Tortellini with Veggie Marinara

Abandoned Edibles
red cherry tomatoes, portabella mushroom, zucchini, broccoli, onion, sweet peppers, green pepper, parmesan cheese
(additional ingredients: tortellini, marinara sauce, beef stock, butter, olive oil, minced garlic, spices, etc.)

What I did: since I had such a plethora of wonderful veggies at my fingertips, AND since tortellini was on sale at the co-op, I decided to make a veggie marinara. I sauteed the veggies in olive oil and butter, de-glazed the pan with a bit of beef broth, added some marinara sauce, and simmered for a bit. I added the cherry tomatoes at the last minute, threw the tortellini in some boiling water, and voila: veggie marinara with tortellini! I topped everything off with a generous helping of parmesan cheese (you can never have too much, in my opinion)--it was simple, easy, and fast.



The Verdict
Great! Somewhat uninspired, I must admit (especially after last month's posting of beef stick stew) but overall tasty and satisfying.

Taste: 7.5
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: protein! Some type of meat?

Beef Stick Stew

Abandoned Edibles
Bob's Black Bean Soup Mix, leeks, yellow onion, parsnips, beef sticks
(additional ingredients: beef stock, garlic, carrots, potatoes, butter, olive oil, etc.)

What I did: okay, before ya'll get super weirded out, let me just say that this dish is not as nasty as it seems! Okay, so what I did was essentially make a black bean soup...with beef sticks. First, I roasted the root veggies in olive oil, butter, and spices. I boiled the bean soup mix in beef broth until they were nearly done, and then combined the two pots. I chopped up the onions and leeks, sauteed them, and added them to the mix. Lastly: the beef sticks. This poor lil' pack-o-beef was in the cull bin because they had been accidentally frozen, so the texture wasn't great as a 'snack'--but it was PERFECT for a stew! I removed the casing from each stick and cut them into smaller pieces, threw them in the pot, and let everything simmer until the beans were fully cooked.



The Verdict
You would be surprised how delicious and tasty this was. The beef sticks worked wonderfully with the black bean soup mix, and as a bonus, I had these perfectly round little cylindrical discs of beef suspended in my stew--how cute! (seriously, though, it WAS adorable). The only negative to this whole dish was the appearance, namely the color--the purplish/black hue from the beans and beef broth was somewhat....oh, what's the word?....yes...NASTY. Other that that: delicious!

Taste: 7.5
Creativity: 9
Appearance: 5

Improvements for next time: less beans, more beef! And somehow fix that purplish hue...how does one do that, by the way?

Seitan Stir Fry

Abandoned Edibles
broccoli, chicken-style seitan, white mushrooms, zucchini, onions
(additional ingredients: better than bouillon chicken soup base, olive oil, butter, white rice, soy sauce, spices, etc.)

What I did: I made stir fry. Veggies + high heat + butter and oil + bouillon and spices + white rice = dinner! I am not in the mood to write tonight, can you tell?


The Verdict
Easy, simple, good. Yum.

Taste: 8
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 8

Improvements for next time: more veggies, of course!

Seafood Chowder

Abandoned Edibles
heavy cream, canned salmon (dent in can), baby carrots, onions
(additional ingredients: whitefish fillets, shrimp, clams, saffron, mushrooms, seafood stock, chicken stock, lemon juice, dill, butter, olive oil, potatoes, spices, etc.)

What I did: sauteed potatoes, onions, and carrots in butter and olive oil. Added seafood & chicken stock and clams, simmered for about 20 minutes until potatoes were almost soft. Removed tail from shrimp, cleaned canned salmon, added both to mix along with heavy cream. Seasoned broth with dill, salt and pepper, a tiny pinch of saffron (that shit is EXPENSIVE!), and lemon juice. Added whitefish last--thickened chowder with a roux, simmered until done.



The Verdict
Very rich and very delicious! Borderline orgasmic, actually. I could only eat a cup at a time, but my dinner date ate two bowls. So: SUCCESS! God DAMN, I love seafood.

Taste: 10
Creativity: 7
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: celery, maybe? Just a bit.

