Frittatas are always MacGyverisms for me.

We wake up late on a Sunday morning wanting something other than smoothies for breakfast. I look in the fridge and assess for a theme.
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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.

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My MacGyverism’s usually originate with a much less creative meal and the strict following of a published recipe. As the byline above states, I am a fairly self-trained cook. No Cordon Bleu or Culinary Institute degrees here. Much of what I’ve learned about cooking has come from cookbooks and online recipes. Once I learn how to cook a particular ingredient in a particular way, my wheels start turning. I analyze what I’ve made and think of all the different ways I can alter what I’ve made. Which spices would work well, which ingredients could be omitted or included, which recipes would pair well? As I said before, it’s like art for me.

Typically, I belabor the point and analyze excessively. This would probably be fine except my poor husband has to listen to me. I spend the majority of our dinner talking about what I might do differently next time. Sometimes, he’ll offer opinions. Usually though, he just nods, agrees and compliments. He’s a keeper.
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My husband often teases/brags that I’m like the MacGyver of the kitchen. According to him, you could give me a can of tomato sauce, a couple of carrots and a jar of peanut butter and I’ll create a gourmet meal. He exaggerates a bit of course. I’m not a secret government agent (I do carry a Swiss Army knife, though). And, while I probably would not be able to create something remotely edible with the ingredients above, he’s right that I can look at the groceries we have and come up with a way to make a meal without having to make a run to the store. This talent might be due to the fact that I grew up living 2 hours away from the nearest grocery store. ‘Making do’ has been ingrained in me. Or, perhaps it’s just laziness?

Really though, I love the challenge of creating an amazing meal from a random smattering of ingredients. I’ll often consult recipes for ideas, but am forced to create something on my own (often a mash-up of various recipes) using what I have available. To me, it’s like creating art.

So, a couple of nights ago, our grocery situation was looking bare. I knew I had a Greenling delivery coming soon and would be creating a planned menu for the week once I received my Local Box. There was no point in making two trips to the grocery store in the space of 4 days. (more…)