Improv Night

S. and I were busy this weekend. It was one of those unsettling, I-should-be-working couple of days when brushing your teeth seems like a waste of time. Getting out of the house to go grocery shopping, normally one of our favorite pastimes, turned into a disorganized battle against time. With no list or menu prepared, we walked in and grabbed some reliable staples - foods we know we'll like and will know what to do with. Lamb. Canned tomatoes. Brussel sprouts. Unfortunately with what came to me later in the day as a dinner idea forced us to improvise...Warning: these two dishes are probably not the best to have together, but as anyone who has ever been in a self-induced studying stupor will know, sometimes you just have to make food. Who cares if your side dish doesn't complement your entree? Many years ago some gastronomic revolutionary dared to boil down some cranberries and spoon them over turkey. I don't know the real story, but I imagine it involved an empty cupboard and a turkey overpopulation. Perhaps Native Americans were involved.

Lamb Tikka Masala (S. wanted lamb and I wanted something tomato-y)

Honey Pecan Brussel Sprouts. 

Quite an improvisation on my part, never made it like this before. We just had a bag of unfinished chopped pecans I wanted to get rid of. Like I said, didn't quite go with the Tikka Masala, but I imagine one day I'll make it again with some grilled pork chops.