Zucchini 'Noodles' with Bison Marinara & Sauteed Mushrooms

Abandoned Edibles
zucchini, red pepper, white mushrooms, bellavitano cheese
*BONUS* leftover AEs: marinara sauce (additional ingredients: onion, garlic, butter, ground bison, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, spices. etc.)

What I did: first of all, I must confess--I have discovered a new favorite cheese. Bellavitano is DELICIOUS, and I got the leftovers from the sample we put out at the Co-op the day prior. It's parmesean-esque in flavor, but not as hard--yet still deliciously crunchy at times: perfect to pair with marinara. I had an abundance of zucchini, so I decided to cut them into thin strips along with the red pepper and sauté them in a little bit of vinegar, olive oil, butter, and spices as a sort of 'pasta' base for the sauce. I crumbled the bison in a pan, cooked it, threw in some marinara (also added a pinch of sugar to offset the acid of the tomato base) and sauteed some onions and mushrooms on the side. I built the dish with the zucchini as the base, bison marinara on top, and added the mushrooms/onions with crumbled bellavitano cheese as a garnish.



The Verdict
GOOD. This was really quite delicious. I probably should have made even MORE zucchini 'pasta', but I was hungry and in a rush. The vinegar was an important addition--I used just a tad--but I suspect it contributed to both the flavor and pasta-like 'texture' of the zucchini and peppers.

Taste: 8
Creativity: 8
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: there was a texture variation with the peppers and zucchini, and I think I could have sauteed the peppers a little longer. Also: more Bellavitano! This cheese is seriously DELICIOUS, I could have definitely used more.

No Chicken Noodle Soup

Abandoned Edibles
chicken-style seitan, onion, celery, chives, white mushrooms, Mrs. Leeper's 'creamy tuna' boxed dinner
(additional ingredients: carrots, chicken base, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon juice, shallots, butter, olive oil, spices, etc.)

What I did: well, it was time to make some (no) chicken noodle soup, as I had been sitting on a package of chicken-style seitan for a few weeks. In addition, I picked up this box of outdated organic 'tuna helper' from the cull bin (as an aside, how creepy is the brand name "Mrs. Leeper's"?!) that I needed to use the egg noodles out of pronto. So I sauteeed some veggies, added chicken base and the seitan, slid in the noodles, simmered and seasoned. Pretty simple.



The Verdict
Warm, comforting, delicious--just as (no) chicken noodle soup should be. I must admit, I actually enjoy the seitan: the flavor AND the texture. And good ol' Mrs. Leeper came through with her egg noodles--perhaps I will use the 'creamy tuna' seasoning packet in a future AE dish! As an aside, I must tell you all that a little lemon juice in chicken soup goes a LONG way: it has always been my secret weapon to bring a tiny touch of acid to balance out the flavor of the chicken stock and inevitable salt that comes along with it.

Taste: 8
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 8

Improvements for next time: parsnips! Oh baby.

Eggplant and Zucchini Spaghetti Muffins

Abandoned Edibles
marinara sauce, eggplant, zucchini, garlic, white cheddar cheese
*BONUS* leftover AEs: leftover spaghetti noodles (additional ingredients: ground pork, onion, egg, panko bread crumbs, butter, spices, etc.)

What I did: dude. This was by FAR the weirdest thing I have cooked with AEs, mainly due to two things: 1) the only baking device I currently own is a motherfuckin' MUFFIN PAN, and 2) I had leftover spaghetti noodles from the night before that I desperately wanted to use. So, I figured, hey--might as well make spaghetti muffins, eh? Basically, what I did was make a three-layered mini casserole in each muffin tin. I made a base (or 'crust') of chopped up spaghetti noodles, egg, and panko bread crumbs for the bottom, added a layer of cooked ground pork, cubed zucchini and onions, a layer of shredded cheese, and then marinara sauce on top. I baked them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. And, of course, I greased the hell out of those muffin rounds with butter. Whilst these frankensteinian vittles were cooking, I sliced, battered, and fried rounds of eggplant. I served this dish with fried eggplant on the bottom, spaghetti muffin atop the eggplant, and additional marinara sauce and shredded cheese on top of the muffin.




