As she was leaving for a trip, my neighbor brought over a few odds and ends from her fridge. “Can you do something with them?” she asked. “Sure,” I responded.

This morning the body felt that it could stand for long enough, so … what was to be thrown together? From the neighbor:

• 1/2 small cabbage
• about 2 T of tomato paste
• a few stalks of celery

What did I have?

• 1/3 uncooked sweet potato
• less than 1/2 of a rotisserie chicken
• spinach
• spices including Thai peanut sauce
• coconut cream

This was the end result. A big yum! About 5 servings. A full meal unto itself; and it could be served over rice, as well.

Method (play on the fly!)

• Coarsely cube the sweet potato and set cooking in a small pot.
• Place large saute pan on the stove, ready to receive items as they are chopped.
• Put a tablespoon or so of coconut oil in the pan (which has no heat yet).
• Chop 3-4 stalks of celery – put in the pan.
• Chop 1/3 head of cabbage, removing the thick round center pieces as you chop. Add the cabbage to the pan. (I say 1/3 here because most cabbages are larger than what was given to me. I used all of the 1/2 small head.)
• Chop up leftover chicken. Skin is fine to add. No bones. A white or light colored bean would be a vegetarian alternative. In the pan it goes.
• Turn on the heat to medium. After about 2 minutes, add 1/4 C of the cooking water from the sweet potatoes to help the cabbage stem. Mix it all around, turn the heat to simmer, and cover.
• Loosely chop some spinach or similar green. Add it.
• At the same time add:
  • 1 T or so of Thai Peanut Sauce, the tomato paste or sauce
  • and these dried spices: 1.5 t Thai Spice, 1T basil, 2t garlic powder, 1T cilantro leaves
  • the juice of 1/2 lime or 1 T of frozen limeade concentrate
  • 1/4 – 1/3 Can of Coconut Cream (not coconut milk or beverage)

Stir all this in. Cover for 5 minutes. Then, add the sweet potatoes, and taste for adjusting any spice or if more coconut cream is needed.

It took me 20 minutes total, with a handicapped body. You can do this! I had it for brunch in a bowl. YUM!