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Cook the Book: 'Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin'

20080810-shopsins-cover.jpg"Grumpy." "Cantankerous." "Grouchy." "Unreasonable." "Foul-mouthed." These are just some of the pejorative terms often used to describe Kenny Shopsin, author of this week's Cook the Book selection, Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin. Nevertheless, I bet I would enjoy him. After all, how much can you dislike a man whose restaurant menu lists 76 varieties of waffles, 47 different milkshakes, and 24 kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches?

Really, though, what I find most impressive about Kenny are the pearls of begrudging, licentious wisdom he dispenses throughout his culinary memoir-cookbook. Forget the recipes, which are usually nothing more than tongue-in-cheek instructions, and which often contain ingredients that would make food snobs shudder (Aunt Jemima pancake batter, Good Seasons Italian salad dressing mix, Fox's U-Bet Syrup). The real gems are in his prose. Consider Kenny's thoughts on being a chef:

"It's like when you have sex: You approach it each time to do the best you possibly can, as if it were the only time. You don't have to think about what you're doing because you are 100 percent in the moment—and each time it turns out just a little bit different."

That's not to say that there aren't dishes worth making. Ed describes Kenny as "a really good cook" (even if he did sign his copy of Eat Me: "F--- You, Ed. Ken"). The Senegalese Chicken Soup is a lovely dish, redolent with apples and spices; and the Gazpacho Salad is an inventive, eclectic mix of vegetables including beets and peas. But above all, Kenny's food is about surprise, whimsy, and humor—"an experience and an expression of his imagination"—and that's how home cooks should treat his recipes.

Win 'Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin'

We'll be excerpting a recipe from Shopsin's book each day this week. In addition, you can enter to win one of five (5) copies of Eat Me for your own. Simply tell us in the comments section below: Have you ever invented a dish? If so, what was it?

Five (5) people will be chosen at random from eligible comments below. Comments will close Monday, October 6 at noon ET. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Comments are closed: 251 Comments:

I invented some good breakfast food once- mix a couple eggs with some mashed corn chips, add some parmesan and garlic powder, and maybe a little hot pepper. pour it into a frying pan to brown, and melt a couple slices of cheese on top. Season with Salt and pepper. Awesome.

Not sure if seriosly drunken concoctions count but on a Memorial Weekend college trip we made some pretty delicious (to our very buzzed taste buds) mixes of Cool Ranch Doritos, Sun Chips, potato chips, Fritos, and Easy Cheese!

This book looks great!

i started making zucchini pancakes about 30 years ago, long before they were fashionable. i grate and squeeze zucchini, add salt, pepper, chopped garlic, eggs, matzo meal, and some grated cheese, and fry them. i serve them with applesauce and sour cream, just like potato pancakes.

When I was 11-ish I made some awesome marshmallows.

I took a chunk of baker's chocolate and a gob of peanut butter and melted them together. I poured that over a giant marshmallow and sprinkled it with powdered sugar. It was so good, I kept making them over and over until I almost got sick.

It was rich, melty, and chocolate - totally satisfied my young cravings!

I invented a turkey pie for a turkey deli shop I worked for. It contained the turkey, the stuffing and the cranberries.

"potato eclairs"
mashed potato cakes shaped like eclairs stuffed with chicken fried steak instead of bavarian creme and brushed with gravy on top.
Ingredients: chicken fried steak nuggets made from leftover chicken fried steak inside mashed potato cakes made from leftover mashed potatoes. pretty good, but needed lots of gravy and the chicken fried steak isn't crispy, but it was left over and not crispy anyway.

we invent dishes all the time- who follows the recipe exactly anyhow?

Eggs a la Martin. (Recipe proprietary.)

its nothing really special but all my friends really love it: Its called "American Turkey Tacos". Its gound turkey meat with a secret combonation of spices that includes among opthers cumin and Spicy Garlic Sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings, haha! It has to be in a thick hand made wheat tortilla. Then for the toppings its cheddar cheese and carmalized onions and slices of tomatoe. Spalash on Franks Red Hot and your set. Same way every time and its a hit!!

i invented a cake that was plain vanilla cake with marscapone frosting, almonds, date, and orange zest. yum!

not terribly original, but i concocted a pretty awesome roasted pepper-grilled corn/squash/eggplant orzo dish a few days ago. ohmygod delicious.

Ah...my Sunday Morning Pre-Football-Leftover-Special

Two pieces of French Toast (challah French toast preferred) with scrambled eggs, capicola ham, American cheese, and cinnamon & sugar in between.

I have no idea if Shopsin would approve.

I invented the big mac.

when i became pregnant i craved (and invented) a dish of frozen corn with mayonnaise, garlic salt and black pepper. i could go through bags and bags of corn a day!

I "invent" different types of cookies and muffins on occassion-- I like playing with different flavor combos. My favorites are pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and dried cherry, almond and ginger cookies.

Rolled venison leg with a mushroom ragout. Not satisfied with the copious amounts of pork fat in the ragout, I draped bacon over the whole roast to ensure maximum flavor!

It's kind of like an aloo gobi chicken pot pie. We make it when it's cold out. Brrrrrrrr!

I never invented a dish, that's why I try to win cookbooks from you people!

Hells yes I have! On accident, of course....

I called it kalbi-style beef with cocktail onions, but it really had 3,000 other ingredients... spring peas, spinach, tons of ginger and garlic.... 4 kinds of fish and oyster sauces [in small amounts... don't doubt me here] - and...it was AWESOME! The whole thing really made me look at cocktail onions in a completely different way - it's amazing what those darling little pickl-y guys'll go with!! :D

I don't think I invent...I MODIFY.......over the years, I've changed recipes to make them my own....my vegetarian chili is the best......!

