What's Fah Dinnah...Are You Creative....

...when it comes to improvising with food , when you don't have typical ingredients ?

What would you replace in a recipe if you are lacking some classic ingredients ? There are very imaginative minds here, I'm sure that would come up with some novel replacements and still turn out winner meals.

This is a challenge I find motivating to do at times. I've helped friends and even some very capable chefs find suitable replacements that even they didn't think of when they saw they were out of something needed.

Green beanie casserole , for example.

I didnt have flouah....not even a can of cream of shroom or cream of anything to add ...no store shrooms, but do have nice dried Morels that I pick every May . No block cheddar cheese.

Nothing replaces bacon, and I do have that !

Ok. Got the beanies out . Soaked a dish of morels , cut up onions, and garlic.

Dont evah throw out the juices from beanies or the shrooms soaking....save it for adding into anything, gravy, etc.

Look in your pantry and cupboards, see what you have for the creamed sauce for the casserole....see any crackahs ? Pancake mix ? Even bread can be crushed up and mixed with milk or water to make a cream sauce...well I had some biscuit mix from Red Lobstah !

Melted buttah in a pan and stirred the biscuit mix in, then some canned milk and a wee bit of the juice from the morels and beanies. Perfect. Had my "cream of shroom soup " mix .

No block cheddar cheese, but did have some cheddar slices for sandwiches , so I'll use those to melt ovah the top when it is almost done baking .

I think it will be good ! I'll bake it later, just wanted to show the Tribe how fun it can be to improvise, like a good musician.

Have something that takes nutmeg ? Like in a pie or sweet potatoes ? No nutmeg ? Try cinnamon, or allspice. Even some ground ginger can suffice.

I'm reminded of a favourite old TV series, Northern Exposure. When Shelly , who ran the bar with her Holling, accidentally dropped a bottle of wine and broke the base , spilling it all, that was worth thousands of dollars. A friend , who was the gal of a world renown chef, Adam, and a Vietnam Veteran, was with her and said no worries, she was good in improvising . She took that empty bottle , glued the base back on ( it was a clean break) , and with cheap wine and some spices, along with a pinch of Alaskan dirt, she made the replacement . That night when the bottle was opened at a table of impressive guests , Chef Adam did the honors. He smelled the wine , described in detail its fruity and bass tone flavours, poured a little and sipped....he said .."its.....its....its......perfect !" Shelly picked her jaw off the floor in waiting, and her friend just smiled in secure assurance....

Love that series.

Onions, bacon, seasonings , garlic and morels last to finish up...

Cream of shroom improvisation ... biscuit mix, buttah, can milk, bowl of beanie and morel juice. The pan in back is my Hungarian venison stew...another dish entirely ....



Mix into beanies and ready to bake ! Put cheese on top if desired after baking is finished.



Good food and life lived well....see you on the surface

You're a talented artist in the kitchen as well as on canvas. It looks yummy!

I improvise stuff all the time, lol. But I don't think I've ever not had flour, lol.

"Chef Adam" was a true "missing link" connoisseur . . . and his wife was absolutely a certifiable whack job!

Boss is correct true work of art. I had to cook for only myself tonight. First time in 18 years I had a spam sandwich. No pics for obvious reasons!

BTW I own the series. Thought I was alone after all these years of weird looks when I bring it up! Like Doc Hollywood times 1000! Without the anti agenda!

Thank you Mr Paul ! Good food is useful art to me

Angela, You're right...most have flouah , I love coconut flouah...very good for low carb enthusiasts ...but I don't have it this time. I could have gone into the nearest town to get some, but for such a small amount I figured making do with improvising would work .

SJA, you got it ! Love Adam in these shows ! The fireworks on the 4th was especially enjoyable for me. As well as the first time Joel met him and took him to his shack and cooked the most amazing meals Joel had eveah had. Even for a New York Doctor ! And the time Adam was hired by Minnifield to make that special rendering of 40 cows for the special event....love that series. Yes, she was ...can't think of the name for it...hooked on thinking she had everything wrong with her ! But she did save that night with the outrageous expensive wine !

T Thomas, it's a great series ! How often things happen in life, and I think of a show that matches the occasion !

I'm all the time "dressing up" box dinners etc, especially like to take Hamburger or whatever Helpers, and using them without meat as a casserole.

Eve was a seriously mental hypochondriac

SJA that's the term !

That was among the most loved series I've seen . Along with Yellowstone.

My favorites were Ron & Eric !

It needs more possum. ...looks exquisite. All are lucky who get to partake.

That casserole looks yummy!!!

LOL ! Riiiight ! They were smart in investing in Alaska B&B S ! I like how Minnifeild called them out on everything he disliked.

Furstroker...more possum !


Thank you GH ! It will be with cheese melted on top !

The local library here has the complete series.I watch it about once every six months.

Even though I can't tolerate Joel, each episode ends with a happy resolution for everyone. A nice antidote to the gloom of the times we live in.

I enjoy the ridiculous references to Sleetmute. The music store, restaurant, catering etc. I have been to Sleetmute many times and it is factual to say it is very difficult to locate anyone who is not drunk or stoned. There are certainly no cultural amenities located there.

But it's still a delightful series

I guess everything comes "full circle"? . . . Cicely & Roslyn started Saloon in the "town".

Good point ! And don't forget Chris's fascination with Walt Whitman

I think just the name Sleetmute is appealing to the producers.

I remember ....

Joel was an idiot but in the end, came around as you said for a happy ending for everyone.

I Love the song. Our Town.......I love it.

The original series with the original music is the only way to see it. Which isn't the Amazon bought series....

I thought the best music in the series was by Enya I think there was 4 or 5 songs?

Jerry Douglas on the dobro !!

Yes there was ! I love Enya ! They always seemed to choose such appropriate tunes for each show.

THAT is the exact song they played ! Thank you, Sir Ken......I have played in groups in the old time fiddle contests that Jerry was in. Good times with pure professionals.

Complete list of original music

http://www.retroweb.com/nexp/Northern_Exposure_Music_Guide.txt

Enya - "Paint the Sky with Stars" GREAT Album!

You have it down, Sir Ken !

I have never seen one movie or series that has so many musical hits played in the perfect shows in timing as this one.

I can't imagine how NE even got the permission to do that with so many over the years.

So sad producers won't let the original series have that music. UNLESS.....it is bought from unique outside sources, which is what I had to do.

Paint the Sky with Stars is a great album SJA !

One of the best was when Chris goes to the monastery and develops a crush on "brother" Simon

Yeah, Chris was an "Ozone Roamer" at times HA!

Great thread Sharon

Now that we've gone down NE Memory Lane . . . is the casserole dish done yet?

Chris was known for figuring things out for himself. Which he finally did. And actually, remember Simon was a woman after all , in disguise ! He was full born heterosexual . He ended up loving Maggie...as the last show on the series featured. Which you both full well know. With that song I love so much....Our Town.


SJA, the casserole dish is in the fridge to be finished tomorrow

Thank you. Nessy .

Everyone have a great night and the rest of your week in life loved and lived . Be encouraging. Who deserve the best always .

You know after reading this thread, I should of checked out my ingredients, had no cream of anything, used some milk and some gf flour. Turned out OK in the end.

Very good, GH ! Looks good too !

Nice thing to improvise when needed .

Especially if one accidentally breaks a costly bottle of wine