the height of a first-grader, I felt my shoulders relax. It’s not just me.

Facebook, and frankly everyday conversation with people, leads you to believe that everyone is on top of this stuff. That everyone’s closets are clean, laundry is neatly folded and kitchen surfaces are clear and uncluttered. And in addition to these miraculous housekeeping feats, they are also working out on the regular, cooking roast chickens and enjoying blissful family time on the beach, probably at sunrise.

The reality is, if they spent Saturday at the lake, their hampers are likely overflowing. If they spend hours working out each week, those are hours not spent refinishing the deck.

Time is limited, and we all choose to spend ours differently. But it doesn’t hurt to let people know that amidst all of the picture-worthy moments, there is some clutter.

My husband loves gyros. Once I Googled how to make them at home. Serious Eats had a comprehensive article on the topic. While I love editor J. Kenji Lopez Alt, I didn’t even feel like I had time to read the entire method, let alone actually attempt it. But I can make flank steak, which is done in less than 20 minutes.

Beef marinated in gyro-spices is not a replacement for the super tender foil-wrapped gyro experience that my husband cherishes, but it’s a pleasant nod to it. The spices are fragrant and warm, a perfect contrast to pillow-y pita and cool, garlicky tzatziki.

Spend your time any way you see fit, and don’t hesitate to share the gorgeous and the ridiculous, the picture-perfect moments and the ones that wouldn’t make the cover of Good Housekeeping. Your friends and family appreciate it all.

RECIPE:Gyro-spiced Flank Steak

Anna Thomas Bates is a mother and writer living in southern Wisconsin. Email her at tallgrasskitchen@gmail.com.