I invented a salad dressing this weekend -- honey, sushi vinegar, good olive oil, salt, and pepper. Not very hard to come up with, but for some reason it really impressed my husband. And it was delicious on a fig and pancetta salad.

You mean besides inventing the internet???

Poverty is the mother of invention. I call them casseroles, dips, tacos, pasta dishes, fish burgers, grill mix, salads, stir fry, mom's pizza...and on and on.

I honestly can't claim this as my own, since I got it from an internet friend who lived/lives in Winnipeg, Canada, but it's darn good. I haven't made it in years, though.

It's peanut butter pasta sauce. All you do to make it is heat up a small can of tomato paste and then add a big dollop of peanut butter, then stir until the peanut butter melts. You can add some curry powder if you want it spicy, but it's fine without it. Serve it over pasta - spirals seem to be best.

Now I'm hungry. And nostalgic.

I am going to assume I invented it because I haven't seen it anywhere else: cheesesteak and eggs, all cooked and chopped up together into one awesome sandwich

yes i am always experimenting with new ingredients to spice up dishes

Spice Rubbed Pork Chops: cinnamon, black pepper, smoked paprika, thyme, chipotle powder, white pepper, garlic powder, terragon, oregano, parsley, and the sweet and spicy McCormick spice mix.

I tried to come up with something for a Pillsbury bake-off. It was some kind of apple cinnamon rolls with maple icing. And it was a complete disaster. They totally fell apart in the oven and the icing tasted completely fake. UGH.

When I was a kid I thought I had invented ice cream soup. Wait for the ice cream to melt or just stir furiously, then sip out of a large spoon. Since then I have improved upon my inventions. My favorite is mango and goat cheese enchiladas with chicken. Yum.

i'm convinced that i am responsible for creating the delicious toasted peanut butter and bacon sandwich... so. flippin'. good.

I think everyone makes up a dish or two, they probably just don't realize it at the time. Me, I do a few things, that just came to me, like a honey lavender ice cream, because, of course, I like those things, and I said, sure, put them together.

The two things I've really, purely invented: the (just to be funny) Deep Fried Turkey Napoleon, which is just layers of my deep fried turkey, mashed potatoes, and wild rice stuffing. Even used a pseudo-ring mold.

And the Triple Decker PBJ Plus, three slices of bread, a slathering of peanut butter and jelly (two each, of course), and slices of banana throughout. Good on its own, not bad grilled, either. The King would love it.

eh, i guess. more inventive than actually inventing. there was this one time that i microwaved puffed pastry and sprinkled cinnamon sugar. i had a sweet tooth but only healthy food in my kitchen. it actually did the trick.

many, but my favorite is probably the tequila-shot truffles!

http://gonzogastro.wordpress.com

I "created" an awesome sandwich with scrambled eggs, fried Spam, and ketchup. Trashy but delicious!

Chicken ala Elli: Put the chicken breasts in a skillet with salt and pepper, brown, smear dijon on both sides of the chicken and then saute another few minutes on each side. Deglaze with Madeira and mix in some more mustard. Throw in some chopped scallions and you have a delicious, fast, and super easy chicken dish. Sometimes it even looks pretty!

Chinese Chicken Noodles: rice sticks, sliced chicken, broccoli slaw, scallions, and soy ginger dressing. What started as a collection of leftovers became a favorite meal!

I created a very decadent chocolate lavender tart - a classic tart crust filled with a layer of chocolate whipped cream with crushed lavender folded in, then topped with dark chocolate ganache. It was heavenly!

The first one that I remember was a seafood omelet with green pepper, shrimp, scallops, some lump crab meat, and plenty of old bay seasoning.
The second is smoked salmon in a brown butter sauce with Parmesan, thyme and garlic over angel hair pasta. The most recent was a sandwich for my nephew that was peanut butter and honey with doritos in the middle.

I have never invented my own dish! Hopefully some day soon.

Shirt tacos...using ground turkey, diced onion, tomato sauce, pepper, other spices, taco sauce

I can't imagine not inventing dishes- especially when you've had some issues in the month and you're low on cash so you're eating out of your pantry. I also learned how to cook while in high school, and my mom did the shopping, didn't ask me what I thought would work, but I cooked dinner most weeknights. It teaches you to work with what you have on hand! (I think she had a similar system with her mother when she was in high school)

My biggest problem is getting on a kick and eating the same thing over and over again.

after making fried chicken, i had a bowl of leftover egg and a bowl of leftover bread crumbs. that night, "breggs" were born. so delicious.

Oh, I better add something that I've invented. In high school I made all sorts of things from frozen, boneless chicken. Often it was simple with lemon, butter, green onions and mushrooms. Other times it could be more involved depending on what I had on hand.

I'm constantly trying to create new things -- especially now, having moved in with a Kosher vegetarian. Trying to adapt my (apparently) meat-centric dishes to versions that we can both enjoy has been a challenge, but it's always exciting.

I invent almost every time I cook dinner. It usually goes: search for recipe online or in book, figure out what ingredients I need, go shopping, change a diaper, feed the baby, start making dinner and end up winging it because I forgot to bookmark my webpage (or paper page) and can't be bothered to find it again.

Back in college, I worked part time in the grill at a local sports bar. While waiting for my shift to start, I grilled up a chicken breast, basted it with garlic butter, tossed it on a croissant with some lettuce, tomato, and onion and topped it with some horseradish mayo and colbyjack cheese. I liked it enough that it became my typical lunch on days I worked. The owner liked it enough that he added it to the menu as the "Larry Bird." My claim to culinary fame, at least locally.

My roommate and I invented (were inspired by) a bunch of different recipes centered around garlicky butternut squash and pasta. We added onion, sage, parmesan, and spicy sausage. It doesn't really have a name, except maybe That Pasta, as in, "you wanna make That Pasta again??"

