Gorgonzola and Scallions and Egglplant, Oh My!

Bonus! Free print-out activity!

After a week of adjustment I'm ready to break out the pots and pans from their boxes. A new spin on things while I wait for more emailed recipes for the cookbook: I'm cooking some completely original dishes. Honestly, minus lunch time George-Foreman paninis, I very rarely try dishes that don't have some authority behind them. But I can't very well write a cookbook without this expertise now can I?

Why do I usually stick to recipes? Much like color by numbers, the final project usually comes out better when I follow a professional's orders. It's time I break free of those numbers and lines though and start thinking for myself.

Plus, I don't think I'll be able to garner much respect if I keep churning out the equivalent of the colored in Mr. Tooth. So I'm on to bigger and better.

I don't expect to start out with the mashed potato version of Starry Night on my first go, but if I can let go of this artistic metaphor, I will still produce something tasty enough to make my roommates happy. This is how we get better, right? By trying new things, by branching out on our own. Maybe I will have to donate my first efforts to the dog. Eventually I hope to serve my cuisine to those with more refined palettes.

Just wait, for one day you'll be knocking down my door for the secret to my eggplant glaze. I'll just wink at Panther and keep on cooking.

Cleaning Up Shop

My move to New York happens in two short weeks. Yes - they will be shorter than your average week because the rules of physics do not apply when you move to a new city. Didn't you know?

For the time being, I've put cookbook tryouts on hold while I tend to another task: using all the remaining food in my kitchen.

So last night I pooled the following items:

Can of diced tomatoes, can of pinto beans, half of a summer squash, remaining frozen vegetables, frozen faux chicken breast, soy bacon, garlic, and onion

Basically, I threw 'em all in a pot. I added some salt, pepper and cumin, and as the great Carl Weathers says in "Arrested Development,"

Baby, you've got a stew going!

No, but seriously, it was pretty tasty.

Now what do I do with cranberries, artichoke hearts, vegan cheese, and frozen mango cubes?