Oh, hello....oh no!

I don't really have a guest du jor for this post because I ended up using things I already had on hand. I also don't feel like any one ingredient is highlighted here.  I had purchased a package of Italian sausage (meaning it's pre-seasoned) over the weekend and wasn't sure what I was going to make with it.  So today, I visited my trusty Pinterest to look for inspiration.  I had pinned this recipe from Kalyn's Kitchen a while back and have really wanted to try it.  Since this recipe calls for unseasoned beef and follows more of an Indian flavor profile, I figured this wasn't really going to work with the Italian sausage I had purchased.  Then I began to think about what I already had in my kitchen to see if I could make this work.  The following is what I came up with.

1 package of Italian sausage (without the casing if possible, otherwise remove and crumble)

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 can of garbanzo beans

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 white onion, diced

2 cups of spinach, roughly chopped

1 1/2 cup water

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Cumin

Paprika

• Drain your garbanzo beans and rinse until you no longer see bubbles forming.  
• Heat the olive oil, in a deep skillet.  Add the sausage, break it up, and let it cook for a 3 minutes.
• Mix your seasonings with your water.  (I just sprinkled a little of each, mixed, then tasted and adjusted to taste.  Remember, it's easier to add more, than to take away when you've added too much).
• Toss in the beans and cook for another 7 minutes or so.
• Add your onions, garlic, and spinach and saute for a 3-5 minutes.
• Add your seasoned water and simmer on low until the liquid is almost evaporated. (I placed a lid over it so the liquid could evaporate a little more rapidly and be done near the time my rice was to be done).

This is before I added the water.

I served this over rice, but I think any starch will do. It was a home run and Biz loved it!

This was one of the few times where I truly improvised and I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself.  However, it wasn't smooth sailing.  I want to share with any amateur cooks out there my experience with this experiment because great things can come from our mistakes and/or when we're forced to think quick on are feet. 

Kalyn's recipe calls for you to reserve the liquid from the garbanzo beans and add chicken broth.  I did not have chicken broth, but noticed I had an open carton of vegetable broth in the refrigerator.  

I checked the expiration date, still good. 

I opened it up and smelled it, still good.  

I proceeded to pour it into my measuring cup that contained my bean juice, and then a big clump of coagulated vegetable broth plopped out! I stood there for a second, throughly annoyed that my attempt to be creative was backfiring.  Then I thought, what about dissolving some chicken bouillon in some water and voila! 

Not exactly.  

I opened my pantry and zilch.  I stood there staring at what I did have and decided to pull a few things I thought would taste good.  I came up with the combination you saw listed above and it all worked out!

I welcome any of you to share some of your mishaps that turned into miracles.  Let's inspire and learn from each other!

Peace, Love, & Yummy Stuff