I have yet to master shopping for fresh produce in NYC. With only 2 of us and a NYC apartment, I try to shop in small batches to make sure things don’t go bad. However, as many a day does not play out the way we expect, and we wind up eating out a LOT more than we should, I have the inevitable problem of having to throw too much food away. It makes me want to cry… wasting all that food.
So when I had a whole bushel of grapes that were a few days from being too soft, I had to ask myself “How do I use up a lot of grapes before they go bad?” This is when I got creative…
First, there was mixing grapes with brown sugar.
Then it was “what can I do that will make this unique?” and the spice cabinet was opened and basil was sprinkled and with a moment of both bravery and hope, I threw it all together.
Then topped it with the leftover crumble I had from the Drunk ‘N Nutty Pie.
And I popped it into the over and prayed. I removed it when it was bubbling and starting to brown.
And it was good. BOY it was good. I actually wished I had added MORE basil. The flavors were incredibly complimentary.
So today’s lesson in baking: Don’t be afraid to mix in spices that wouldn’t ordinary be thought of as baking supplies. Enjoy the creative spoils.
