Weird food concoctions that worked?

[fingercuffs]

I had some kale, garlic, oregano and onion in the fridge on their last legs, a can of sardines in chilli sauce, a can of tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, some mozzarella, chicken stock and spaghetti.

It worked out really nicely. Weird idea but it's fun making something out of nothing with things in the fridge that would go in the bin if you didn't use them up. And no need to get meat out of the freezer to use.

Sounds gross and had it failed I'd've just bunged a pizza in the oven and taken it on the chin as a fail but it was a really nice lunch.

 

[AFanNotAFighter]

I think using anchovies as a substitute for salt works. A few evenings ago I was making Cajun chicken linguini and thought a tad of salt was needed but said what the hell and threw in the anchovies instead. It worked out well.

 

[LEWIS540]

The classic McD fries dipped in their vanilla shake.

 

[AFanNotAFighter]

I had some kale, garlic, oregano and onion in the fridge on their last legs, a can of sardines in chilli sauce, a can of tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, some mozzarella, chicken stock and spaghetti.

It worked out really nicely. Weird idea but it's fun making something out of nothing with things in the fridge that would go in the bin if you didn't use them up. And no need to get meat out of the freezer to use.

Sounds gross and had it failed I'd've just bunged a pizza in the oven and taken it on the chin as a fail but it was a really nice lunch.

I watch the series Chopped all the time and they give the chefs a bunch of unconnected ingredients and direct them to make a meal. Your thread start reminded me of that.

 

[El Panteron]

I had some kale, garlic, oregano and onion in the fridge on their last legs, a can of sardines in chilli sauce, a can of tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, some mozzarella, chicken stock and spaghetti.

It worked out really nicely. Weird idea but it's fun making something out of nothing with things in the fridge that would go in the bin if you didn't use them up. And no need to get meat out of the freezer to use.

Sounds gross and had it failed I'd've just bunged a pizza in the oven and taken it on the chin as a fail but it was a really nice lunch.

If you're ever left with kale and stock you can sear it in the pan until it's a bit burned, add some stock and then finish it in the oven until it's crispy, it's absolutely amazing.

My fiancée's a big salmon fan and addicted to crisps so I breaded salmon with crisps once to surprise her. Made a sweet and sour salad on the side with marinated apples and fennel and red currants, was surprisingly very good.

 

[fingercuffs]

I think using anchovies as a substitute for salt works. A few evenings ago I was making Cajun chicken linguini and thought a tad of salt was needed but said what the hell and threw in the anchovies instead. It worked out well.

I was considering anchovies because I use them as seasoning a lot with pasta too but the canned sardines were salty enough.

 

[fingercuffs]

If you're ever left with kale and stock you can sear it in the pan until it's a bit burned, add some stock and then finish it in the oven until it's crispy, it's absolutely amazing.

My fiancée's a big salmon fan and addicted to crisps so I breaded salmon with crisps once to surprise her. Made a sweet and sour salad on the side with marinated apples and fennel and red currants, was surprisingly very good.

Haha, I did red cabbage, apple, vinegar and fennel last night as a side for pork shnitzel. Love it.

 

[AFanNotAFighter]

I was considering anchovies because I use them as seasoning a lot with pasta too but the canned sardines were salty enough.

The ones I buy are jarred and are a wild caught and immersed in olive oil. Not too salty.

 

[El Panteron]

Haha, I did red cabbage, apple, vinegar and fennel last night as a side for pork shnitzel. Love it.

Damn sounds lovely, I'll steal it. Love the crunchyness of apples if I can make them salty enough to fit in a salad.

 

[fingercuffs]

I watch the series Chopped all the time and they give the chefs a bunch of unconnected ingredients and direct them to make a meal. Your thread start reminded me of that.

Apart from baking shows I watch pretty much every cooking show there is but there's something about the host rubs me up the wrong way and the guy with the grey hair who often judges winds me up using chopsticks all the time. It's a shame because I adore Scott Conant who's often a judge. His restaurant is my favourite restaurant in Vegas.

 

[fingercuffs]

The ones I buy are jarred and are a wild caught and immersed in olive oil. Not too salty.

Yeah same, they just need being brought out of the fridge for half an hour before using them because the oil solidifies. Aside from cost implication and wastage they're better than using the small cans.

 

[AFanNotAFighter]

Apart from baking shows I watch pretty much every cooking show there is but there's something about the host rubs me up the wrong way and the guy with the grey hair who often judges winds me up using chopsticks all the time. It's a shame because I adore Scott Conant who's often a judge. His restaurant is my favourite restaurant in Vegas.

Scott is one of my favorite judges. He's got that gift of simultaneously complimenting you while at the same time criticizing you but does it in such a way that you don't feel trashed.

I love the Bobby Flay shows. Do you watch them?

 

[fingercuffs]

Scott is one of my favorite judges. He's got that gift of simultaneously complimenting you while at the same time criticizing you but does it in such a way that you don't feel trashed.

I love the Bobby Flay shows. Do you watch them?

I watch all of Flay's shows. I have 3 of his books as well. Funny, when I lived in the UK and used to watch his brunch show years ago I thought he was a smarmy git but he's just got that sort of smile so I misjudged him.

Seeing Scott on Triple Thread last season being so vulnerable against Voltaggio, Brooke and Tiffany and winning shows his humble side and I love him being all natural on Guy's Ranch Kitchen.

 

[fingercuffs]

Damn sounds lovely, I'll steal it. Love the crunchyness of apples if I can make them salty enough to fit in a salad.

I braised them but as a salad that would definitely work. Thanks for the idea.

 

[El Panteron]

I braised them but as a salad that would definitely work. Thanks for the idea.

I marinated them with a bit of soy sauce, ginger, olive oil and white wine vinegar and some herbs (thyme and parsley I think), used salt, pepper and olive oil to season. You could add honey and mustard too.

 

[Yoel Bromero]

Haha, I did red cabbage, apple, vinegar and fennel last night as a side for pork shnitzel. Love it.

Thats close to one of my go to's! I start with cooking chopped bacon in a pan then add cabbage, vinegar and apples. Its suprisingly good.

 

[Yoel Bromero]

Damn sounds lovely, I'll steal it. Love the crunchyness of apples if I can make them salty enough to fit in a salad.

Chopped apples and tiny cubes of cheddar take coleslaw to where it was meant to be.

 

[AFanNotAFighter]

I watch all of Flay's shows. I have 3 of his books as well. Funny, when I lived in the UK and used to watch his brunch show years ago I thought he was a smarmy git but he's just got that sort of smile so I misjudged him.

Seeing Scott on Triple Thread last season being so vulnerable against Voltaggio, Brooke and Tiffany and winning shows his humble side and I love him being all natural on Guy's Ranch Kitchen.

Since you like cooking and Bobby Flay there's a good chance we can be friends. I was a line cook back in the day back in the day before I went elsewhere.

 

[fingercuffs]

Thats close to one of my go to's! I start with cooking chopped bacon in a pan then add cabbage, vinegar and apples. Its suprisingly good.

I've considered putting bacon in as well, I make my own from belly pork, but the shnitzel I make is pretty salty so the sweet, sour and anise from cabbage, apple, vinegar and fennel works out well.

 

[El Panteron]

Chopped apples and tiny cubes of cheddar take coleslaw to where it was meant to be.

Had a very similar thing in Finland, with beetroot mayonnaise, beetroot and cucumbers. I think they called it something like "sunday salad", a traditional thing to eat in southern Karelia.
And something they call "bread cheese" (leipäjuusto), similar to halloumi, cut in cubes in it too.