I believe my favorite kind of cooking goes like this: "Hmm ... let me see what I've got. What can I make out of what's in the pantry?" Somehow it comes together and it's usually pretty good, but of course I never can make it exactly the same a second time, even if I could remember it. It does meet some sort of creative need though, and I find cooking like this so relaxing!
For instance, the other day I had just about 2/3 a cup of cooked brown rice. Not quite enough but I didn't want to take the time to cook more. Could I put in some things to stretch it? I looked around the pantry and frig ... I'm on a clean-out-what-I-have campaign anyway. This is what I found: 1/2 of an onion, a can of black beans, a can of artichokes and a red pepper. I chopped and stir fried the onion and pepper with olive oil, garlic and curry. Then added the rice, chopped artichokes and black beans. It may not look so pretty, but I must say it was delicious and could have been a meal just in itself.
Our cooking styles are so similar, Dotsie. LOL! My only claim to fame (among my family) is the ability to make something out of almost nothing. LOL. I would LOVE this dish. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteComing up with my own recipe is NOT something I am good at! This, however, looks delish!
ReplyDeleteSome of my best dishes have come from what's at hand. Every time I do one, I say to myself "write it down". I don't. It's never quite the same. You should have written this one down!!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Sounds and looks delicious, Dotsie. Some of my best dishes have been created with whatever I find in the fridge combining it with something from the pantry. I am happy to say that my husband does like leftovers in any form!
ReplyDeleteOh, Podso, you sound like hubby, when he cooks he thinks of what's in the fridge...I think is the correct way to do it, too! I love your dish, it sure looks yummy! I will try it soon! Hugs, FABBY
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding? This is how we cook around here all the time - never the same thing twice - just variations depending upon what is at hand. Although, my daughter - something of a gourmet - is more apt to stick to a recipe. But, once she gets the basics under her belt, she's game for experimentation. She's doing dinner tonight, as a matter of fact - a concoction of her own - and making me my own gluten free serving. Love my girl!
ReplyDeleteJoy!
Kathy
Interesting combination, especially with the curry, which I love. Black beans are a staple around here. Thankfully we can find them in the store again. Just give me a bit of brown rice with some black beans, chopped onions and tomatoes, a spoon of salsa, a dab of sour cream and I feel like I am having an ice cream sundae. Yum! Hope you are having a great day. Tammy
ReplyDeleteIt looks very yummy. I am that kind of cook also.
ReplyDeleteSmiles,Dottie
This is my kind of meal too. I love just throwing things together and so far it has always lead to something tasty.
ReplyDeleteDotsie, it looks delicious. So much better than throwing it in the garbage! Have a great day! Pamela
ReplyDeletePodso,
ReplyDeleteOh! this is so wonderful...
When our boys were young and I'd worked a 8 ~ 10 hour shift teaching and watching others children, I'd rush home and do the same thing. The boys would never fail to ask,"Can we have this again"? Answer was always, "Nope"!
I couldn't remember WHAT I had thrown into the blend! HA! Thanks for posting this...too cute!
I appreciate your sweeet comment and visit today!
Fondly,
Pat
This looks great! I do this too, now and then. Add a little of this and that.
ReplyDeleteLol...I cook the same way. After the first year of marriage my husband was so frustrated. I never served the same meal twice. He was use to same 12 meals or so over and over again from his mom =)
ReplyDeleteThat's how I love to cook too. This evening it was a container of frozen soup - I heated it up with last night's leftover boiled potatoes and a nice piece of salmon cut up. It was delicious, and fast.
ReplyDeleteOh, it looks pretty to me! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to thank you for your sweet comment over at my blog. You are so right! When I look in the mirror, I can see my Mom's eyes - and I see her in the pink clouds, and have a little smile on my face when I think of her.
Have a wonderful day, Dotsie!
Hugs,
Zuzu
I cook like this a lot! Totally recipe free, just a free style "use up what I have on hand" kind of cooking and it often tastes great! Your meal was full of very healthy ingredients..yum!
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