Most of my dinners for the first several months of living on my own after college consisted of a chopped up chicken breast, stir fried with various frozen veges, and over sauced from one Asian-themed bottle or another... if that counts.

I made a sort of bread soup recently, pureed smooth and enriched with eggs. Delicious and creamy, if not exactly revolutionary.

I never follow recipes, generally, just apply a few basic techniques and whatever flavors I feel like and have on hand. In that sense, one could say I invent a dish almost every time I cook.

I don't think I ever invented anything as exciting and groundbreaking as macaroni and cheese pancakes...maybe I need this book as inspiration!

I'm not sure this qualifies as inventing as I'm sure there are older dishes that are the same or at least similar but I never knew of them so I'm counting it. It was chevre, chopped fresh mint, vanilla extract and salt and pepper cut with a couple teaspoons of cream. that mixture was then spread over halved figs which were then broiled until bubbly and golden brown.

I am always inventing new dishes made out of leftovers. My favorite game to play is, "take everything from the fridge and turn it into one dish." It can get pretty creative, with good and bad results

i've poured beer on my cereal before, does that count?

I invented a corn and chickpea salad that my family loves. It tastes very fresh but only requires fresh tomatoes. A great taste of summer for the middle of winter.

A salad of mixed greens with thyme beet cubes, gingered carrot cubes (beet and carrot juices, seasoned and gelled with agar agar), candied pecans, and a grapefruit and grapeseed oil vinaigrette

mediterranean/italian breakfast: barely cooked fried egg, marinated artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese on top of crusty bread

When I was little I invented "potato balls." I can't really explain what they were but my siblings loved them.

my creations are usually abominations that should never be served to humans, they need a label like the one for raw goats milk.

In university I invented "Apple Delight"
You slice an apple, top with cinnamon and maple syrup (or honey)
Microwave 2 minutes and top with granola.
Like apple crumble but 30x faster - What a Delight!

I like making instant mashes potatoes and throwing minced fresh garlic and dry herbs in the mix. I put that in a dish (like 8x8). Layer that with cheese. Then I cook ground turkey, onions, and peppers in taco seasoning. Layer that on top of the cheese to melt. Sometimes if I'm having breakfast, I'll put a fried egg on top of a serving. Not sure what kind of dish that is, but I like to eat it with sirracha :)

I came up with a couple of unique breakfast items

I like to make refrigerator soup using whatever is in the fridge.

"invent"? who the hell knows..looks like a fun read, though.

I invent stuff all the time. Starting when I was a kid with an omelette of turkey bananas jack cheese and cornflakes. Fortunately things have improved since then.

Peanut butter chicken ramen noodle sandwiches. I can't believe I just admitted that.

I tried (many times) to make corned beef hash burgers,but I could never get them to stick together. They tasted good, though.

I wanted to come up with a tiramisu type of dessert that would have more of a tropical feel and would go well with Mexican food...

So I pureed some super ripe mango and folded that into the mascarpone cheese mixture for the creamy layer. For the cake layer I used golden buttery poundcake sliced thin. I instead of dipping the slices in an espresso-brandy mixture, I topped them with a cinnamon-pineapple rum sauce. I layered it like a typical tiramisu and decorated it with more thinly sliced mangos....

It came out wonderfully, and was very very popular with my guests....

I do it all the time! Stuffed potato kugel, for one - potato kugel stuffed with sausage and onions.

No, not yet. I did make a treat with Nutella, I am not sure if someone already made it before.

It's called yummy pasta and consists of a marinara sauce mixed enough heavy cream to make it go from deep red to a deep orange. Served over penne with sauteed chicken that are cubed.

My mother invented "mexican crepes," an awesome bastardization of two cuisines, that was a favorite when I was a kid. I have invented tons of recipes, but they're mostly modifications of existing ones or some way to use up leftovers.

I invent dishes all the time. So the last one was I pureed baked acorn squash with some chicken broth. I threw it into a pan with some crushed garlic I sauteed in olive oil and some pine nuts I dry roasted. Added salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cooked until the squash caremalized. Poured in some goat milk and got it bubbling. Tossed in some undercooked penne, and when the pasta finished cooking in the sauce, I turned off the heat and added grated parmesiana reggiana, fresh marjoram from the garden and a drizzle of olive oil. Fairly tasty.

all the time, a lot of times when i'm making soup out of whatever's in the fridge

We liKE Chinese, so I invented a recipe for fried rice with lots of vegies and brown rice and a little meat. Also My "Carols Bread" evolved from a classic Challah bread.

I create a dish every time I cook. While I may try to follow a recipe scrupulously my pinch might well be someone else's half a teaspoon. It has taken a lot of practice and courage and confidence, but I have finally removed demagoguery from my kitchen. I respect the recipes that are the germ of what I cook, and the people that provide the recipe, but ultimately everything that I fix bears my mark.

No, ive never came up with my own recipes, i guess that i am not that creative.

haven't invented a new dish worth bearing my name yet; but there's always time!!

No, But I remember when I was a kid, my sister used to take pretty much everything sweet or crispy out of the cupboard put it together and name it something.
Unfortunately, I was always the taste tester.

I make a mean bacon, cream cheese and bagel sandwich. Not really kosher, but damn delicious.

Also as a kid, my sis and I used to take every ingredient/condiment on the table and dump it into water and dare the other one to drink it.

Sure. Coquilles Saint Salvador Dali. Barely-pan-seared sea scallops (so they are still white but a bit blood-shot-looking; or, sear them around the round edge and leave the flat surface white), arranged in a shallow muddy-green puddle of lemony sorrel sauce. Place a large caper berry on each scallop. Disconcertingly delicious. Watch your dinner guests re-enact classic cinema. An "Andalusian" specialty!

