I haven’t cooked a MacGyverism in a while. It hasn’t been due to lack of inspiration or motivation. Rather, the fault is with my control freakery.


I make a meal plan each week based on what I get in my Greenling box, what’s growing in my garden or what my husband is craving (usually green chile enchiladas). I then do my grocery shopping to fill in the missing ingredients. I don’t hold to a strict calendar–I just have a list of meals that I know I have the ingredients to make.

I’ve been pretty on top of my game ever since we got back from Mexico. I suppose I welcomed routine after having a bit of a break.



The (only) problem with that scenario is the lack of spontaneity. As you know, true MacGyverism’s rise out of necessity. It’s like this: ‘hmm…I have nothing planned for tonight and am too lazy to go to the store…I have a can of black beans, some pumpkin puree and an onion…what can I make with that?’


With everything all planned out, I left no opportunities for extreme creativity in the kitchen.


Until the other night. I’d exhausted my meal list and hadn’t made another yet. Most of what I had was small quantities of some random vegetables. Staring at them, I started to piece together a warm potato bean salad…if you will. We’ll call it a bean saute.

Bean Saute Recipe

a handful of fresh beans (mine were dragon tongue beans)
2 potatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
a handful of fresh basil
10-20 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup pine nuts
2 T olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Preparation:
Boil potatoes in water until soft. Remove from water and put beans in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, saute onions and pine nuts in olive oil over medium heat until pine nuts are toasted and onions are translucent. When potatoes and beans are finished cooking, add to onions and nuts. Add tomatoes and basil in and cook for about one minute longer. Season with salt and pepper.

Time: 20-30 minutes
Serves: 4
Menu: This is a great side that can be paired with pretty much anything!


Eat Meat?: Add strips of grilled steak to create an entree or serve as a side.


It really is as easy as it sounds, I promise!