Yum

I’m not one of those people who enjoys shopping for food. I used to really love it but now because I have a kid, it’s a “have to” instead of a “want to”. I’ve tried different things to get me to enjoy buying food again. I tried having the local produce delivered but I don’t think rabbits could eat the amount of chard that arrived every week. I’ve tried shopping at farmer’s markets but I just can’t wake up early enough to get there before the good stuff is gone. I enjoy the stuff they sell at the TJ’s but anyone who knows me knows I hate the people who shop there - and don’t ever park in their parking lot! I’m not a bulk shopper so no Costco for me - shopping carts that are larger than my car tend to worry me. Besides I hate their parking lot too! I don’t peruse’s gourmet shops and I don’t shop at Whole Foods because I just can’t afford it. Every day I mourn the loss of the Fedco (may it rest in peace). So most of my shopping is done here and there, places that are quick and easy, where there is plenty of parking and where I can find a deal. And believe it or not, the place that fits the bill is the 99cent store! Shut up! I mean it! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, fingerling potatoes, garlic, kiwi, avocado, mushrooms....the list is endless and most of the time it’s organic! YES! It’s fucking organic! Take that Whole Paycheck! I’ve come out of there with pounds of produce and spices and usually pay less than $8. That’s a goddamn Christmas miracle! And let’s face it you can find the most amazing crap besides produce at the 99cent store.

So I had to make dinner the other night but I had nothing in the house because as I said before I hate going to the store - not to mention I was watching the The People’s Court (no better tv viewing EVER!). I am allergic to whining so I was not going to take the RedHead to the store after I picked her up from school. So I was stuck with what I had on hand (and most of it was purchased at the 99cent store by the way): portobello mushrooms, stale bread, old tomatoes, half a box of pasta, garlic that was sprouting, limp parsley and some really moldy asiago cheese. Hmmm....what to make. I am in love with Jacques Pepin and I had just seen him make stuffed tomatoes out of leftovers he had in the fridge. I said “I can do that”  so I did.

I hollowed out those old tomatoes and I made a stuffing. I used the dried bread (I cut the bread and moistened it with water), I cut the mold off the asiago cheese and grated it, I minced a clove of the sprouting garlic, I chopped up some of that unhappy parsley, I chopped up the guts of the tomatoes and I added some thyme, salt and pepper and I smooshed all of it into those sad, old tomatoes and threw ‘em in the oven. Ok, that wasn’t so hard. But it wasn’t enough for dinner. I also had that half box of pasta lying around so I thought I would cook that up and make a sauce out of those old portobello mushrooms, garlic, olive oil and butter. 

Voila! Check it out:

Yes, I took a fucking picture! Can I tell you....it tasted great! We had a bottle of $3 vino lying around and I had just enough Pecorino Romano cheese to grate over the top of the pasta. We ate all the food and discussed what to make out of even older food I had lying around. Hmmm.....I do have an old zucchini......