Yes well I dunno for certain this dish doesnt exist, but its certainly the first time I have had it and I have never heard of it. Its a very simple "salad", and I call it an endive salad when I serve it:

Endives split in half length wise, brushed with a small bit of olive oil and seared cut (flat) side down on a very hot cast iron pan for ~15-30 seconds, just enough for the endive to soften and the edges to carmelize/burn slightly.

Carmelized onions piled on top, drizzled with aged balsamic (or a balsamic reduction) and shaved parmesan (or any cheese you like I bet a strong blue would be good actually).

Super easy fast and if you do it right can be a very nice presentation.

I don't know if this qualifies as an invention, but I created a chinese chicken salad based on the ingredients at a local cafe.

plenty, but my kids are fond of our raviolis with pumpkin sauce

A few years back, when I was still pretty green in the kitchen, I cooked at a small restaurant/bar. I had been at this place for about a year and was completely burnt out on the menu. Late one night as I sat at the bar after my shift I got to chatting with a very animated (and quite tipsy) young couple. They told me they had met just three weeks beforehand and were getting married the next week! They seemed very much in love and I congradulated them on finding each other. When they asked me where a great restaurant would be in the area I invited them back the next night for a three course meal made especially for them by chef me. (i might have been a lil' tipsy myself) They got very excited and promised to return the next evening.

Working the next night, which was very slow, I waited in anticipation for the couple, excited to whip up something new and exciting for them instead of making the same fifteen plates over and over. However, the night dragged on and I eventually gave up on the couple. They must have been too drunk to remember, I thought. Oh well, I was tired anyway. I was just getting ready to clean up and close the kitchen and guess who walks in ready for their custom made meal at 11:30 pm? Keep in mind that despite the fact I was excited about cooking for them, I hadn't actually put any real thought into what I would actually make. And it was late. And I was tired.
This is what I came up with:

First course- Like a nacho/crostini thing. Indidvidual tortilla chips layed out on a platter topped with tapenade, jack cheese, chevre, each garnished with a single cilantro leaf. This wasn't too hard to think up. Kins of a deconstructed nancho.
The couple, for some reason, loved it.

Main- This was where things got interesting. I really had no idea what to do other than I was sure it would be some type of pasta. I refused to make anything from the menu so...Did you ever start improving a dish and take it way too far? Adding some of this, a little of that, until you can barely recognize what you've ended up with? The ingredient list for the pasta dish I served the couple:
Linguine, roasted garlic, rosemary, thyme, chicken breast, tomatoes, marinara sauce, portabellos marinated in A-1, tapenade, cashews, spinach, jack cheese, chevre, heavy cream, basil, parsley, some other stuff i've forgotten and god knows what else. The color of this sauce was an ungodly orangey-brown like dumpster juice and smelled reall really strange. I was afraid to taste it. So I just sent it to the table...

I didn't hear anything from the servers as I finally cleaned up and closed the kitchen. I told the bartender to make some whiskey-chocolate something for the dessert course and went outside to smoke. When I came back and sat at the bar for my shift drink there was the couple. I was hesitant to speak to them but was morbidly curious about the monster pasta. I strode up and asked them about their meal and...they loved it! They told me it was absolutely delicious and thanked me profusly. I almost did, believe them until the guy pulled out his take- out box and asked for a fork. He hungily shoved more pasta in his mouth, smiling the whole time as I watched. I was somewhat beside myself at this creation but hey, the couple was happy!

I used to stuff all kinds of things in a pita pocket and put it in the microwave when i was in elementary school...i've made significant progress since then.

stir fry with whatever is in the fridge

Occasionally I will make a number of substitutions in recipes and make my own recipe

I created a Sweet potato casserole without the marshmallow that includes walnuts and apples with cinnamon sugar. It is always a big hit at the holidays.

My son's favorite is an "inside out pizza" - 2 flour tortillas, pizza sauce, cheese, sliced olives - cooked quesadilla style and cut into pie wedges. He won't eat "quesadillas" but gobbles down an "inside out pizza".

I invented one of my now-favourite sandwiches: hummus, sliced roasted beets and arugula on toasted raisin bread. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Right now I am working on creating a sort of pecan curd or pancetta to use as a condiment at the teahouse I work in.

I've invented a heck of a lot of cocktails, which are often followed by attempts to deep-fry something I've never seen deep-fried- like leftover spaghetti fritters, or cheddar cheese, frozen, wrapped in potato and deep-fried, or deep-fried cheese sandwiches... Are they recipes? Debatable. More like experiments in burn dressing.

Invention - maybe not from square 1, but I love improvising. The latest? A chocolate chip quickbread to which I added toasted walnuts, orange zest, and cranberries.

Most of the things I invent wind up being just for me -- only to my own taste.

Not the most creative, but in high school I would eat chicken sandwiches that I piled on with kimchi and other assorted banchan. Hmmm, now that I'm thinking about it, there were other weird combos like putting a little tomato sauce with mandoo for a pseudo-ravioli. (Ok, ok, so it's not really cooking...)

It may sound absolutely odd, but I'm always eating waffle sandwiches. With scrambled eggs and Sriracha (sp?) sauce in the middle. It's college budget delicious.

My after-school snack in Elementary school: mix together rice krispies, peanut butter and sugar. Eat. Yum!

NO - I do good to follow a recipe! But I have made adjustments to a recipe to make it more to my family's liking and to accommodate my son's peanut allergy.

Sure. When our parents left my six-year-old self and my little sister parked in front of the TV on weekend afternoons, I created some delectable snacks for us. Two favorites were Campfire brand marshmallows sprinkled with canned potato sticks, heated in the oven just until the marshmallows were browned and bubbly; and saltines, warmed individually on the light bulbs in our parents' bedroom lamps.

