Chopped!

I am addicted to the Food Network. I don't even have cable and I still manage to get in about 10 hours of Food Network greatness a week (thanks BF who pays for my habit!). I like to think of my time wasted spent as research to help inspire my time in the kitchen.

This month I have decided that I am clearing out my pantry and deep freeze before I go grocery shopping. I am very thankful that I have been watching marathons of the show Chopped where contestants must use secret ingredients that are not normally paired to create a dinner course in 30 minutes. The absolutely delectable dishes that are created have sparked my own creativity.

For example, as I type this I have combined a can of sliced pears and some frozen bass to create a main component of my meal.I am not 100% this will work out But I did find a recipe for salmon baked with peaches on Google, which is pretty close . < UPDATE > I just finished dinner: the pear juice added a sweetness to the fish, the cumin added a little spice to the pear, all in all, definitely going to try this again < /UPDATE >. ... The other night, Jason and I coated fish in jerk seasoning I brought back from Jamaica, fried it in garlic butter and served it with some spinach. Fantastic! Last week, I baked fish in garlic and pepper, covered in a medley of frozen vegetables. Fantastic! And who knows what else I will come up with to use up this frozen fish I have stoked in my freezer.

There are a few side benefits to all of this as well. Namely, I have been having such a blast creating meals, I haven't been eating at the cafeteria and I haven't had the need to hit up the grocery store. So not only am I saving some money (much needed after a very expensive final quarter of 2011), but I am also eating better through out the day.

What is the craziest combo of cupboard cuisine you have created? Would you make it again or was it fit for the trash?