The Verdict
First of all, apologies for the horrible pictures--I was rather drunk by the time I finished cooking. But back to the matter at hand: spaghetti muffins! Yes, they were bizarre, but also rather tasty. I was pretty proud of myself. Pat on the back for me!

Taste: 7
Creativity: 9
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: I can't even IMAGINE.

Ham, Potato, and Cheddar Soup

Abandoned Edibles
crimini mushrooms, cippolini onions, broccoli, baby carrots, ham steak, potatoes
(additional ingredients: cheddar cheese, butter, olive oil, milk, garlic, chicken stock, chives, spices, etc.)

What I did: I have been sitting on this frozen hamsteak for a while, so I was ecstatic when I found mushrooms, onions, broccoli, carrots and potatoes in the cull bin. First I sauteed the veggies in butter and olive oil, then added chicken stock. I topped the pot off with whole milk, herbs, and a little flour to thicken it. Even though I shredded a shit-ton of cheddar cheese, I also garnished the soup with additional cheese and a few chives. Yum!



The Verdict
God DAMN, this was some tasty soup! I ate it on the roof under the moon. Delicious and just what the doctor ordered.

Taste: 8
Creativity: 7
Appearance: 8

Improvements for next time: BAGUETTE! That is all.

Whole Wheat Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Arugula Salad

Abandoned Edibles
whole wheat pasta, baby arugula, marinara sauce, onion
*BONUS* leftover AEs: smoked mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, green pepper (additional ingredients: garlic, crimini mushrooms, olive oil, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, salad dressing, spices, etc.)

What I did: I made pasta, bitches! And a salad. Pretty easy. But how could I NOT, given the ingredients I found in the cull bin? All I did was sauté the mushrooms, onions, garlic; added the marinara, made the pasta, and threw together a salad of baby arugula, red onion, blue cheese, and green pepper. Piece of cake!



The Verdict
Easy, simple, delicious. Not a lot of creativity points here, but I had two hottie dinner guests who cleaned their plates, so it must have tasted decent, eh?

Taste: 7
Creativity: 4
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: I must confess I wasn't a huge fan of the whole wheat pasta, but it WAS in the cull bin, so I had to try it out. I also wish I had had a zucchini to cube up and throw in the marinara.

Brussel Sprouts with Chipotle Cranberry Cheddar

Abandoned Edibles
brussel sprouts; chipotle cranberry cheddar
(additional ingredients: garlic, butter, olive oil, spices, etc.)

What I did: after twenty-seven years of avoidance, I have finally caved in: yes folks, 'tis true--I cooked and ate brussel sprouts. And you know what? Aside from the inevitable flatulence, they weren't that bad! All I did was trim off the brown parts, chop off the butts, and sauté in butter, olive oil, and garlic. Then I grated the chipotle cranberry cheddar cheese on top.



The Verdict
I must confess, I actually enjoyed these. I guess it goes to show that you can cook anything in butter and garlic and have it taste good. But in all honesty, if you enjoy cabbage (in all its forms) and are a butter addict such as myself, you would probably dig this particular preparation of brussel sprouts. The chipotle cheddar cheese was a perfect addition, as well--just the right about of spice!

Taste: 7
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: incorporate additional veggies, perhaps?

Mock Duck Stir Fry

Abandoned Edibles
vegetarian Peking duck (dent in can), green onion, peppers, onion, broccoli
(additional ingredients: chopped garlic, soy sauce, olive oil, butter, spices, etc.)

What I did: I have been sitting on this dented can of mock dock forEVER...and finally I gathered the proper ingredients! The process was simple: everything in a skillet/wok. Start with the broccoli, add mock duck, peppers, onions, and garlic--use butter/oil/soy for sauce. PS: a HUGE shout out goes to Erica and Jason for providing my sad, pathetic kitchen with a wonderful array of utensils, cooking devices, and tools! XO



The Verdict
Awesome. This mock duck shit ROCKS! I was a little apprehensive about making this, but my worries were laid to rest with the first bite. The onions and broccoli were a vital component--I would make this again in a heartbeat!

