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My latest creation from stuff I found in my pantry.

I was hooked the first time I watched the cooking show "Chopped" on The Food Network on TV.  Finally a show about edible things you could make from a bunch of random stuff that already exists in your cupboards and refrigerator.   So, basically it's a show that removes the stigma of using odds & ends and mirrors how I've tossed together countless meals for my family over the years!

When I watch "Chopped" I see if I can come up with an idea for the finished dish before the Chefs figure out what they're going to cobble together.    For instance:   Mystery Basket ingredients:   pack of left over Pop Tarts,  2 stalks of rhubarb, a zuchinni and an avocado.  EASY!  Zuchinni rhubarb bread with crunchy poptart crumble on top!

  Today my breakfast/lunch is a chopped idea I pulled together -  "Tuna Florentine Burgers."  That's another little trick.   If you pull together a new "thing" from stuff you found in the pantry you need to dress it up with a name that sounds like you knew exactly what you were doing when you made it and disguises some of the "mystery" ingredients.  That way it sounds fancy and your kids and hubby will dig right in and wolf down your creation.

Recipe:  Tuna Florentine Burgers

(NEVER refer to these as Tuna Spinach Burgers - cuz then your kids won't touch 'em - "florentine" is code for = spinach)

3 cans tuna packed in water/drained (we stocked up when it was on sale and we have a bunch of canned tuna!)

1 can spinach (drained/chopped)  (one of 3 dusty -ewww...that's gross- cans in my pantry)

3T or so of gluten free hot cereal mix  (or use flour of your choice - I had three tablespoons of this cereal left in a package and it needed to be used)

2 lightly beaten eggs

Lawrey's Seasoned Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Toss it all in a bowl, mix it up and then scoop up big mounded big tablespoons of the mixture and saute it in a pan with the oil of your choice.   I used just a drizzle of coconut oil.   Make sure you also flatten out each scoop of the stuff a bit once you get it in the pan to form 6 to 8 patties.   Cook on each side for 3 to 4 minutes.   Serve with condiments of your choice.   I had on hand some little cherry tomatoes and shredded monterrey jack cheese - so that's what I used.

If you've got a "Chopped" recipe and want to share it I'd love to see it.

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