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. =)