Go to Weight Watchers

I do everytime I cook

One of my signature brunches is called "French Toast Santa Fe":
It is basically a sandwich made with two slices of challah french toast filled with almond butter and sliced bananas, slathered in maple syrup. I used to call it "“The Challah-French Toast-Peanut Butter-Banana Sandwich, with Maple Syrup”, but that was too long. I now use the "Santa Fe" suffix for all of my signature dishes. Check out photos at http://www.breakfastblogger.com/2006/07/24/the-ultimate-breakfast-sandwich/

I invent every time I cook ('cause you gotta use what is in the fridge!) My most recent favorite is Farmer's Market pizza - think whole wheat crust, flavorful green "sauce", fresh cheeses, and a sprinkling of pine nuts. Yummy!!

I made a ketchup and mayo sandwich on white bread when I was 5...

I change, modify, re-arrange,,,,but NOBODY could come up with as many new combos as Kenny Shopsin!
He's a force of nature!

I used to take salami, spread some cream cheese on it and roll it up when I was little. Does that count? :)

I suppose this isn't an invention, but I came up with a bread pudding recipe that I'm mighty proud of!

I haven't yet "invented" any recipes, unless my very scientific (and delicious) way of cooking asparagus counts. You haven't eaten asparagus until you've eaten MY asparagus. (nyah, nyah.)

I invented the flying sandwich. I did, really.

caramel cream pie- i put it on the menu at work and its such a success

One or two good ones - beetroot pancakes, like potato pancakes. But then I saw a recipe similar to them in a british cookbook.

Also I made a macaroni and cheese with leeks that was fabulous.

Also, this is slightly embarrassing, but my favourite food ever is raw carrots and ketchup. Lovely.

I'm always "inventing" something since I can never seem to follow a recipe exactly, got to be creative!

I'm not so sure if "invented" is the right word, but I regularly toss stuff together and, sometimes, it even comes out good.
I modified a brownie recipe by adding more chocolate (chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, etc) and those have become my "signature" goodie that I bring to work reguarly.
When I travel, I toss together brown rice, black beans, salsa and shredded cheese for a quick, filling, easy meal. Sometimes I'll add leftover meat (generally chicken) from a previous resturant meal.

I'd love the chance to win a copy of the book. Thanks for the opportunity.
Ruth Ann

Fried Green Tomato BLT with rosemary bread, fresh mozzerella and basil aioli!

leftovers mixed together

I invent dishes all the time, usually some sort of pasta and whatever leftovers we have from the weekend. My most recent was a macaroni and cheese with maple bacon and a hunk of raclette that I'd picked up on a recent trip to northern Michigan. Very, very tasty...

I invent dishes all the time, usually a casserole using leftovers and pasta or rice. All of been edible but none worth making again.

No inventions here, but I'm always freestyling my recipes.

My various incarnations of Pasta Bake!

Chili where I throw in leftover veggies or whatever else I have in the frig!

I "invented " a brownie ice cream cake that was a HIT with everyone .

Leftover casserole! Layered with whatever there was, a splash of wine or dry sherry, and scratch gravy.

Nothing specific, but we are always improvising everything we cook to make it more personal.

I haven't invented any dishes :(

I made up a dish I called "Mediterranean Chicken" from a handful of different recipes and ideas. I stuffed boneless chicken breasts with a mix of feta, capers, chopped green olives, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and olive oil. I salt & peppered the chicken, topped it with a thin slice of lemon, and baked. I topped the cooked chicken breasts with a tomato, toasted pine nut and oregano mix, and served a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, rice wine vinegar and olive oil on the side. It always looks so fresh and pretty! And tastes great too!

Does baked beans ice cream count?

Yes for a recipe contest,can not say what it was since the contest is not over yet.

The Sluggo Sandwich - basically fried egg, bacon, mayo, & american cheese on untoasted white bread. A gooey gloppy glorious mess. After that I wasn't allowed to invent things in the kitchen anymore. (At least until I got my own kitchen.)

Rolled Dough Delicious.

hit the wrong button. Rolled Dough Delicious is very simple. Take one slice of white bread (heavily milled wheat would work too, but nothing with bits or nuts), and cut off the crust. Butter bread heavily and sprinkle sugar ontop (non-purists add cinnemon, but the original RDD was a diabetic's nightmare of processed ingrediants). Starting with a corner, squeeze and roll the bread piece into a ball shape, with the buttery goodness side on the inside. Place ball into toaster oven at 300-350 degrees (depending on size of toaster oven) for about 5-10 minutes. RDD should be golden-toasty on the outside, sugary-butter super on the inside!

My family has a couple inside joke dishes. One is "frogs on toast" which started out as the thing to say when little kids would ask in the middle of cooking "What's for dinner?" and turned into a real snack. It consists of some butter or olive oil braised greens on crispy or even day old bread, kid of works in like a less broken up panzanella. The mix changes based on what's around, usually some kind of red pepper spread is involved. Often a morning quick snack with random leftovers and spice rack items for variety.

I invent sauces all the time. Depends on what I have available and what's for dinner.

Yes, the Meat Football. A football made with real pigskin, stuffed with cheesy chili sauce for chip dippin'.

I agree with what someone else said...most likely the type of people that read this sight create their own dishes all the time!

I very rarely follow recipes (except in baking), i usually just start throwing things together that sound good to me!

During my sophomore year of high school, my punk band and I decided to call it quits for the day and scrounged around our drummer's pantry looking for something to eat. Our efforts to make a dish turned into a "let's-see-how-ridiculous-this-can-get" affair.

It consisted of an oatmeal/bread base set in a bread pan (Quaker oats, whole grain flour, some baking soda, water, salt, little bit of butter), some brown sugar, pineapple chunks, bacon bits, and Canadian bacon - all topped with a nice glaze of maple syrup.

