Albuquerque Dip

Didn't manage to snag a shot of this one. But it was really pretty.

I have twenty quid to get me through the next four days. But I needed to bring a snack to a party I was going to. What do I do?!?

Had in the cupboard: two cans of salmon, two avocados, spring onions (albeit a bit limp), tortilla chips

Bought: an off-name brand cream/soft cheese for 45p

*. Soaked the spring onions in cold water for a few hours--like flowers. Green egetables often perk up this way.
1. Softened the cream cheese in the microwave. If I'd thought in advance, I could have left it out of the fridge for an hour or so.
2. Diced the avocados. They weren't quite as ripe as I would have liked, so I had to cut them up pretty fine.
3. Mashed the avocados and cheese together with a potato masher.
4. Diced the onions. Stirred them in.
5. Added the salmon. I didn't have boneless and skinless, so I had to be very careful.
6. Mixed everything together.
7. Served with the chips, which added just the right amount of salt.

Total time: Fifteen minutes
Total dishes: 1 bowl, cutting board, knife
Servings: many--it's a dip
Best Part: It looked and tasted very pretty. It was also fairly elegant without much expense or trouble.
Worst Part: Few people seemed to be eating very much of it. I don't know if they were weirded out or if they just had an embarrassment of choices. I liked it.

Verdict: Very nice!

Mushroom Scramble

Okay... so not just mushrooms. But I like mushrooms so much that they usually earn a place of distinction when I'm naming a dish.

I don't eat meat on Fridays, so today's goal was to make a healthy dinner with as much protein as possible. No milk meant no scrambled eggs, no omelets, and no frittatas. Yikes!

Had in the cupboard: 1 mushroom, 1/2 onion, 1/2 pepper, 1 clove or garlic, 2 potatoes, 2 eggs, olive oil, s&p, powdered vegetable stock

Bought: NOTHING! Hooray!

1. Diced the potatoes. Boiled them in a bit of leftover powdered vegetable stock for flavor.
2. Diced the onions. Coated a saucepan with olive oil and sauteed until soft.
3. Diced the peppers. Diced the garlic. Added them to the onions.
4. Sliced the mushrooms. Added them to the mix. I like to add mushrooms last to keep their flavor and consistency.
5. Drained the potatoes. Added them to the mix with a bit more oil.
6. Cracked two eggs into a measuring cup. Added salt and pepper.
7. Pushed all the veg to the side of the pan. Poured the egg onto the bottom of the pan. Scrambled--like the guy at the hibachi restaurant does.
8. Blended everything together!

Total time: Fifteen minutes
Total dishes: Two pans, cutting board, knife
Servings: 2
Best Part: No waste! I only threw away the pepper seeds and the onion skin!
Worst Pat: Not as pretty as I'd hoped.
Verdict: Very nice!

Introducing Taste Not

I grew up with a big, Southern family and lots of delicious food. With five people around, very little went to waste. But as I got older and started cooking for myself, I discovered those same recipes that work for five people just make too much food for one or two. And I found myself buying specific ingredients for one of my mommy's special casseroles, just to throw the remnant away after a few days or weeks.

That's why I moved in with Lindsay. Lindsay, by her own admission, doesn't quite cook as well as I do. But she's a miracle worker with a fridge of random ingredients. Turn Lindsay loose with some wilted lettuce and dry cheese and she'll find a way to turn it into an elaborate, gorgeous party dip everyone enjoys. She goes into the kitchen like an intrepid Viking, willing to explore anything.

So I decided. I'll put away Mom's recipes on the special occasion shelf. I'll roll up my sleeves, don my apron, and set to work making food that works with what I already have. I vow never to throw food away again, at least because I can't think of a way to use it. I vow that no one will ever leave my home hungry because I couldn't whip up something to serve him. And I vow to be ruled by the cookbook no longer. I'm my own woman! I can do it!

This blog is a collection of successes, and failures, at 'Taste Not' recipes--dishes that waste neither food, nor appetites, nor initiative. And I'd love to post any suggestions you may have. Let's work together to make the world a tastier, less wasteful place!