Taste: 8
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 8

Improvements for next time: additional veggies! Mushrooms were solely lacking.

Smoked Turkey Sandwich

Abandoned Edibles
smoked turkey breast, rosemary and blue cheese bread, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, red onion, smoked mozzarella cheese

What I did: made a motherfuckin' SANDWICH, foolio! I have no kitchen ware!



The Verdict
I make kick-ass sandwiches. And seriously, how could I NOT make a sandwich, given the ingredients found in the cull bin??

Taste: 10
Creativity: 0
Appearance: 10

Improvements for next time: INFINITE!

New Digs!

Well, hot damn, folks--I have found an apartment in Ashland, and am no longer mooching off my dear friend Jackie. Since I have moved, however, I have had to leave all of Jackie's cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc. behind (obviously), which means (cue scary tuba music here)--I have no means to cook! I have merely a sushi set, small pot, frying pan, pancake flipper, and pocket knife to my name. AE posts should be QUITE interesting these next few weeks...

Picture above is of the new kitchen. Once I get a few basic essentials in here, it should be P-I-M-P. Aloha!

Bison...Fajita Taco Pita?

Abandoned Edibles
ground bison meat, peppers, cucumber
(additional ingredients: onion, pita, greek yogurt, lemon, dill, zucchini, beef stock, spices, etc.)

What I did: holy cow, I got BISON MEAT from the cull bin! A tiny tear in the packaging, and the bison was mine. Huzzah! Since I had cucumber and peppers (and a package of 99 cent pitas from the bargain basket at the co-op), I thought I'd make some sort of frankenstenian pita/fajita/taco...thing. I cooked the bison with spices and little cubes of zucchini, sauteed the peppers and onions, and made a cucumber/dill/lemon sauce. Easy!



The Verdict
Whhaaaa! This shit was bland. I wish I had more spices. It looked great, smelled great, and tasted merely...standard. If this dish was a personality, I would be getting drunk at dinner with it because I would be so BORED. "You enjoy collecting marbles? Huh, okay, really...tell me more about that. Oh, marbles AND dice, you say? Wow, that is so fascinating...." (yes I just imagined how a conversation would go between myself and the bison fajita taco pita)...

Taste: 4
Creativity: 7.5
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: FLAVOR! SEASONING! Something resembling a personality, for the love of all things holy!

Creamy Mushroom Soup with Crispy Wontons

Abandoned Edibles
mushrooms, organic heavy whipping cream, Q'uorn chik'n cutlets (seriously the spelling of this product is really getting on my nerves), pepper jack cheese
*BONUS* leftover AEs: eggroll wrappers, "fresh" thyme (additional ingredients: mushroom soup base, onion, flour, garlic, milk, spices, etc.)

What I did: once again, I found mushrooms and heavy cream in the cull bin. It's been rainy here these past few days, so I figured a soup would be perfect! Also, I realized I LOVE crispy crunchy vittles in my soup (the baby bok choy soup taught me that), and I just so happened to have leftover eggroll wrappers in my fridge, so...viola: crispy wontons were made for the garnish! As for the actual soup, it was pretty simple: I sauteed mushrooms, faux chicken product (which is actually made out of fungi), onions, and garlic; added cream, milk, water, soup base; grated cheese, thickened soup, added thyme, simmered. As easy as a five dollar hooker!



The Verdict
Very rich. Delicious, but rich--perhaps I used TOO much cream? At any rate, the faux meat product worked perfectly in this soup, and, I swear--the crispy wontons made the dish. That added textural element is such a welcome addition!

Taste: 8
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: less cream, more mushrooms!

Crimini Mushroom Alfredo

Abandoned Edibles
broccoli, organic heavy whipping cream, red pepper, green pepper, crimini mushrooms, lemon, and, of course--the ubiquitous and omnipresent garlic jack cheese (additional ingredients: garlic, parmesan cheese, butter, onion, pasta, extra virgin olive oil, spices, etc.)

What I did: sauteed vegetables, made an Alfredo sauce (cream, butter, parmesan), added some garlic jack. Boiled some noodles. Combined together. The end.



