A few days ago I was in a conversation about recipes with a couple of friends. We all probably know the feeling of staring at a new recipe that calls for a long list of this and that, most of which our kitchens are missing. So we trundle to the grocery store to buy bottles or boxes of things we only need a teaspoon of — or we give up completely.
Talk turned to how few ingredients one could get away with and still make something tasty. Turns out, more than I thought. A look online yields dozens of ideas for two-ingredient recipes, from appetizers to sweets. I found that bananas plus eggs can equal pancakes. That Greek yogurt and flour can produce pizza dough. That Nutella and eggs make a cake. Could it really be that simple?
What’s in your pantry?
As a somewhat defiant exercise, I decided to open a kitchen cabinet, lock in on the first things my eyes fell on, then see if I could find two-ingredient recipes using whatever it was. Saltine crackers and peanut butter were the first two items I saw. Neither was a challenge for internet foodies. Cosmopolitan.com alone offered up 10 quick peanut butter “twofers.” Here are a couple: Make quick oatmeal cookies by mixing one packet of instant oatmeal with water and a teaspoon of peanut butter; pour the mixture into a lined muffin tin and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.
Turn regular ramen noodles into satay noodles with one to two tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter. Cook the noodles, keeping about a tablespoon of the starchy water that comes from boiling it. Mix in the peanut butter and stir until fully coated.
When it came to crackers, I found what may be the oddest recipe name I’ve come across: ice water saltines. This idea from warmolives.blogspot.com is blogger Kate’s take on a recipe in the cookbook “Lost Recipes” by Marion Cunningham.
This dish comes together quickly, so be ready, cautions Kate. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, assemble about 10 crackers, a pan of melted salted butter (about 3 teaspoons) next to a bowl of icy water. Dunk each cracker in the water for a slow count of 10, then move to a paper towel to drain. Carefully pick up the moist crackers and ease them into the buttery pan to coat (let the butter sizzle up through the holes) and then bake crackers for 15-20 minutes. Monitor carefully to assure they don’t burn, but do get them well-browned for crispness. (This breaks the two-ingredient rule, but sprinkle thyme leaves on the hot cracker, or better yet, add thyme to the butter in the pan.) The results are crisp, delicate and delicious, says Kate. Use them when you forget the crostini or brushetta.
While no one is suggesting two-ingredient recipes as a steady diet, they can be fun (not to mention inexpensive) and a easy-fix alternative on days we’re not up to dealing with more. Here are a few ideas that may pique your interest.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
Makes 4 servings
6 ounces good quality dark chocolate (65 percent dark)
3/4 cup toasted coconut almondmilk
(Source: ohladycakes.com)
EASIEST DIPPING SAUCE
Total time: 5 minutes
Makes 4 servings
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons ranch dressing
(Source: allrecipes.com)
PIZZA DOUGH
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour, plus more for kneading
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
(Source: allrecipes.com)
LEMON CAKE BARS
1 box angel food cake mix
1 22 ounce-can lemon pie filling
(Source: sheknows.com)
PARMESAN THYME CRISPS
Total time: 30 minutes
Makes 15 servings
8 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
4 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
(Source: allrecipes.com)
CHEESE CRISPS
1 block cheddar or colby jack cheese
1 package baked Cheese Nips
(Source: celebrationsathomeblog.com)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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