We dubbed it "Oatmeat" (in fact, I think we made a few shirts on Cafe Press to remember the momentous occasion). It didn't really rise (duh...no yeast, not enough baking soda), but it was actually pretty good. You just couldn't eat more than a few bites because it was so freakishly rich.

Carbonara schmarbonara...I invented breakfast spaghetti (bacon, eggs and pasta with tons of grated parm and black pepper).

I guess I "invent" something every time I cook. I usually only use recipes as as jumping off point, or to learn a new technique.

My favorite though, is from when I first started cooking. Flour really thin pork loin cutlets, sear 'em up and make a pan sauce with Captain Morgan rum, apple cider, chile powder and a lil bit of cream. Came out even better when I started sauteeing apples and onions before making the sauce. I think I'll make this sometime this week. :)

"Bacon Sauerkraut Sandwiches" - Toasted bread with scads of bacon, mustard, mayo and sauerkraut. Its the sauerkraut that makes it.

All the time... this week it was the bastard child of picadillo and Bahamian style steamed tuna. It was sauteed onions, carrots, tomatoes and can of tuna, with a good squeeze of lemon, some capers and olives, all tossed around with ketchup, and some cilantro sprinkled over the top. Sounds odd, but it really was delicious over white rice.

i thought i had invented quesedillas using prociuitto, smoked gouda and caramelized onions several years ago and then i saw them online somewhere. i was disappointed to learn i am not as imaginative as i thought.

I'm not sure if I've actually created some of the dishes I've made or that they exist and I don't know it. I used to make chicken breast casseroles with rice and anything that I got out of the garden at the time. I also get very inventive with my grilled cheese sandwiches. Thank you!

Taco potstickers

I invent dishes often -- the most sucessful have been stirfrys and soups. My fried rice is never the same twice and I always think it is incredible. I have never made fried rice unless it involved leftovers or using up bits of this and that.

The one dish I invented was a simple salad of broccoli, shredded carrots, chicken strips, and tomato sauce. Easy to do in a dorm room!

Sauteed prok chops finished with a sauce of dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar cooked just to glaze.

Just can't imagine that no one else in the world has ever tried some of my
"I think this might taste good" experiments. So, even if I haven't found any written recipes for them, I can't take credit for any "invented dish". I will, however, enjoy reading Kenny Shopsin's book.

I invented alternative Pop Tarts.

I have ...
Mamas Favorite Chicken Nachos!

I have never invented a dish.

I invent about 80% of the food I cook. One favorite is my vaguely vietnamese salad - it's usually thin ribbons of napa cabbage and spinach, with thin strips of carrot, cucumber, and sometimes red pepper. Add lots of cilantro, some basil, vietnamese cilantro if I can find it, maybe some mint. Dress with fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and salt. So refreshing!

I have never developed a recipe in my life. I completely depend on cookbooks!

I can't claim to have invented any dishes, but I do love to experiment with recipes and change them up to fit my own personal tastes.

I like eating frozen vegetables. And I make a "frozen salad" from undefrosted Trader Joe's french-cut green beans with mayonnaise-horseradish dressing and topped with crispy crumbled bacon and thinly sliced red onion. Crazy but good.

a peanut butter, strawberry jam, banana, granola wrap.

I invent, modify, re-invent to little success. I will keep trying and the poor hubby keeps on eating.

My son invented his version of cheese and apples: Cheetos dipped in applesauce. Delicious! (If you're 2)

Nope I suck and only follow recipes, oh well! I want a book!

I started making a new snack for my friends and myself a few months ago. We call them "Sullies." They're nutella and smooth peanut butter between two soft chocolate chip cookies.

tortilla chicken pie!

I didn't invent it, but I invented a new way to make the classic fried-egg cheese sandwich, which involved frying the egg, adding cheese and bread, and then grilling the bread like a grilled cheese sandwich. Delicious and my method impressed my Engineer roommate!

take one packet of soy sauce, one of duck sauce and one of Chinese mustard and mix together. use as an overnight marinade/glaze for a ham. Bake until cooked through.

totally. it's called 'blackcurrant and lime jello - accidentally mixed' and tastes like vick's vaporub.

a lowfat chicken wrap. it has baked chicken, red onions and ceaser dressing.

Always doing new cakes or casseroles. My son loves my version of tater-tot casserole!

Puerco Pibil tamales with spicy raisin and pumpkin sauce

I invented several new ways to fix omlets--especially using various meats and sauces for a dinner meal.

Never invented a recipe, just cook things my way.

I developed a green chile chicken stew recipe my family loves.

When I lived at home, I did most of the cooking after school, so my parents would have something warm and comforting to eat when they got home from work. I also insisted on eating at 5pm, which is kind of strange for a high schooler. My signature dish consisted of diced chicken breast in a sort of stew made from cream of mushroom soup, chicken stock, soy sauce, garlic, and various veggies, all served over long-grain white rice. Sounds silly, but it was delicious!

Cinnamon matzoh "toast" - like cinnamon toast, but on matzoh and baked flat in the toaster oven. Hey, a girl's gotta eat during Passover!

not as of yet :(

"There is nothing new under the sun."

That said, about half of what I make is made up. Lots of riffs on burritos, Israeli couscous, pasta concoctions with fresh vegetables and strange sauces, udon noodle dishes, risottos, etc.

Sure. Chicken Papantonio (chicken breasts with feta and fennel on a bed of spinach) , "Angry" fish (Hot! Peppers!), jerk tofu, various chilis of course.

Yes, I've cooked chicken breasts with a mixture of garlic, oregano, olive oil and a splash of lemon juice. Add spinach to the pan to wilt, then serve with feta cheese and diced tomato in a toasted pita. Mmmmm

Age 6: "Mashed Potato Puffs" Essentially they are mashed poatatoes piped onto a baking sheet topped with chives and baked until they have a golden crust.
I was surpirsed at how good they were---and continue to be!