The Verdict
Dude, how could I NOT make Alfredo? Whipping cream + mushrooms = heaven. And yes, it was good. Safe...but delicious! Can't say I was too 'creative' on this one, but who cares? Not me, especially when I'm siphoning forkfuls of pasta and mushrooms and creamy Alfredo sauce down my gullet.

Taste: 8
Creativity: 4
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: a different pasta for sure...I used egg noodles (bad choice, I know) and I really should have stuck with a linguini or fettucini. Guess I'll have to spring for the additional 75 cents next time and go for it!

Vulvamorphic Stuffed Peppers

Abandoned Edibles
red peppers, organic white rice, cherry tomatoes
*BONUS* leftover AEs: pepperoni, garlic jack cheese, AND--get this--two leftover AE dishes: venison & zucchini/corn relish
(additional ingredients: none!)

What I did: first of all, can I just say how STOKED I am that I made these peppers out of a) two leftover dishes, and b) without any additional ingredients other than AEs? Very cool. At any rate, these peppers were super easy to make; all I did was cube the leftover venison & pepperoni into smaller pieces, combine with rice and leftover zucchini & corn relish, stuff mixture into hollowed out red peppers, place cherry tomato strategically (to ensure vulvamorphic aesthetic) and grate garlic jack cheese on top. I popped them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.



The Verdict
Delicious! Easy to make, fun to eat, AND I was able to use up a shit ton of leftovers in our fridge. Win, win, win. And you can never go wrong with vulva-shaped food, in my humble opinion.

Taste: 7.5
Creativity: 7
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: incorporate a spicy and/or sharp(er) cheese into the pepper filling, perhaps?

Tempura Fried Eggplant with Zucchini and Corn Relish & Garlic Jack Twirl

Abandoned Edibles
eggplant, zucchini, sweet corn, green pepper, cucumbers, egg roll wrappers & garlic jack cheese (yes, again!)
*BONUS* leftover AEs: sour cream, spinach (additional ingredients: tempura batter, onion, garlic, marinara sauce, beef stock, flour, butter, vinegar, dill weed, sugar, etc.)

What I did: whew, okay, today was a crazy cooking fest. I actually made a cucumber & onion salad in addition to the eggplant and zucchini relish, so I was busy, busy, busy! Before I even started this project, however, I did some homework. In the past, I've fried eggplant before and it hasn't turned out so hot; I wanted to make sure this time would be different. Traditionally, when I've made eggplant, it would turn out oily, mushy, and without much texture variation--in other words, NAST. This time, I thought I'd A) incorporate tempura batter, and B) research online to pick up a few tips. So. Without further ado--after today's experiment, here is what I learned: first, slice eggplant vertically; horizontal slicing results in the eggplant fibers soaking up the oil, leading to soggy mush. Secondly, you need to "dry brine" the eggplant. Rub each slice with salt on each side, and place in colander for 45 minutes--you'll see big drops of water form on the slices, which is eggplant juice being drawn out of the vegetable by the salt through osmosis. Next, wash each slice under running water and rub it, squeeze, strain, and wash again; you want to make sure to get the salt off, otherwise your eggplant will be inedible. Once you have 'prepped' your eggplant, you are ready to cook it.

As my eggplant was sweating away, I made the zucchini and corn relish. I cubed up green pepper, zucchini, trimmed one ear of corn kernels off the cob, cut onions, garlic, and simmered in pot with beef stock and butter. I added a few tablespoons of marinara sauce, and thickened it up a bit with flour. As for the cucumber and onion salad--this consisted of cukes, onion, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, dill weed, salt and pepper. Two tips for this dish: a) make sure you slice the cukes and onions rather thin, and 2) if you 'sweat' your cukes (same process as the eggplant, only you don't have to wash the salt off), they remain super crunchy and delicious whilst floating around in their sour cream/vinegar sauce.

Okay, you still with me? Good...I realize today's entry is a little long-winded! Okay, back on the saddle, and on to the eggplant: dip in tempura batter (shake off excess), and fry. Yes, it is THAT easy (I used a box of tempura batter, worked great). Now, since I had wonton wrappers and garlic jack cheese, I decided to make a little twirl out of it to place on top of the eggplant, so I also fried these up at the same time.



