Cleansing: Good for the Soul and the Palate

Sometimes it’s good to clean out the refrigerator and pantry. And fun to see what kind of meal you can put together with whatever happens to be on hand.

On hand: sweet potatoes from friend Dennis Perkins’ garden, chopped cabbage left over from apple slaw earlier in the week, a red bell pepper, celery, noodles, and all kinds of spices and seasonings. Can this random assortment be turned into a good meal? Of course, it can.

Dennis’s sweet potatoes come in crazy, gnarly shapes.

But you can tame them. Here they are peeled and cut into rounds for Savory Baked Sweet Potatoes. 

Here’s what you do:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix 3 T. Dijon mustard, 2 T. olive oil, 1 clove minced garlic, red pepper flakes and salt to taste. You’ll end up with a soft paste.

Coat sweet potatoes with mixture. Place on baking sheet and cook until tender, 30-45 minutes, turning once.  These were awesome!

Next up: Spicy Stir Fried Cabbage. This recipe was my inspiration. I omitted the carrots and used sliced red bell pepper and sliced celery because that’s what I had on hand. The star anise (I used double the recommended amount) added delightful flavor.  Pretty!

I found a great recipe for Sesame Noodles. This easy sauce is made from ingredients I always have: garlic, sugar, vegetable oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce. You just mix and heat the sauce.

 Looks wickedly good, doesn't it? Cook the noodles, toss them with the sauce, and garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Savory Baked Sweet Potatoes, Spicy Stir Fried Cabbage, and Sesame Noodles. 

All spicy and all good. That's what we're having.