I was supposed to be in florida during the Nor'easter last week. Instead my flight was canceled at 5am and I was at home with no supplies. So I opened my fridge, looked in the cabinets and decided to clear house! I am determined this year to eat everything I buy and not let it sit and wait for the perfect time to cook or eat something. I am buying new things a lot lately and I tend to let them sit -- looking for a perfect recipe or time to cook... and then it expires or spoils. New Rule: I buy it. I eat it!
Last week's Nor'easter was the perfect time to try it all and just see what happens. First course: A not-so-successful smoothie (oy): remaining frozen kale, last of my dandelion greens, few chunks of frozen pineapple, small amount of almond milk, coconut... i'm just going to stop there and let you know that didn't work. The key I learned for my smoothies-- less is more!
Second course. That was a winner: Defrosted a whole wheat tortilla, put it in a small frying pan with a touch of extra virgin olive oil, dash salt and pepper and let it warm. Then I took out the last of the avocado and mashed it up, spreading it on top of the tortilla lightly letting it warm. Then added a nice dash of cayenne pepper and a splash of lemon juice. I took it out when the side of the tortilla started to turn golden brown. Then added some small amount of cilantro and dill. Rolled it up like a burrito, sat by the window and watched the snow fall :)
Last course! I made it early as the trees were starting to bend alarming close to the outside wires and I was sure I would lose power. Simple mashup: defrosted some roasted chicken (just the white meat pieces, my favorite). Chopped it into very small pieces. Put it in a medium sauce pan with again olive oil, dash of salt and pepper. In another pan slowly sautéed a nice chuck of white onion and a clove and a half of garlic (still on an onion and garlic craving since my surgeries - so wouldn't recommend that amount for everyone) with butter. I set a small pot of water to boil for pasta. I added fresh thyme (yum) to the chicken, slow warming it in the olive oil. Then looked in my fridge and saw remaining celery and wanted some kind of green I so pulled that out too. I cut the celery up into small pieces (it may be that I'm just over five feet that I like everything small!) and noticed I had a small amount of tomato paste left over. I decided I could use it up and figure out a tomato sauce of sorts. I added it to the onions and garlic then decided to add a 1/4 glass of water to make it more of a sauce. Once it was evening out, I added the the small pan ingredients to the chicken, covered it, kept it on llow and let it soak in some flavor.
Meanwhile, I had made some yummy red lentil pasta that cooked up easily and when it was done... voila! Snowstorm mashup.
