Sassy Black Friend

My idea of following a recipe

All morning I was trying to think of something tasty for dinner, and coming up empty. Then I remembered a recipe I’d bookmarked to try from Foodie, Zucchinin Pappardelle with herbs and tomato (she adapted it from Emeril). Only after deciding that I must have this or never feel joy again, I realized that I didn’t have any zucchini. Smart girl.

And thus, I was faced with an epic decision. Go to the grocery store at 5pm or have something else for dinner. The first option just wasn’t happening. So, I decided to “improvise.” Which, to be honest, is pretty much how I always cook.

So, instead of zucchini I decided to try using eggplant. And in lieu of pork, I used ground turkey. And canned tomatoes. And a combination of fresh flat leaf parsley and basil, as well as tried oregano and thyme (because I put thyme in everything). Eggplant is very delicate, so it helps to leave the skin on, and be gentle with it.

So, flavor-wise, it’s pretty different, but the process was the same. Thinly sliced eggplant (by hand, not mandolin), ground meat, hash browns, and tomato sauce. The result was really quite delicious. And the addition of potatoes really made this a hearty meal, and provided a great bit of crunchiness that complimented the soft texture of the dish. Plus, any chance I get to use my immersion blender is appreciated.

Yummy yummy. I expect this will taste even better as leftovers, with the flavors having more time to come together. I have 25 cookbooks, and I don’t think I’ve ever followed a recipe in any of them to the letter, but that’s part of the fun of cooking, I think. You’ll have to ask someone I’ve cooked for if they agree it is part of the fun of eating my food.