The Verdict
Hot DAMN this shit was dy-no-mite! I am NOT kidding people, I have never cooked a vegetarian dish that tasted so delicious. Everything worked SO well together, and the texture variations were just fabulous, from the relish to the tempura to the crunch of the egg roll wrapper to the melted cheese that oozed out. The eggplant was NOT oily and/or mushy, the tempura batter worked fabulously, the twirl added a necessary crunch, the relish added an interesting flavor component, and the cucumber/onion salad was the perfect accompaniment. I actually LICKED MY PLATE. No lie.

Taste: 8.5
Creativity: 8
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: perhaps add seasonings to tempura batter...can you do that? Or would that mess up the composition? Methinks additional research is in order.

Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Abandoned Edibles
broccoli, carrots
*BONUS* leftover AEs: broccoli slaw, garlic jack cheese, & béchamel sauce from yesterday (additional ingredients: onion, chicken soup base, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, potatoes, spices, etc.)

What I did: our refrigerator is inundated with broccoli and carrot products! I mean, daaaamn gina, we have an entire drawer full of carrots, broccoli, and broccoli slaw (which consists of--you guessed it--broccoli and carrots). I wasn't very motivated this morning, so I decided the best thing to do would be to throw everything in a pot and make some cheesy broccoli soup. I chopped up the slaw into itty bitty pieces, cut up all my veggies, and threw it on the stove with some soup base. The béchamel and garlic jack cheese (along with the potatoes & cheddar) acted as a wonderful thickener. Super easy to make!



The Verdict
Tasty and easy (I could make an immature sexual reference here, but I'll refrain!) Not exactly creative, but this soup DID get rid of my broccoli and carrot infestation, so I suppose that counts for something. One note I will make, however: that damn broccoli slaw took forever to get tender! I'm not sure how I feel about that shit. I still have a bag in the freezer, and I'm thinking I'll definitely be throwing that in an egg roll mixture sometime in the near future. And if THAT doesn't work...broccoli slaw, you are dead to me!

Taste: 7
Creativity: 4
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: more cheese! I didn't have enough cheddar.

Venison with Cherry Tomato Broth and Spinach Salad with Avocado Dressing

Abandoned Edibles
cherry tomatoes, sour cream, lemon (bruised), avocado
(additional ingredients: venison steak from Jackie's freezer, beef stock, onions, garlic, lime, spice rub, soy sauce, brown sugar, etc.)

What I did: marinated venison in soy sauce, spice rub, brown sugar, lime juice, olive oil concoction for 6 hours. Booyah! Upon marination saturation, I sliced and seared the steak. Afterwards I deglazed the pan with beef stock, added tomato cherries, garlic, butter, and thickened with a roux. For the salad, I made an avocado dressing by combining olive oil, avocado, lemon juice, and sour cream. (Note: picture below also includes leftover potatoes from previous entry)



The Verdict
Oh, woe is me! As you can see from the picture, the avocado salad dressing did not make it on the plate. Why, you ask? Because it SUCKED. Big time. It was NOT good, it did NOT turn out, and I REFUSED to eat it. However, the venison was...AMAZING. Seriously. The broth was out of this world. So good. The venison itself was perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth tender; Jackie was able to cut it with a fork!

Picture of disastrous avocado dressing (warning: it looks like baby shit):


Taste: 7.5
Creativity: 7
Appearance: 8

Improvements for next time: obviously, the avocado dressing was a TOTAL failure. Which sucks, because the venison was definitely a 9.5! DAMN YOU shitty avocado dressing, for bringing the rating down!

Roasted Potatoes with Garlic Jack Béchamel and Broccoli Slaw

Abandoned Edibles
yukon gold potatoes, broccoli slaw, garlic jack cheese
(additional ingredients: milk, butter, flour, spice rub, etc.)

