Monkeying around in the kitchen needn\’t be agonizing. It can be fun!

This evening I tried Feelin\’ Your Oats Burgers, from my new cookbook.

Naturally I took some liberties with it. The recipe says to use one tablespoon of dried Italian herb blend (thyme, rosemary, and oregano). I didn\’t have any rosemary. I substituted 1-1/2 teaspoons each of oregano and thyme, and 1 teaspoon parsley flakes.

The book says to use reduced-sodium soy sauce or tamari. I suppose that\’s for the benefit of folks who have high blood pressure, which I don\’t. I used regular soy sauce instead.

The recipe also says, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, and I didn\’t have any. I did have some raw peanuts in the freezer. They need to be used somehow! They have the skins on, and I don\’t  think that peanut skins taste very good. After I chopped the peanuts, I put them in my 1-cup measure, and filled it halfway with water. I was able to rub the skins off and skim them out.

Then I was finally ready to start cooking. I used a 5-quart pot, and had to fetch my step-up box to stand on, because I\’m so short.

The original recipe says to bake the mixture after you cook it on the stove, but it was getting late for that. I spread the stuff into a pan, and when it cooled I portioned it out. I froze most of it for later.

I\’m already thinking up a carrot-cake variation: instead of onion and celery, use 3 cups of coarsely grated carrot. Substitute water for the soy sauce, and cinnamon and clove for the Italian herbs.

There I go, monkeying around again.