I've made new versions of chicken stir-fry, but it's always based on a foundation of stir-fry. =P

i have made many "original" dishes- mostly involving chickpeas! however, one of my favorites is white beans with garlic and onions, sauted then added to a cream sauce with kale. served over whole wheat pasta, with lots of salt and pepper.

Cranberry Goat Cheese Pesto Pasta Salad. It's so good!

I can't claim myself as an inventor because I am always basing it on someone elses idea...My favorite is my milkshake creations...Chocolate ice cream, fresh cherries and magic shell... OH MY!

I invented a new take on the latke when I was inspired by the Earth, Wind and Fire them of the Gourmet Club dinner I hosted last fall. I fried homemade sweet potato latkes. Then I topped them with whipped creme fraiche. Finally I finished them off with a home-cooked hot and spicy applesauce made with 8 different types of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne.

Absolutely delicious!

This seems to be something that only I like, but toasted nutella, banana, and Special K sandwiches. Comfort food!

hahaha... I love pb, banana, and special k sandwiches.... =)
Besides that, I don't think I can say I've "invented" a dish before. But I have made butterscotch brownies with cream cheese mousse topping...

Okay, they aren't particularly creative, but before all of the restaurants were serving them, I made "Fajita Burritos". I liked all the ingredients in fajitas, but I also liked the beans rolled up in the tortilla too. Yummy.

Almost every week I make up something new! (I do a lot of cooking without recipes)

This week, it was a birthday cake: banana cake with bananas foster filling and cream cheese caramel frosting. Absolutely divine, and well-appreciated by the birthday boy, who has already requested it for next year.

Years before the current coffee craze, I invented a cappuccino mousse cheesecake - and won a prize for the recipe.

Yes, but I can't share it here, lest it be stolen. (I'll just say it involves lobster, bacon, caramel, and fennel pollen.)

when I was a kid I invented all manner or scrambled eggs by raiding the leftovers. Taco scrambled eggs. Chicken parmesan scrambled eggs. I don't remember, but I wouldn't put it past 9-year-old me, if I ever "invented" hot dog scrambled eggs...

No, every time I think I've invented a dish, I find it later somewhere else - oh, well

Everyday I go to work I invent a dish for a lunch feature, it's always fun!

i've never invented a dish...

no i have not

Black figs with balsamic, olive oil, pine nuts, and a touch of red pepper flakes over fresh italian bread spread with goat cheese or fresh ricotta. Totally awesome, and totally inspired by being in love with someone who don't love you.


I have never invented a dish, but I also never follow recipes to the T unless I am baking (and sometimes not even then). I usually like to add a little something extra whether it be a bit of hot pepper flakes or some oregeno and I think it usually comes out for the better.

Friends at my restaurant call it a "TG Special" usually it's just a giant lavosh cracker made sort of pizza style with whatever ingredients I chose. Wisconsin themed (cheese curds, brats, beer dipping sauce), ruben, egg roll... stuff like that

I created my "Quatro Choc" Chocolate Chip Cookies using ground up whole Oreo's as part of the basic dough. I then add melted semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder and chocolate chips to finish it off. It makes a very intense, yet semi sweet, chocolate lover's cookie.

Not sure that I can claim to have created a recipe unless you count the spectacularly repulsive mixtures we used to make as kids at the soda fountain combining as many different sodas as possible.

My first invention for afterschool hunger a hundred years ago: equal parts Nestle's Quik, icing sugar, margarine and a touch of boiling water all nicely mixed to a thick consistency then ceremoniously topped with sour cream and for extra special, canned red cherry pie filling. I think I called it "Plasti-Goop". I loved it especially while watching the Three Stooges!

I added salt cod and leeks to cream of potato soup because it was all i had left .... pretty cool

I can't say I've invented a recipe as much as I've reinvented a recipe. I use a recipe just for the initial idea and then go from there. More fun that way.

when I was a kid I loved barbecue chips on my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I make this "Southern" Fried Rice. Southern as in American South. I use fried chicken cubed and corn kernels as opposed to more traditional Chinese ingredients.

celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins on it. ok i probably didn't invent it but i thought of it on my own!

Peanut butter & ham sandwiches!

It seems like most of my cooking are inventions. My favorite is Crawfish Alfredo. My family loves it.

Many, many, many times... most requested is my special veggie-not-tomato pasta sauce. It's pretty awesome (if I do say so myself).

I created a sourdough rye bread that's pretty good. And a gingered biscotti using ginger preserve.

Oooh, I wanna' copy of that! I'm gonna' go with a camping dish that was invented on a trip was on. Take a tortilla, spread some peanut butter on it (preferably crunchy), add in some beef jerky (preferably teriyaki) and finish it off with some cheddar cheese. A quick and easy lunch for a day on the river or trail.

My Smashed potatoes, they have never come out like the first time around though. I'm pretty well known for opening the fridge and rummaging then opening the spice cabinet and making something quite tasty... there have been a few duds but what is one to expect!

ok .. i have no idea if this is truly our invention but when we were cashed strapped students in australia we made a pretty frequent meal of plain white pasta tossed with butter and soy sauce. At the time it seemed so good, but now my stomach flip flops at the thought of it!!

