Creating Something from Nothing...So You Think

(image credit: Irene's Little Kitchen)

Have you ever been in the situation when you didn't know what you were going to cook?  Or have you ever not known how you were going to make a meal out of what you had in your pantry?  You think that for a moment you will have to create a meal basically out of nothing.  But, in reality, you take what you have and create one of the best comfort meals you have made in a long time.

I have been in this position many times and the meals always turn out fabulous.  When you are up against the wall you tend to be more creative and use a little more ingenuity when cooking.  It may not come out perfectly, but it still tasted great.  It's moments like this that can challenge us as cooks; whether amateurs, only at home cooks, or professionals.

So the next time your back is up against the wall don't give in and go out to eat.  Challenge yourself as a person and a cook.  Don't be lazy and do everything in the microwave.  Break out the pots and pans and whip up something magical that your family will never forget.

Berries & Spinach

In my last post I talked about green shakes and trying out new shake recipes.  Today I experimented with a flavor combination.  The shake consisted of coconut water, 1 cup of frozen berries, about 5 bite size carrots, spinach, a handful of mandarin oranges, and a splash of juice.  Originally the juice was not part of the recipe, but after tasting the shake once it was blended I decided it needed a little more flavor.  Well my husband decided so I added the juice.  This particular combination of flavors leaved a little something to be desired.  Since neither one of us really cares for coconut water I believe that is what threw it off for us.  There are some who may like this flavor combination so I do not want to discourage you from putting the ingredients in a blender and trying it first; it just wasn't for me.  But, you cannot say that you don't like something until you try it first.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

(Top Image Credit: http://www.thankgodimnatural.com/green-smoothie-recipe-spinach-coco-berry-smoothie/)

Green Shakes

Recently my husband has been on this kick to drink green shakes.  He got the idea from some college friends who were drinking them and each had their own recipes.  The original recipe that I made for my other half included spinach, broccoli, avocado, pineapple, and a splash of juice.  It was thick but somewhat tasty.

Since the first recipe (shown in the picture above) we have modified what goes in the shake.  Now the shake includes spinach, broccoli, mandarin oranges, and on occasion some pineapple.  This recipe is much more palatable and since it includes two vegetables, is healthy as well.  My husband has been after me to try the recipes because we are in the process of attempting to convert to a more healthy lifestyle; starting with what we cook and eat.  I am adamant about the fact that you can get the same nutritional value from eating these veggies cooked or in a salad.  However, in an effort to be more acceptable and accommodating I did a little Internet research and found some healthy shake recipes in different varieties that include spinach and some that do not.  Not all of them are green, but they all have good nutritional value and should be fun to try.  Once we start trying some of these new recipes I will update the readers with how they taste.

If you are a person who is looking to change up your diet and add something a little different then try a green shake.  If the concept or look of a green shake does not sit well with your psyche then do your own research and find a combination of ingredients that your taste buds are sure to enjoy.  Remember, in this case it is not just about the flavor that it brings to your mouth but it is about the nutrition it can give your body.

Spinach Experiment

There are many flavors and foods in the world.  Some of them you may like and some of them you may not.  But, it is always good to try something first before saying that you don't like it.  For example, I used to always say that I did not like spinach, but the kicker is that I never tried it.  That is something that went against everything my grandfather Willie Bryant taught me.

I am pleased to say that I have tried spinach and for the past year have been loving it.  I try to think of creative ways to fix it and include it with my dishes.  Pictured above is one of the dishes I recently fixed for myself and my husband.  There is a bed of white rice lightly seasoned with sea salt and Parmesan cheese.  Then it is topped off with Italian herb & cheese seasoned spinach surrounded by backed chicken tenders.  To top off the dish I added sliced tomatoes with real mozzarella cheese (it just happened to be on sale at Publix that week) and drizzled it with a little extra virgin olive oil.

To some this may not sound good, but I can assure you it was quite good and tasty.  The rice was seasoned just right and not too salty.  The chicken tenders were just what the name implied, tender.  The spinach was heavenly, and the tomatoes with mozzarella added a little more color and excitement to this dish.  Overall I would rate this dish a 4 out of 5 stars.  For me it was something that just gave my mouth a burst of flavor; which was nice because I had never fixed it before.  This was one of my many food experiments.  Some of my experiments do not turn out quite right, but this one was fantastic and I encourage you all to try it.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Homemade Chicken Stew

There are many different ways to make a stew.  You can use any kind of meat that you want, any kind of vegetable, and any kind of seasonings.  One of my favorite types of stews is chicken stew.  It is one of my families comfort foods and so easy to make.  It is easy to make because you don't really have to follow a recipe.

