# Dishes/food combinations you invented? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458 "2013-05-15T22:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/41 "2013-05-17T17:08:30Z")
Not from me, but from a co-worker: Ming Dynasty Soup 1 can of tomato soup. 1 can of split pea soup. Heat together. Add a generous topping of curry powder to make soup slightly golden. Stir. Quite tasty and will surprise guests who think you spent hours creating this. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/42 "2013-05-17T18:18:03Z")
Peanut butter & cheese. Take 2 slices of cheese (good deli cheese, not the crap that comes wrapped in cellophane), smear some peanut butter on one of them, and place the other slice on top. Basically, you make a peanut butter sandwhich using the cheese slices instead of bread. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/43 "2013-05-17T18:43:22Z")
Lightly fry Spam Add raisins and chopped pears Toss in cinnamon and some vanilla extract Hey, it’s edible! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/44 "2013-05-17T19:13:57Z")
Cook pasta in Suddenly Pasta salad mix. Drain and keep hot. Add seasoning packet, butter and whatever else you like. Sammich O’Death–Toasted buttered bagel with bacon. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/45 "2013-05-17T19:34:56Z")
You know how you put your french fries in the top half of the big mac box? I invented that ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/46 "2013-05-17T20:25:37Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Cook pasta in Suddenly Pasta salad mix. Drain and keep hot. Add seasoning packet, butter and whatever else you like. Isn’t that just pasta salad via the instructions on the box? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/47 "2013-05-17T22:13:46Z")
Kicked up beanie-weenies. -Get some tasty sausages or kielbassa. -Can of beans. -pound of bacon -peppers of your choice -Cook everything and throw it together. -Top with sour cream. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/48 "2013-05-17T22:59:44Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Not from me, but from a co-worker: > > Ming Dynasty Soup > > 1 can of tomato soup. > 1 can of split pea soup. > Heat together. > Add a generous topping of curry powder to make soup slightly golden. > Stir. > > Quite tasty and will surprise guests who think you spent hours creating this. Puree Mongol! This is an old recipe, but it IS very tasty. I add a touch of sherry sometimes instead of curry, if I had crab to add, it would make a scrumptious bisque. ---
**Author:** ![Tara57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Tara57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tara57)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/49 "2013-05-17T23:08:21Z")
> [@lost\_in\_cyberspace](#): > > Mashed potatoes mixed with cottage cheese, common for perogies, but I just plop cottage cheese on top of my mashed potatoes - YUMMMMMM Cottage cheese is delicious on top of a baked potato, too. Top it all off with some black pepper and Tabasco. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/50 "2013-05-18T10:45:28Z")
Brownies with crushed peanut brittle mixed into the batter. It’s slightly odd but tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/51 "2013-05-18T11:00:00Z")
Lemon juice on toast. But then, I like eating lemons on their own, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/52 "2013-05-18T13:55:14Z")
Cakes and baked goods from Amy’s Baking Company repackaged as my own:D;) they are delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Fourtyfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Fourtyfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fourtyfold)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/53 "2013-05-18T14:07:52Z")
Some years ago I invented ‘Irish Rarebit’, which is the same as [Welsh Rarebit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_rarebit) but uses mashed potato instead of toasted bread. It’s so good it makes instant mashed potato edible. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/54 "2013-05-18T17:21:19Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > Too bad you didn’t say anything about it back then. You could have gotten all the credit. 🙂 Well, there is this thread from January. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15924984&postcount=27](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15924984&postcount=27) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mattie\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mattie\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mattie_Blue)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/55 "2013-05-19T19:37:35Z")
A family summer favorite - Tossed Berries. Layer sliced strawberries, with whole blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in a bowl with a little sugar sprinkled between each layer. If you put them in a clear bowl, make sure to alternate the dark fruit with the red. Good luck keeping people from picking at it before serving. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/56 "2013-05-19T19:50:49Z")
I cook for conventions. For a recent event, in an attempt to anticipate the inevitable “is there a vegan/gluten-free option” question that none of the guests ever think to ask until the buffet is already cooked and set out\* and we’re busy trying to prepare for the next event later in the day, I threw something together off the top of my head — that is, I made it up on the spot from ingredients we had on-hand: One #10 can of black beans, drained, saving the liquid Two 14oz cans of garbanzo beans One big bottle of Mae Ploy Thai chili sauce One heaping tablespoon of curry paste All mixed up and heated on the stovetop. I slowly added the liquid from the black beans back into the mix to counteract the thickening/stickiness of the chili sauce. It was delicious. I gave it to the servers in a pan and told them to just hold it in reserve in case anybody asked for vegan/gluten-free options. - If you know your group has several gluten-sensitive members, why in Hell do you order an all-pasta buffet? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/57 "2013-05-20T00:39:36Z")
The Banh Mi Club (I posted it here awhile ago, and a bunch o purists got all hatey on it, but I think it’s mighty fine): -Toast some bread–French if you want it to be more banh-mi-like, wheat if you want it to be more club-like. -Mix some sriracha and mayonnaise together and slather on the bread. -Add deli meats and bacon and lettuce. -Add fresh cilantro. It comes out tasting a bit like a regular club, a bit like a banh mi, and totally mighty fine. Also: I occasionally candy some orange peels, cut them into tiny triangles, and bake them into the tops of brownies. It looks kinda like stained glass. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/58 "2013-05-20T13:18:41Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Isn’t that just pasta salad via the instructions on the box? NO! It’s hot with butter, not cold (shudder) with mayo (double shudder). My mother made “sludge”–Open can of soup. Add 1/2 cup of water. Heat to boiling. Add instant mashed potato flakes till it looks sludgey. Add anything else you like. Eat. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/59 "2013-05-20T17:56:47Z")
_karhai gosht_ in a tortilla, with or without added rice. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458/60 "2013-05-20T18:49:30Z")
I’m not sure I’ve ever invented anything truly original. Every time I get what I think is a brilliant idea, I Google it, and see someone else has done it before. My favorite moment was “inventing” chicken paprikash pierogi. Then I find out they even [mass market these](http://www.pierogimarket.com/cp.html). Thai basil chicken sausages? Well, I stuffed them in actual casings, but [someone else has done them](http://seattlelocalfood.com/2010/06/20/thai-basil-chicken-breakfast-sausage-patties-tod-mun-kraprao-kai/) (although I did it a few years before that article, I’m sure I couldn’t have been the first with the idea.) One that may or may not be original is strawberry-xoconostle pie. Xoconostles are cactus fruit similar to prickly pear fruit (aka _tunas_), but much more assertively sour and less sweet. In fact, they remind me of rhubarb, which is whence the idea came. In Mexican cooking, they are often used in salsa. Which now gives me an idea! Let’s see if it exists. Yep, there’s a number of recipes for rhubarb salsa. (But none for roasted rhubarb salsa that I see, so hey! Maybe I got another original possibility here.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dishes-food-combinations-you-invented/658458.md?page=4)