The most recent issue of Kiwi magazine poses a challenge to its readers: can you eat through your pantry without going to the grocery store? And I thought, hmmm, can I?
The answer is probably yes, but do I want to? The answer to that, of course, is no. But I did decide to take on a modified version of the challenge: I’m going to cook through our pantry and still go to the grocery store. For the most part, all our fruits and vegetables are fresh, and we go through those every few days. I don’t want to give up on the fresh stuff. The good news, though, is that we will eat through the pantry!
If you are up to the challenge, you can see their suggestions at the Great Pantry Challenge.
So, last night was my first night, and I glanced through the cabinet (alas, I don’t have a pantry) and was surprised how quickly I put something together. Brown rice + Spanish lentils and vegetables (from Trader Joe’s) + steamed broccoli = a pretty decent meal!
You didn’t think it was going to be this easy, did you? When I went to open the Spanish lentils, I realized that it expires June 3. Of 2009. D’oh! So that sent me on a pre-mission to get rid of all the stuff that had expired or that I knew we wouldn’t eat. So, goodbye vacuum-packed brown rice, boxed lasagna and some sort of bean medley.
Now, back to the meal. What to substitute for the lentils? I had a bunch of cans of beans and a bunch of bags of dried beans, including a beautiful heirloom one that I just never got around to cooking. I also dug out a bag of kombu, which I read somewhere is supposed to make the beans easier to digest when you are making them from scratch. And… voila. I’d make the beans (which, incidentally, said on the package did not need to be soaked), mix them in with the rice, and add a can of chopped tomatoes. I’d call it… Brown Rice with Tomatoes and Beans? I need to get more creative on the naming here.
BUT, you didn’t think it was going to be THIS easy, did you?? Those no-soak beans did not cook in the allotted hour’s time. In fact, they took about 2 hours. No worries! I just grabbed a can of white beans when I realized the heirlooms wouldn’t be ready and used that. Still working my way through the pantry. I’m flexible! I think fast on my feet! I’m MacGyver in the kitchen!
Or maybe more like MacGruber, because when the dish was said and done, after a little salt and pepper, it was… bland. Totally edible, but bland. What do I need to add to it, folks? Some herbs? I did sprinkle each portion with freshly grated parmesan cheese, but that still wasn’t quite enough to perk it up. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, since I’m trying to learn to cook better.
complete meal: Brown Rice Thing, steamed broccoli and tangerine
So, for my first challenge meal, not too shabby, considering I used up two cans and a good portion of brown rice. I won’t be challenging every night, but you can count on a couple a week, maybe. There’s too many other good dishes I want to make.
Kiwi mag, as you’ve probably already discovered, is a kind of green parenting magazine. It only comes out quarterly or every two months, I think.
What a great idea — and hilarious post, Beth! I especially laughed at your past-expiration bean medley. I always buy stuff like that thinking I’ll eat it, but I never manage to. The only times I’ve ever tried to eat from my pantry without food-shopping is when I’m in the middle of moving. It’s interesting to see what you can come up with, but by the end I’m usually eating meals made up of just tater tots and vodka. Not that this is a bad thing.
As for how to debland the dish…when I hear beans, rice and tomatoes, I think Mexican. So how about a salsa? You could make a mango-avocado salsa, corn salsa or just dump on some of that Trader Joe’s tomatillo salsa.
Also, kombu! Never heard of it. Or Kiwi magazine, for that matter. But now I’m off to research both of them. I learn so much on your blog, Beth!