Have you ever spent a ton of time in the kitchen with a handful of new recipes, only to be disappointed how they turned out and then feeling like you wasted all that time? (Not to mention feeling like you wasted FOOD?) That was my day yesterday.
I don’t want to slam the cookbook I used (fortunately borrowed from the library rather than purchased) because 1.) it’s a really well known franchise and 2.) it could very well be that I just happened to pick a few that weren’t total winners. There are hundreds of recipes in the book, so I’m willing to bet some are really great.
I pulled out three and didn’t care for a single one. A Chile Rubbed Tequila Seafood dish (too fishy and way too much tequila), a Southwest Cabbage Salad (very acidic and too salty) and a Chilled Cucumber Soup (again too salty).
I put the fish and the cabbage into a corn tortilla and made it into a Fish Taco. That made it a little better. At least it LOOKED appetizing!
Two words: Epic. Fail.
The bright side? Reaffirming that I don’t necessarily need recipes to make something yummy. Here are are few of this past week’s NON-RECIPE last minute creations:
Scrambled Organic Eggs with Goat Cheese Slivers, Tomato Slices and Grilled Sweet Pepper
Black Bean Burger on a half-bun (topped with sprouts and a ‘Veggie Slice’ uncheese), Sweet Potato Fries and Roasted Mixed Veggies
Pumpkin Brown Rice Breakfast with Cinnamon and Almond Milk
The “Bat Snack”: Egg Salad (made with Nayonaisse and mustard) flanked by ‘avocado wings’ and garnished with some leftover lemon-infused salmon:
First attempt at homemade sushi rolls using leftovers of brown rice and mahi, adding in some cucumber, carrots, and avocado. (And of course served on my “Shari’s Sushi” plate from Beth!)
I like simple, easy-to-build meals. If you know what you like and you throw in a pinch of creativity, the options for healthy eating are endless!
So I say… Recipe Schmecipe!
Do you have a favorite “thrown together” meal or original creation? How about recipes gone awry? Drop me a comment!
– Shari B. =)
#1 by Bernadette on May 22, 2010 - 8:52 am
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Oh Shari,
I can totally relate to this post!!!
I’m not good at “winging it” like Cindy is in the kitchen so I usually start out with a recipe and follow it to a T the first time. And I’m sad to say that more times than not it’s a fail… not only do I wast food but I’ve usually spent a pretty penny buying the ingredients for this dish that ultimately I end up throwing away
so dissapointing…. which is why I tent to find something I like and just keep eating it. I’m a creature of habit…
I hope your having a great weekend!!
xoxo
#2 by Joan on May 20, 2010 - 5:32 pm
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What wonderful unrecipes you put on this post! They look like they are from a totally hip restaurant! I’ll have one of each please!
I always tweak recipes, but I think my fav is the basic fish cake recipe that I use and change up the main ingred…like tonight it’ll be crab, sometimes I put salmon or black beans or sole…what ever I have.
Once I tried scallops chopped up for scallop cakes…yuck.
.-= Joan´s last blog ..Cutting Corners =-.
#3 by Beth on May 20, 2010 - 10:37 am
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I love the sushi plate! I am glad you still use it
The sushi on it looked yummy.
#4 by Cindy on May 20, 2010 - 8:57 am
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oh I totally use recipe books anymore for just inspiration and tweak away. It’s been a while since I followed a recipe as is.
must be in a rut! haha
love your “bat snack” so cute.
I’ll take a fish taco too! now THAT sounds perfect
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..A Boy’s Life =-.
#5 by Carrie on May 19, 2010 - 11:56 pm
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I am too nervous to cook without recipes – sad, I know! Although, you do inspire me. I don’t really consider this disk “cooking,” but I sure do love it – pita pizzas!
Dan and I are going camping this weekend and I’m even cooking our meals from a “camping cookbook.” Perhaps the more I cook, the more comfortable I will feel. And, perhaps the more I read your blog, the more inspired I will be to branch out on my own!