WHATEVER WAS IN THE FRIDGE SALAD

Whatever, however, whoever. Just Cook To Bang.

Admittedly, this salad’s title kind of blows. Not even with the steroids I scored from Manny Ramirez can I always bat 1000. But this salad neither blew nor sucked. It was totally off the hook yet totally unplanned. I found out way too late that the young lady who came over for dinner was a militant vegetarian. Something about a misdemeanor for chaining herself to a fur coat store in college. Note to self: stop picking up girls at yoga class. The killer Salmon that is a shoe-in CTB was well out. But the consolation prize was she loved feta cheese. So into the fridge I went and in a moment of panic grabbed everything that looked like feta-friendly. The salad before you is whatever was in the fridge and it was awesome. My hippie crusader chained herself to my bed to protest us running out.

Total time: approximately 5 minutes
Projected cost: $6
Drinking Buddy: slutty

Ingredients:
1. ½ head of romaine lettuce
2. 1 tablespoon of olive oil
3. 1 pinch of herbs de Provence
4. 1 handful of kalamata olives
5. ½ lemon
6. 2 endives
7. 3 green onions chopped coarsely
8. 2 tomatoes chopped coarsely
9. 1 steamed red beet sliced thinly
10. Steamed asparagus
11. 1 small handful of feta cheese (leave out to make vegan)

Step 1
First you must prep the vegetables. Break the romaine lettuce apart every two inches and wash it all. Slice up the endives every inch or so. Also cut the asparagus every inch or so.

Step 2
Combine the sliced endives, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, beets, olives, crumbled feta cheese, Herbs de Provence, olive oil, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Toss that salad like a pro.
Serve it up to even the crunchiest of guests.

Empty-the-Fridge Fritatta

You know all those poor vegetables that start to wilt? Don’t put them out of their misery, put them to good use! Make a fritatta!

This recipe was inspired by a Leek and Asparagus Fritatta recipe from the February Bon Appetit. But we figured, since we’re already making a fritatta, why not throw in a few more veggies? Potatoes? Yum! That last lonely zucchini? Perfect! As long as you’ve got 8 eggs on hand, just toss in whatever else you have and call it dinner. Heck, eat the leftovers the next morning and call it breakfast too.

Empty-the-Fridge Fritatta

Makes 4 servings.

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 cup chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only)
1 12-oz bunch thin asparagus, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces
1 cup sliced stemmed shittake mushrooms
1 medium red potato, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 zucchini, diced
8 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat broiler. Heat butter or oil in heavy broilerproof 10-inch-diameter nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes and leeks and sautee until tender, about 4 minutes. Add asparagus, mushrooms, and zucchini, sprinkle lightly with salt, and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes.

Whisk eggs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in medium bowl. Add egg mixture to skillet; fold gently to combine. Cook until almost set. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Broil until fritatta is puffed and cheese begins to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.