Start off with a nice chicken broth.  I do not have a preference, however, this last time I made it I used Progresso Tuscany Chicken Broth.  It help to provide a flavorful base that was well seasoned but not over seasoned.  After pouring the broth in the pot I put some boneless chicken thighs in and added some additional seasonings: Emeril's Original Essence, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash Original Blend, and a smidgen of sea salt.  You can also use boneless chicken breasts or chicken tenders for the meat.  I let the chicken cook on the pot for a little while before adding carrots.  Eventually I also added broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, tomatoes, a little rice, and turkey sausage.  Once the dish was finished cooking the end result was what you see in the picture above.  A perfect blend of flavors that melt in the mouth.  The vegetables were seasoned perfectly.  The combination of flavors was pleasant for the taste buds and filling for the stomach.

If you have never tried chicken stew then I encourage you to try some.  You do not have to use the ingredients that I used.  Take what ever vegetables you like and combine them to make your own version of chicken stew.  The best part about chicken stew is not that it taste so great, but that you can make it more than one way.  You do not always have to use the same ingredients.  By trying different vegetables, different broths, and different seasonings you will discover an endless treasure trove of stews awaits.  So breakout that big pot, add your ingredients, and start cooking.  The perfect chicken stew is waiting to find you.

Tea for Two

My husband is normally a hot cocoa drinker, but on a rare occasion I have managed to get him to try a nice cup of hot tea.  I usually drink flavored teas and my favorite flavors are mint, lemon, and raspberry.  I prefer Celestial Seasonings and Bigelow brand teas, but will try other types of teas if it suits my fancy.

Last night after the kids went to bed and we were winding down for the evening I asked if he wanted any cocoa.  To my surprise he said no.  He said that he would have some tea but he just didn't want any hot cocoa at the moment.  So I put water in the kettle and fired it up.  I chose to make Lemon Zinger tea for both of us.  This is a Celestial Seasonings flavor.  I waited a few minutes for the tea bags to soak in each of our cups and then added a little bit of sugar.  After making both cups of tea I gave him his and I drank mine.  I waited for his reaction because in the past he has said my tea choices tasted like piss.  In no way do I think he actually know what piss tastes like, but was just making that reference because he didn't like the flavor.  But, last night, he didn't say anything.  He drank the tea with no complaints about the flavor and carried on with his evening.

Lemon Zinger is one of my favorite flavors because it gives the tea a light kick but is not overwhelmed with too much lemon flavor.  Another one of my favorite flavors is Raspberry Zinger; which is also made by Celestial Seasonings.  I tend to lean more towards flavors that are fruity, but recently have discovered the mint flavor made by Bigelow.  It makes my mouth feel very refreshing and tastes good too.

Any of these three flavors mentioned would be an excellent choice to share a pot of tea for two with your significant other or good friend.  When you share tea for two you are creating a moment when the two of you are enjoying the same flavor and have quiet time to engage in sparkling conversation.  Add some tea biscuits or other type of dessert and you have designed a fulfilling flavor combination along with the perfect moment in time.

Spices

Sea salt, Mrs. Dash, cinnamon, oregano, and curry powder are all flavors that can help make a dish taste great.  They are, however, not the only herbs & spices that exist.  There are hundreds if not thousands of different herbs & spices in the world; which means there are probably millions of flavor combinations they can create.  My two favorite spices are garlic powder and Original Essence by Emeril Lagasse. 

Garlic powder comes from the bulb of what is known as the "stinking rose".  Garlic powder is a spice that I have always used and I don't have a real reason as to why other than I just like the way it flavors my food.  I use it in just about everything that I cook.  Sometimes I even put it on pizza or in a salad depending on the kind of mood I am in and what kind of flavors I want to enjoy.  The Original Essence by Emeril is a special blend that has a unique flavor.  This special blend is made with salt, paprika, black pepper, granulated garlic, onion powder, and other spices.  It gives your food a little kick without being too spicy.  You can taste a little bit of the salt but no one flavor overpowers the other in this spice blend.  Just give it a try and like Emeril said on his show when I use to watch, Bam!, and your mouth will explode with great flavor.

 

 

There are different blends of both garlic powder and Emeril's Essence spice.  I will talk about that in another post.  One day I will even try some of the different flavors they can create and give you a first-hand account about these flavors.  But for now just set your taste buds free and enjoy the rainbow of herbs and spices that await.