What I did: sliced potatoes, sprinkled with spice rub, roasted in oven. Made a basic béchamel sauce (roux, milk, whisk whisk whisk), shredded garlic jack cheese, incorporated into béchamel. Sauteed broccoli slaw in butter and olive oil. Served with potatoes on bottom, slaw on top, and béchamel on slaw.



The Verdict
Well. The potatoes and garlic jack béchamel were GREAT; the slaw--not so much. I had issues with the texture. I was trying to think of ways to use it without making a 'salad' or 'slaw' type side dish (seemed too easy), but I'm not sure this is the best use. PS, as an aside, it should be noted that by the time I got around to taking the picture, the béchamel had thickened a bit, so the dish didn't look as 'pretty' as I would have liked.

Taste: 6
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: sadly, I think the slaw would be better used in a different application. The slaw consists of matchsticks of broccoli and carrots, so...maybe as an egg roll ingredient? I DO have a plethora of egg roll wrappers, after all! Or chopped up and thrown in a soup? Of the cheesy broccoli variety, perhaps?

Baby Bok Choy Soup with Crispy Wontons

Abandoned Edibles
baby bok choy (slightly wilted), egg roll wrappers, Q'uorn chik'n cutlets (chicken substitute made of mushrooms with absurd and annoying spelling of product)
(additional ingredients: ramen noodles, garlic, onion, chicken soup base, soy sauce, etc.)

What I did: rinsed and quartered bok choy. Cut up faux chicken cutlets, onion, garlic, ramen noodles, threw everything together in soup pot. Made base out of that creepy packet of 'spices' found in ramen noodle packages and a few tablespoons of 'better than boullion' soup base. While soup was simmering, I cut up the large egg roll wrappers into smaller strips and fried 'em up to make crispy wontons. Seasoned soup with spices and soy sauce, ladled into bowl, garnished with wontons.


The Verdict
The best dish thus far, in my opinion! Delicious. Reminiscent of Vietnamese pho a bit (minus the anise + other amazing spices found in pho broth)--lots of greens, onions, texture variations. The wontons on top were essential: definitely elevated the dish by adding an important crunchy element. Also: this dish is vegetarian! The faux chicken cutlets worked perfectly, much to my surprise.

Taste: 8
Creativity: 7
Appearance: 7

Improvements for next time: spring onions and/or green onions for sure, and maybe incorporate a tablespoon or two of vinegar? We didn't have any in the house, otherwise I would have gone for it!

Pepperoni Rolls

Abandoned Edibles
Pepperoni (additive free), organic eggs, red pepper, egg roll wrappers
(additional ingredients: marinara sauce, cheese, mushrooms,etc.)

What I did: cut egg roll wrappers diagonally to form triangles. Spread marinara sauce, cheese, onions, peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni on wrapper. Rolled up, sealed with egg wash, and fried in organic canola oil until wrappers became slightly crunchy. (ala pizza eggroll style)


The Verdict
I made this shit twice tonight. Once for Jackie and I as we cleaned the kitchen with Amanda; the second time for a bunch of wig-wearing drunk people during Emily's birthday party. It was a hit both times! Like a goddamn pizza eggroll, seriously. And it was delicious! The egg roll wrappers contributed a delicious crunch, and the pepperoni was the perfect ingredient to accompany it.


Taste: 7
Creativity: 6
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: more creative fillings? Other than savory Italian standards, perhaps?

Peach and Rice Muck

Abandoned Edibles
peaches (bruised), skim milk, sour cream, organic brown eggs
(additional ingredients: rice, vanilla, sugar, etc.)

What I did: made a vanilla rice pudding by tempering eggs into a rice, milk, vanilla concoction. Sliced peaches (sans bruises), arranged on top, sprinkled brown sugar and pumpkin spice liberally. Broiled in oven for five minutes. Garnished with sour cream dollops.




The Verdict
This dish was relatively easy to make, and also relatively bland. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, and I'm pretty sure it would be a big hit at the old folks home. In other words: soft, mushy, peachy. An apathetic amalgamation of peach and rice.

Taste: 5
Creativity: 4
Appearance: 6

Improvements for next time: an additional texture would be required. Muck = BAD. Maybe add some spice as well?