Another recipe from my student days (though this I still eat :))-- again no doubt done before me -- is made on an indoor grill. Thinly sliced banana layered on one tortilla shell, sprinkled with cinnamon and than topped with a 2nd tortilla shell. Grill on both sides until the bananas start to melt and the tortilla is crisp. You end up with a crunchy, sweet banana goodness!

yes I have - Dilly Cheesy Cube Steak and it is scrumptious!

i've modified recipes with my own touches, but never created anything outright

Roasted banana bread with peanut butter chips -- very Elvis

My favorite poverty-inspired dish created was chickpea salad: garbanzos (canned) mixed with shredded mozzarella, diced tomatoes, maybe a few pink beans if I was splurging that week, sliced string beans, french dressing, and mixed in bits of crushed salt-free pretzels. Sounds gross now, but it was cheap, filling, and delicious.

I've come up with roasted chickpeas and countless pasta dishes, among others, as we all have when straying from a recipe or going without, but I don't think that I could claim I invented any of them.

A peanut butter, wasabi, mayonnaise, tomato sauce, bacon & egg sandwich.

Veggie Burrito - with potatoes, corn, black beans and cilantro.
Mainly change recipes to my own taste and food likes.

I haven't made it lately but I used to like chicken cutlet with mustard, butter, S&P, and maybe garlic wrapped up in puff pastry and baked. Also, instead of the mustard, mushrooms, onions & cheese. Which is also good without the pastry.
I have made oven pancakes with fruit often lately -- lots of great combinations -- today I had apples, cranberries and walnuts. Also great with peaches, raspberries and almonds.

I invented cranberry pasta. I made my own pasta dough but subtituted the liquid for a thin cranberry puree. I served it in a basil vinegrette with toasted pinenuts.

i feel like i'm inventing, or at least improvising, almost anytime i get in the kitchen. for some reason it seems like everything tastes better when you're cooking it for the first time and you're not sure if it's going to be good, or even edible, until you sit down and eat. danger equals delicious dinner!

I never have made my own dish from scratch, but I love to change up recipes I have already tried to make them my own.

I changed up the filling from spanakopeta by omitting the egg and adding a little cream cheese to meld the filling. Then I nixed the phyllo dough (time consuming!) and wrapped the filling in wonton wrappers, deep fried them, and they have been a great success. My husband calls them "fried things."

Unfortunately, I've never invented a recipe. Unless you count those times I was trying to follow a recipe and somehow went wrong...

I made a shrimp salad one day just using twist macaroni and added canned tiny shrimp,sliced tiny sweet pickles and Miracle Whip. Now I'm expected to make at every family get together. Who knew such a simple dish would be such a big hit.

Accidentally. My recipe books pages stuck together and I was making two different types of potato salad. I mixed the two together and everyone loved it.

I'm afraid I've never invented a dish.

I don't know if it qualifies as "inventing" recipes, but I've made lots of frittatas w/whatever is in the fridge. Lots of different rice dishes as well.
gkstratos@yahoo.com

I have never invented a dish...yet.

I've invented many dishes. One was so bad, the outside cats wouldn't eat it. I stick to recipes or minor, minor, minor revisions.

I modify different recipes to my liking

Microwaved Cereal and Morsels!

I have never invented a dish or anything-I might change a recipe slightly if someone does not like a certain ingredient

No, I wish I could but I am not very creative.

Crockpot stuffed peppers Italian style :)

i've never invented a dish - i can, however, follow a recipe like no one can

Many times I have invented dishes from the items I have had on hand. I have made up egg dishes, various soups and stews, meatloafs, and cookies.

I make any number of "throw togethers". All of them can never be reproduced because I harvest whatever is in season in the refrigerator or pantry.

I invent a lot of things - I really like to experiment in the kitchen. My favorite so far is a buffalo-style tilapia over grits.

As a kid I would spread peanut butter on one slice of bread and sprinkle chocolate chips on another and place both under the toaster oven to toast then press them together to form a sandwich.

i always invent different things, like different types of salads or wraps, its so much fun to come up with different things!

I like to use existing recipes and change them to make them my own. For instance, I started with a basic alfredo recipe and jazzed it up. The only dish I invented from scratch was a sweet balsamic spinach bacon salad which is a meal in itself!

I am not much of an inventor, but I do like to play with recipes, and add spices and hot sauce to almost everything. Thanks for the contest.

Well, my 'recipe' is more of a combination of things, but my DH and I find it rather yummy. It's 'name' is called (sorry folks, so not appetizing) "Fartblossoms!" LOL

I make a recipe of Manwich Bold with ground beef. Then I mix it with a couple of cans of pork and beans or baked beans, a little molasses, a little Worcestershire sauce and a little Coleman's dry mustard, some Hormel bacon bits. Cook on the stove or in a crockpot til it is nice and thick. Serve with Frito Scoops.

I originally came up with the recipe when I had leftover Manwich and leftover baked beans and I mixed them together.

This is also my much-requested Baked Bean recipe...when I carry it to potlucks or picnics, I use my antique bean pot as a serving vessel.

Yummy Yummy...It is SO good!

I "invent" almost every time I cook. I often change, modify, or re-arrange recipes depending on what I have available - (waste not want not). Thank you for the opportunity to win!

I MODIFY.alot as i go along!

I've never invented a dish.

Not yet, probably never. garrettsambo@aol.com

well i put clams in a macaroni salad once.. :)

I am a creative cook, always coming up with something different. I made a dish with Rice A Roni, hamburger, tomato sauce and mozarella cheese- I am Italian, so you must have the cheese!

I cook up whatever fresh vegetables I have (brocolli, sweet peppers, onions, and mushrooms are often in the mix) as well as pototoes cut in chunks. The micorwave is fine for that part. Then i mix them all together in a wok with a drizzle of olive oil. Season to taste. No name for it, but the family likes it.

I did, actually. I put sugar and all kinds of other stuff in one of my mother's nice bowls about 25 years ago. Microwaved it. It set...pretty hard. I think it was hard candy, but I had to throw the bowl away pretty quickly after that. Whoops.

Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:

klp1965
zamboni
captunderp
Nicholas H
verbafacio

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