Last minute sides

I ran out of fresh veggies, and I have no time to go to the store to get some freshens... (read: I'm too lazy to walk to the store, and I don't want to drive because then I'll have to get gas, which I hate more than anything.) What to do, what to do...

More importantly (since I'm the center of the universe on my blog) what did I do? I used stuff that I forgot about.... I mean.... I used food that I bought for this specific purpose that's sitting in the back of my pantry/freezer. I figure this happens to people that aren't just too lazy to go to the store, so I thought I'd share my strategy on the off chance that you find this helpful.

In my freezer I found some frozen artichoke hearts that were on sale at Whole Paycheck a bit ago and some frozen green peas. Feel free to use canned (in water!!) artichoke hearts and possibly? canned peas (I've never eaten them, so I can't vouch for their awesomeness.) In reference to these particular recipes, I also keep capers in a jar and frozen pearl onions (actually those are leftover from my beef bourguignon - actually pronounced boouuuuffff buoulll-ging-yohhhhnnnn by the French. Whoever rendered it into English is a flaming re-tard.) Anyway, onto the recipes!

Le Lemon (fake) Butter Artichoke Hearts with a "Mountain" of La Capers
1 frozen package (or can-drained) of artichoke hearts (not packed in oil! which is gross unless you're making a salad or if you want high cholesterol)
2 T of lemon juice (I also keep this in my fridge)
1/4 cup capers (kept in a jar in the fridge)
<1 tsp of fake butter (or real butter if you prefer)
salt and pepper to taste
*Note* Use a small pan or there won't be enough liquid

If the artichokes are frozen, thaw them in a pan on the stove (add a small amount of water with the frozen artichokes.. boil the water and stir the artichokes (use a wooden spoon if you have it - it's more tender on the 'chokes) until the water is almost gone.
If you have canned artichoke hearts, drain the water and add them to a pan. Get them going on medium heat, add in the lemon juice. Once it starts to simmer add in the fake butter, capers and the salt and pepper to taste. Let this cook until about a minute or two after the fake butter melts away. Make sure all of the ingredients are combined well and turn off the heat (remove from the stove if you have an electric stove.)


Also to go with my leftover beef thing (I'll share that recipe once I alter it to have less meat and more veggies.. let's say it's in the testing stage) I'm making some peas.

Le Frozen Peas a-la-Awesome*
2-3 cups of frozen peas
1 tsp fake le butter (or real le butter)
a few frozen pearl onions (awesome but optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Add peas to a pan with enough water to cover them; bring them to a boil. Once they've boiled for a few minutes (5ish) drain them. Re add the peas to the pan and add in the fake butter, frozen pearl onions and the salt and pepper. Turn the heat on medium and stir it around with a wooden spoon until the butter melts. Once the fake butter covers the peas, turn it off and remove it from heat.
 *Peas aren't really "awesome," per se but they're pretty ok I guess...

Hopefully this helps... If not, you just wasted a lot of time reading about something you'll never eat.