Living

TheReview Wednesday, April 11,1990 — B10 @ 4

spontaneous cook adds flavor

Like most homemakers, at some
point during the day, hopefully
earlier rather than later, the
thought runs through my head:
what shall we have for dinner this
evening?

For sure, even the most expen-
enced cook runs out of ideas —
and steam — sometime. And
that’s when it’s most certainly
time to go out for a meal — to
your favorite junk food haven or to
“that new restaurant that just
opened.”

But before you reach that state,
there’s a little trick I sometimes
use to give a different look or
flavor to an old tried and true
recipe.

You and I probably make the
same basic salad of lettuce, tomat-
oes, cucumbers and green onions.
Only this time, dig deep in your
food cupboards and see what you
can find to make it more interest-
ing — three or four chopped dried
apricots or apple rings, half a
dozen dates, chopped fine, sun-
flower seeds. Maybe open a can of
sardines and chop them up and put
in the salad.

Once you are able to get outside
of your regular routine, you may
find that you are after all, an
extremely creative cook!

Tomato soup out of the can? Stir
in some chives and put a dollop of
yogurt in the centre. Or serve it
with leftover pretzels or com chips
instead of bread or crackers. Or
add a tablespoon of sherry or
liqueur to the soup just before
serving it.

Top baked or fried porkchops
with thinly sliced fried onions and
lightly toasted almonds.

Baked fish again? Make a
medium white sauce, add curry

powder and raisins. Lay the fillets
on the plate and carefully spoon
the sauce over half of it leaving
some baked fish showing.

Or, pour a quantity of sauce on
to the serving plate, place the fish
fillet on top of the sauce and

artistically arrange snow peas and
a scoop of cooked rice on either
side.

Broiled chicken breast? Using a
sharp knife slit open a “pocket”
on the thickest side and fill with
brie or camembert cheese. Close
with toothpicks or a skewer and
broil as usual. Or open a can of
applesauce, and a half-teaspoon of
cloves. Heat, throw in some
sesame seed, and serve as an
accompaniment to the chicken.

Tired of plain old veggies? Take
a bunch of broccoli and cut off
most of the stems so that each
spear will stand up like a short
tree. Steam as usual, then place

upright on plates and surround
with a tiny “field” of corn niblets.
The children will be enchanted, at
least!

Cook and mash enough pota-
toes for dinner with butter and
milk as usual, then add ground
cloves, or dry mustard, or pepper
Sauce Or sesame seed or chopped
chives.

Add unexpected flavor to potato
salad by adding curry powder, or
tabasco sauce, or Worcestershire
sauce to the mayonnaise.

Instead of making one large pie
for dessert, make fruit triangles
stuffed with apples and dates, or
pears and figs. Serve with a fruity
low fat yogurt instead of whipped
cream or custard.

A packaged chocolate mousse
for dessert? Instead of mixing it
with water, use cold coffee for a
completely new taste.

Make small crepe pancakes,
then blend together low fat yogurt,
a banana and 3 tablespoons of
orange juice for an interesting
topping.

Old faithful standby jello?
Reduce the cold water by 2 table-
spoons and substitute 2 table-
spoons of your favorite liqueur.

You’re getting the general idea,
night? Break out of the old mould
once in a while and it’]l give a lift
to your spirits. Even wieners can
be jazzed up with cheese, chili
powder or slit open and stuffed
with chopped walnuts or egg
salad.

Go out into the back yard and
pick some young dandelion leaves
or chickweed and (after washing
well) add to your green salad.

You see? Now I’ve got started, I
cant stop .. . maybe I’ll put pansy,
petals in the salad tonight.

sUNUGHTE

LOCATED INSIDE STANDARD FURNITURE 10th FLOOR
SIDNEY CENTRE _ 655-1514

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.
BI ICRICRS

MAKING THE RIGHT
MOVES at the Sanscha
Hall antique and collecti-
bles sale March 31 was
chess player Al Slater. The
Saanichton man makes
and sells the oversized
chess boards and pieces,

GREATER VICTORIA LITTLE LEAGUE
VARIETY SHOW.
MAGIC * HYPNOSIS * COMEDY * AND MORE
8:00 PM. APRIL 28, 1990 ROYAL THEATER
Tickets are $10.00 Per Person

PERFORMERS
Tony Eng Magician
Mike Edwards Magic and Comedy.
Mesmer Hypnosis
Vince Goady Songs and'Stories

Also Featuring:
The Don Hambley Show IMPRESSIONIST AT ITS BEST
Tickets are available by calling:

Bran Bennett at 656-4584 zs

or
Julie Harman at 656-2030

FARMERS

Are you confused over
the many changes to
the tax laws?

Our carefully trained tax
preparers can answer your
questions. They are always
up-to-date on all the tax
credits and deductions that
apply to people in the agri-
cultural industry. At H&R
Block we'll take the neces-
sary time to do the job right
because we want you to
pay the lowest legitimate tax
or get you the biggest
refund you have coming.
Come to H&R Block: We
could save you money this
year. :

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