enhancements

I hardly ever follow a recipe as it's written. Not sure if it's because I just like to "improve" things a bit. Or if my taste buds are just so much more refined that I know better than a recipe's creator about what will taste better. Or if I just can't leave things alone. Or, well you get the idea - I'm ridiculous really.

I add more salt and pepper to everything I cook, unless it's cookies or bars. I add garlic powder to almost everything, including bread. I don't even make the infamous green bean casserole as it's written on the recipe. (You guessed it - garlic powder and sometimes minced onions.)

Last night I was scratching at the bottom of the pantry, finding nothing to make for supper. We'd already had Italian and Mexican this week, so spaghetti was out and no one wanted soup. (Why this is, I just can't understand. I LOVE soup, especially during the nine months of the year it's cold around here, but no one else does. I have to beg to make chicken noodle. They even consider chili soup. The only way I can get anyone to eat tomato soup is by adding in cream, basil and my home-canned stewed tomatoes - and even then they won't eat it without grilled cheese sandwiches...grrr.)

Anyway, I only had one chicken breast left in the freezer, which wouldn't feed me, let alone the four carnivores begging for supper. So, I did what moms everywhere have done since the day Cain and Abel learned to beg for food - I improvised.

One can of cream of mushroom soup left. One chicken breast, spiced up with chipotle seasoning. Half a can of french fried onions. Two cans of beans. A third a bag of frozen corn. And barely two cups of milk left in the jug. Whew - I've got rice left! Dump in a cup. Add salt and pepper. Add garlic powder. Add worcestershire sauce. Add some minced onions (this is green bean casserole, after all). Cover and bake.

The entire house smelled downright yummy as it baked. And somehow, it tasted just as good as it smelled. I have to brag - it was fabulous.

What was not-so-great: everyone had seconds except hubby (who was sick, so it wasn't the food) and I was left with an entire 9x13 pan devoured with only one teeny spoonful left - not even enough to feed the cat.

That's what I get for enhancing.