Kitchen Challenged


1/2 pound frozen sausage, brown rice, two packages ramen noodles, red pepper, Poblano, red onion, green onion, garlic, ginger, cilantro, lettuce, carrots, buttermilk, sour cream, a variety of cheeses, peanuts, lime, grapefruit, celery, chicken stock

The challenge of creating something unexpected from a nearly empty pantry is one that always leaves me feeling a little smug especially when something wonderful comes out of thin air.  Yesterday I quizzed family and friends about what they would make with the ingredients in my kitchen, and I got several fun answers.  I settled on a Thai-style noodle salad.

The sausage was frying in some sesame oil, the vegetables prepped, and water was boiling.  I grabbed the ramen noodles and saw the expiration date: February 2009.  Oj. 

New plan.  I measured out 2 cups of boiling water and set it back on the burner, found the rice and saw that it also was expired although by only a few months.  Horror and fright do not adequately describe my reaction to the bugs that floated to the top of the pot.  I guess that's what I get for using expired organic rice. Heeby jeebies eeewww eeewww eeewww.

New plan.  A pizza dough (thanks to Ms. Cuisineart) rose quickly on the opened oven door (oven set to warm) and by 7:30 we were enjoying a Thai pizza

And yes, I felt a little smug.

Thai Pizza
2-3 generous servings

1 pizza crust
1/2 pound sausage
Sesame oil
3 tablespoons plum sauce
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 inch ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon Penzey's Peppercream seasoning
1/3 cup shaved Parmesan
1/4 cup carrots
1/4 cup red onion
1/2 cup mozzarella
1/2 cup red pepper
1/4 cup Poblano
1/4 cup green onion
Cilantro, chopped peanuts, crushed pepper, lime

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Fry sausage in sesame oil; add ginger and garlic and saute about 30 seconds. Add plum sauce and teriyaki and remove from heat. Chop vegetables.

Combine sour cream, buttermilk, and Peppercream seasoning; spread over crust. Top with Parmesan, carrots, and red onion. Bake 10 minutes.

Top hot pizza with mozzarella and vegetables; return to oven and bake additional 20 minutes or until cheeses are melted and crust is crisp. Serve with cilantro, peanuts, pepper, and lime wedges.

Comments

frimp said…
Patrice, you're teasing me! Where are the photos of the bugs!
patrice said…
oh frimp, my apologies. These creatures were not photogenic .

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