Necessity is the mother of invention, as the old saying goes. Just look at what need can lead to: vaccines. The light bulb. Even the forerunner of today\’s bicycles!

Necessity is the mother of invention in the kitchen as well as the workshop. What can you do when it seems like there\’s nothing to eat? Or when the same old thing appears too often? I can\’t speak for anybody else, but I know what I do. I invent something!

I\’ve already made up about six variations on Hoppin\’ John. Sometimes I make up something new. When freezer and/or fridge are getting too crammed with containers of leftovers, a garbage soup is in order.

The freezer is now stuffed with things that I\’ve cooked; bags of cheese cubes; and frozen fruit and green beans. I certainly don\’t need to buy food for a while. Good thing; we might see hurricane conditions later in the week.

Back to inventions. A few weeks ago I bought a package of two frozen, pre-grilled chicken breasts. One was still in the freezer, and I decided to use it and get it out of there. While it was heating up, I chopped a cup of cauliflower.

Once the chicken was out of the pot, I put the cauliflower to steam. I chopped up the chicken while I waited for the cauliflower to cook. Then I tossed the chicken and cauliflower together, with a little sprinkle of ground ginger; a half-teaspoon of sesame seeds; and some chopped scallion top. Then I shook on some soy sauce, and dove in.

How did it turn out? I\’d make it again. Maybe with broccoli instead of cauliflower. Or sweet potatoes. Or…