Making Up My Own Recipes

As a single mom on a very tight budget, I sometimes have difficulty appeasing every appetite I have to cook for. My daughter is one of the pickiest eaters in the world. My son, on the other hand, is diabetic but will eat almost anything. So, not only am I having to satisfy both of them and myself, I also have my mom and grandfather to feed as well. Cooking at my house can be a major event! 

Tonight, when preparing to cook the evening meal, I asked my daughter to help out. I gave her a few ingredients and asked that she come up with something using what I gave her. She looked at me somewhat puzzled and said, "I don't know what to do with this. How were you gonna fix it"? My response to her was as honest as I could get. I told her, "Honey, I have no idea! I rarely ever know what I'm going to cook until it's done". I'm pretty daring in the kitchen and do quite a bit of experimenting. Tonight's dinner was a prime example of that!

All I knew when I started cooking was that my son wanted something "Mexicanish". I searched the pantry and freezer and settled on some chicken breasts. How I was going to make that "Mexicanish" was beyond me at that point. I cut them up and cooked them in a little butter with some onions and garlic. After, I added a bit of cumin, some tomatoes, water, and rice. Then I topped it with some shredded cheese, and the main dish was done. Thankfully that turned out great. My daughter's jazzed up canned potatoes were a great side with it.

Now it's time for dessert! I'm not a big fan of pears, but since we have a tree in our yard I thought I could figure out something to do with it that would be at least ok. I peeled them and cut them up into small pieces, placed them into a pan with some melted butter and brown sugar. After a couple minutes, I added a little water, a teaspoon or so of lemon juice and almond flavoring, and simmered them until the pears were cooked and the sauce had thickened. Everyone in the house went nuts over them! The only problem anyone had with them was there just wasn't enough. I have now been informed that I will have to cook some more in the morning to pour over pancakes...LOL! (NOTE: I used Splenda Brown Sugar, so even my diabetic son could eat them.)

Sometimes I really don't know how I do it, but I always seem to find something to cook that will make everyone happy (or at least ease the hunger pangs), even when it seems that there is nothing in the house at all. I am living proof that you don't have to have a lot of money to eat well. You just have to be brave and have some imagination.