One Woman's Trash Is Another Woman's Culinary Masterpiece

One of my fave things is throwing together meals based on Leftover Crap I Should Really Use Already. Even if the Leftover Crap is maybe not something I would normally eat but it’s a shame to waste it.

Enter, canned asparagus.

Is there a bigger abomination? It doesn’t taste even mildly like asparagus. It’s as mushy as lunchroom green beans and it doesn’t even make your pee smell weird. That right there is a sign that whatever is in that can is barely asparagus.

But I had a can of it in my cupboard (I bought it on a whim, not knowing the atrocity that lay inside but the actual FRESH asparagus at the market that day were the width of my pinky finger and rapidly turning brown so I figured, what the hey?)

Also, I am LOATHE to throw anything out. If I bought it, I am doing something with it believe you me. I have even started following Jacques Pepin’s lead and freezing all my leftover veggies (broccoli stalks, celery ends, unused asparagus ends) in a large baggie in my freezer to use to make a fabulous stock someday. Really these days who can afford to throw anything away?

SO I took that can of Not Asparagus, and threw it in a pan with some olive oil, added a small jar of marinated artichokes, some chopped up leftover onion, a few garlic gloves, an about to go bad zucchini and, for kicks, a can of drained chick peas.

I cooked it all over medium heat for about 10 minutes and then tossed it with some whole wheat linguine and shredded parmesan cheese.

It was, in a word, DELICIOUS. All the different textures and tastes were fab. Adam raved about it too though the recipe included his foe, the chick pea (yet he likes hummus!). In any case, I was psyched!

Maybe someday I will compile a cookbook. Something called "Dishes I made Out Of Things I Was Going To Throw Out". Sounds appetizing, oui? What would you contribute?