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Chef’s Log:

It’s the final day of my kitchen purge. It’s been over three weeks now and I’ve used just about everything I had stockpiled. We’ve created Big Boy Beanie Weenies, Reuben Wontons and stuffed mushrooms with every leftover under the sun. We’ve put Chorizo and beer in Mussels (I mean really though, how can you go wrong with THAT?), we’ve made an Italian Redneck, and we have drank lots and lots of adult beverages just to “remain calm” during this harrowing ordeal. I think we’ve done a pretty creatively amazing job! This is some good stuff y’all!

I have one last “purge recipe”…our grand finale. I used the final package of whole wheat gnocchi, the last jar of canned tomatoes, the end shreds of cheese and the last few leaves of fresh Basil from the stalk, to create this Baked Tomato Basil Gnocchi. We totally scraped the bottom of the barrel for this one, but dang it’s a keeper!

Thank you for hanging in there with me. Thank you for tolerating my less than usual recipes.  Thank you for not judging during my breakdowns, bits of hysteria and two year old temper tantrums. I spared you the parts where I flung myself onto the kitchen floor and cried uncontrollably for longer than I care to admit. No cameras were allowed. It wasn’t pretty. Despite my antics, you have been great and loyal as you always are.

It’s all over  now. The purge has ended. You can see my cabinet shelves, my freezer is completely bare and we have confirmed Jimmy Hoffa was not in fact hiding in my pantry. Damn.

So what’s next on the agenda? Well…

Tomorrow, THIS GIRL is…

wait for it…

wait for it…

GOING GROCERY SHOPPING!!!!!!

Look out Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s, World Market, Aldis, Whole Foods, Buford Highway, and ANY source of food or food like products in between! Protect your vegetable gardens! The kid is BACK and I’m reclaiming my role as grocery shopper extraordinaire! You WILL remember me 🙂 Shut the front door.

Chef out.

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Baked Tomato Basil Gnocchi

Ingredients:

  • 2 packages gnocchi
  • 1 can/jar diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 cups cheese, I used cheddar & cheese curds, but any cheese of your preference will work
  • 1/2 cup fresh chopped Basil
  • 1/2 bunch diced scallions
  • 2 tbsp. Basil Olive Oil
  • 1 tbsp. Oregano Balsamic Vinegar

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Directions:

Cook gnocchi according to package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl, or back into the cooking pot. Add all ingredients, reserving some Basil to sprinkle on top. Mix well. Place into a greased 13×9 baking dish. Top with reserved Basil. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

Tip: If you have any bacon or ham, toss it in for a complete meal in under 30 minutes.

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Life is too short to eat ugly food y’all.