Maine is another one of those states that just refuses to invest in their athletic programs. We're sure they have the talented and willing youth, but for some reason, Maine continues to be a lackluster region for producing pro-level athletes. However, the Pine Tree State has provided the NFL with the likes of defensive linemen, Al Harris. While born in Bangor, Maine, he attended high school in Hawaii and played his collegiate ball at Arizona State University. After earning Consensus First-Team All-American honors during his senior year in 1978, Harris declared himself for the NFL Draft.
The following year, Harris was selected 9th overall in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and became an instant impact player. Quick off the line, light on his feet, and able to read the offensive sets of opposing teams, coaches were forced to recognize his presence on the field. Unfortunately, for Harris, the one year he decided to holdout and not play due to a contract dispute, the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl in 1985. Harris ended his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1990 notching a total of 20.5 sacks and four interceptions in twelve seasons.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.