Comments on: Cutting Kitchen Waste and Sparking Creativity

By: Festival of Frugality #226 – Earth Week 2010 Edition @ Beating Broke

Festival of Frugality #226 – Earth Week 2010 Edition @ Beating Broke — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:05:19 +0000

[...] Home Ec101 is Cutting Kitchen Waste and sparking creativity. [...]

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:27:03 +0000

I just made a version of your pasta dish, above. It was pretty good–thanks! My husband liked it, and I consider him to be kind of particular. My son liked it too.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:05:47 +0000

We have regular refrigerator and a full size upright freezer. They are full of food. Lot of times, I end up throwing out lot of food because we didn't know they were in there. We tend to forget about them when we can't see them. We'll have to figure out what to make from the inventory one of these days. My recent post Crosley CD Recorder

By: ThatBobbieGirl

ThatBobbieGirl — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:03:49 +0000

This is actually how I cook most of the time — make stuff up with what I have on hand. Eventualy I started trying to record what I did either as I did or shortly thereafter, in case everyone was like, "WOW, MAKE THIS AGAIN!" so that I actually could make it again.

Of course, I've downloaded a few hundred cookbooks into my brain, which means I'm full up on ideas. I read cookbooks and cooking websites instead of novels. Recipes are like short stories to me
My recent post The Potty Police? You'll be relieved to know they're on the job

By: JimK

JimK — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:01:50 +0000

Wool is good roughage!
My recent post stark23x: Don't matter how many times I see it, the Radio Shack commercial with @lancearmstrong makes no sense. Fire that agency, @the_shack

By: Jackie

Jackie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:00:09 +0000

We call these what's in the kitchen days. We had one last night as a matter of fact, and the night before that if I'm being truthful! My favorite is chicken sauteed in a pan, add onion and garlic and a can of diced tomatoes. Add some italian seasoning and simmer. YUM. You can cook up some pasta too and put the chicken mixture on top of the pasta. My recent post What’s in the Kitchen? Ham.

By: strivingbean

strivingbean — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:39:14 +0000

Yeah for Bean Burgers! Good job on your pantry creativity.
My recent post Runner’s Salad

By: strivingbean

strivingbean — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:39:14 +0000

Yeah for Bean Burgers! Good job on your pantry creativity.
My recent post Runner’s Salad

By: caroline

caroline — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:54:18 +0000

There is some dish my mom makes where you end up with purple chicken. No clue what it is but I know I like it.

By: CG Jenny

CG Jenny — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:45:49 +0000

I wanted something with a Mexican flavor last night but didn't have the time or stuff for some of my usual recipes.

Between the fridge and pantry, this is what I came up with:
1# meaty but tough trimmings (raw)
1 lg. can red enchilada sauce
2 lg. cans pintos
tortillas
cilantro
cheddar

I cut the meat into 1/2"x1" pieces and threw them into the dutch oven. Poured the sauce on top and brought to a slow simmer and let it simmer for about 3 hours (while I did a bunch of other stuff).
When the meat was tender, I added the drained beans and let it simmer for another while (maybe 20 min.)
I drained off (and saved for another use) most of the sauce and we used the meat/bean mixture for Chili Colorado-ish burritos. It was as good as some of the traditional Mexican foods I have slaved over all day (almost as good as homemade tamales!).

I will do this again and use it various ways. I can make burritos again or I can leave the sauce in and ladle it over tortilla chips and top with cheese, and whatever for some super nachos deluxe or in a layered enchilada casserole.

What I loved about it was that it practically cooked itself; no real measuring or 13 different herbs and spices to get out, no chopping of onions, garlic and chilies… just cut up the meat (or not if you are really pressed for time), no browning, just dump a can on top and let it cook.