You know why it’s important to learn baseball when you are younger? So you can hit life’s curveballs when you are older. You never know when the universe is going to toss one at you. But rest assured, a few will be pitched your way. Some are serious and life altering, Some are less severe but still require adjusting. Some curveballs are disguised as opportunities. Actually, let me rephrase that. Most of life’s curveballs actually ARE opportunities.
This past summer, I had an awesome gig come across my plate. I was hired to cook for a family of 7 adults, providing lunches and dinners for a two week period. (The family ended up loving what I provided that they extended it for entire month.) This was a huge undertaking in every sense of the word. And there were plenty of fastballs and curveballs pitched my way.
Curveball #1: Refrigerator and freezer needs. I have 2 refrigerators with 2 regular freezers plus 1 full freezer. Yet that was not going to be enough. But as luck would have it our neighbors sold their house, moved out and the new owners weren’t moving in for a month. Coincidence or Fate? I say lifesaver as I packed their fridge and freezer to the brim.
Curveball #2: The clients many food restrictions which required a complicated menu planning.
Curveball #3: The management of each meal, heating instructions, and color coded labeling system. With so many containers being delivered, the only way they would know what to heat up was having a color coded labeling system so they knew what dish went with what and for when. They would also need instructions for re-heating and for sauces/dressings. M/L = Monday Lunch, F/D = Friday Dinner and so on.
Other challenging parts of the gig was that I had to deliver the food over an hour away twice a week which required a well orchestrated shopping-cooking- delivery schedule, using various coolers and pack out lists to ensure nothing was left behind. Add to that the various food restrictions which included what proteins some of the guests ate and others did not. This meant that I had to come up with two mains for every meal. Ensuring that every person had sufficient protein was like solving a Rubik’s cube. Oh, did I mention, gluten free? That part is easy for me since I’ve been gluten free for over a decade. So, I won’t even count that.
There were other curveballs but I think you get it.
Big, Big, Big. And I’m always up for a challenge, especially one that requires logistical thinking. I have the detail oriented mind to tackle this type of task. All bragging aside, it’s actually one of my super skills.
I am a very visual person. In order to tackle this monster, I needed to see it. At first, I starting handwriting the menu and the to do lists. Then I typed it into the computer. But soon realized that it was a living, breathing beast which needed to be shifted and modified constantly. Moving items around on the computer wasn’t as effective since all the columns kept getting out whack. I knew the only way to confront this monster of a task was the old fashioned method of sticking it up on a wall. I needed a system that would allow flexibility, full visibility and the ability to easily move food offerings around without shifting others out of place (as what happens in a Word Doc). This could be the next new meaning of a Moveable Feast.
I printed out each offering, cut them into small strips and added painters tape to the back. It was the only way to switch out an item easily after staring at the entire menu and realizing that I might be serving rice 3 days in a row. Or that if I moved a dinner to another night then I wouldn’t have the spicy slaw as a leftover for lunch 2 days later. Rubik’s cube or mathematical conundrum? Anyway, this system worked beautifully and allowed me to see the whole scope of the project and ensure the client was happy with the diversity of offerings. I left it on the wall as art!
My moveable feast. A ‘place and stick’ menu system that kept me from going batty.
I literally used it everyday to keep me on track
Everything was going along swimmingly until one day the client made a late decision switch which left a protein hole for the vegetarian in the family.
Curveball # I lost count: Need an additional protein but no time to go shopping.
So, how do you sneak in extra protein at the last minute using only what you have available? Legumes to the rescue.
I decided the fastest, easiest solution was to make chick pea fritters. Don’t ask me why I thought this would be fast and easy since I had never made these before. But the idea seemed similar to other pancake like food, so that equaled a decent plan. Naturally, it had to be gluten free. This really wasn’t that earth shattering of an idea. It only felt dramatic because I had less them 8 hours to solve the problem and make the food using only available items, in order to make it for the next day’s morning delivery.
Here’s how it went down.
But just a few ingredients: Chick Peas, Gluten Free flour, jalapeño, egg, scallions and cilantro.
Ingredients
(Makes 14 - 3” round Fritters)
1 39 oz can Chick Peas
3 T Gluten Free Flour (or Chick Pea flour. If you aren’t concerned with GF, then regular flour can be used)
1 Egg, beaten
2+ Tbsp Jalapeño pepper, minced (add more if you like more heat)
1/3 c Cilantro packed leaves, 3 T chopped
1/2 c Scallions, sliced
1 t Salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/8 t red pepper flakes, optional
coarse sea salt to finish
Tahini Dipping Sauce
1/2 c tahini
6 T ice water
3 T Lemon juice/zest
2 T scallions, sliced
1 t jalapeño, minced
salt to taste
Instructions
Slice, chop and mince the aromatics.
Mise en place: Chop, slice and have all ingredients ready.
2. Mash the chick peas, leaving some larger and smaller pieces for texture.
3. Add the jalapeño, cilantro, scallions and mix.
4. Then beat egg with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes and add to chick pea until combined.
5. Add the flour 1 tablespoon at a time and mix until the egg is absorbed but still it wet enough to hold it together.
Squeeze a bit into a ball to ensure it holds together.
6. Using an scoop, choosing the size you desire. If you want them as appetizers make smaller ones. If you want them as a side dish, make them larger. Depending on your style and also how you will be serving them, it’s up to you whether you scoop and free form them or scoop and press into a cutter for perfectly equal fritters. Once you decided, scoop, flatten and place them on the sheet tray for fast work. Again, you can choose super flat so they are crispier, or slightly fatter for the thicker more substantial bite. Your choice depending on your needs/desires. Remember, my recipes can be followed exactly or simply be a guide for you to create and make your own modifications. However it is important that when forming these pack them tight so they hold together.
Choose your tool
Scoop for free form, or scoop into a mold
Size matters…
7. Refrigerate for 1/2-1 hour or freeze for 15-20 minutes. This step helps to get the fritters together then frying.
Prep makes easy work. Plus I do recommend placing them on tray to refrigerate or freeze before frying.
8. I like using a cast iron pan when I frying. The heat from the pan allows for a good sear. If you don’t have cast iron, use your best fry pan or grill pan. Working in batches so as to not drop the pan temperature, add oil and about 6 of the fritters. Turn with a small spatula. When done, remove and place on a paper towel and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
I prefer thinner fritters because I’m a sucker for crisper, crunchy food.
Golden brown and crispy. The paper towel absorbs any excess oil.
I made a tahini dipping sauce to go along with these. A little extra protein from the sesame. Below is the tahini sauce process.
Tahini
Whisk in ice water, and you can see how the water not only changes the consistency but it lightens up the color as well.
Add lemon juice, zest, scallions, jalapeño and whisk together.
Creamy topping. Try it on other foods.
The client immediately texted to let me know that her husband consumed almost the entire batch himself. Huge success. Happy customer, and now I have another little appetizer/side dish to add to my collection and to share with you.
A yummy combination.
You know me, my dishes are never just one use. They usually do double and triple duty. Serve up as an appetizer, or a side dish. You can even swap out toast and use them as a base for eggs. I made one poached egg and one fried egg to place on top of my fritters. I added a dollop of yogurt and some fresh parsley. A few apple slices rounded out this breakfast. I’d say I hit this curveball out of the park.
I fried my egg in a metal round the same size as the fritter to make it nice and tidy. If you use this method make sure to oil the inside of the mold so the egg removes more easily.
Left side fried egg, right side poached egg. Delicious, nutritious and packed with protein. Apple slices added a lovely crispy, freshness.
A happy husband
