creative in the kitchen

It's lunch time. The kids are antsy, the fridge is near empty, and it's too cold to bother doing a quick trip to the grocery store. What's a momma to do?

Times like this call for a little improvisation! The pantry currently houses TVP nuggets, bread crumbs, sea weed, and little else. There's cornstarch in the freezer and vegetable broth & leftovers in the fridge. A little creative thinking, and I've got nuggets!

Momma's Yummy Nuggets

You will need:

TVP nuggets
Vegetable broth
Cornstarch
Bread crumbs
Sea weed (dry)
Sea salt

What to do:

Soak the TVP nuggets in vegetable broth. TVP nuggets are flavourless and hard, as they soak they will take on the texture of chicken and absorb the flavour of whatever they are soaking in.

In a mixing bowl, combine one spoonful of corn starch with four spoonfuls of bread crumbs. With a mortar and pestle (or a coffee grinder), grind a spoonful of sea weed to about the same size as your bread crumbs - smaller than flakes, but not a powder. Add the ground sea weed and sea salt to taste to the bread crumbs and cornstarch. Mix evenly.

When your TVP nuggets are soft and moist, coat them with your bread crumb mixture. Bake the nuggets in the oven at 400 until golden, and VOILA! Yummy nuggets :)

avocado sub sandwiches

This is one our favourite lunches. It is very quick, easy and delicious.

You will need:
- Avocado
- Sub buns
- Sliced cheese
- Tomato
- Artichoke hearts
- Sliced red pepper

Smear the avocado onto one half of the sub bun. Lay the cheese slices over the avocado and place both halves of the bun into the oven (we usually set it at 375 or 400) until the cheese is melted and your bread it toasty. Lay the artichoke hearts, pepper slices, and tomato on top of the cheese, add your choice of condiments (we like Italian dressing and mustard), put the naked half of the bun on top, and enjoy!