Starved for time

Something I've discovered about having no time: it forces you to be creative.

After an exhausting trip to Downtown on the bus with 40 pounds of multimedia equipment strapped to my back, I was starving, sweaty and exhausted.

"I'm never moving again," I grumbled to no one in particular as I dug around in my purse for my gate key. A kid in a scarf and a plaid shirt riding by gave me a weird look.

I raced up the stairs, camera bag and tripod case smacking into each other, and wrenched open the fridge — it felt like the two sides of my stomach were converging and attacking each other — only to find my dinner options were somewhat limited.

That's right, I remembered. I haven't been to the grocery store in two and a half weeks.

Oops. Time to re-evaluate.

Contents of cabinet: one can of green beans, one can of black beans, one pre-packaged yam, five sleeves of rice cakes (yes — that's 60 rice cakes. I don't remember, but they must have been on sale).
Contents of fridge: Six individual cups of yogurt, a smidgen of cottage cheese, two slices of deli turkey, one stick of butter, half a block of raw tofu, four cups of Jell-O.
Contents of freezer: half a bag of frozen chicken.

I thought hard for 20 seconds, chucked the black beans, green beans and chicken into a bowl and into the microwave, put it on high for four minutes and hoped for the best.

Success — for tonight, at least. The next potential combinations worry me more: Cottage cheese and Jell-O? Butter and deli turkey? Yogurt and chicken?

I think it's time to go grocery shopping.

• • • 

Interactive bonus section! Dear readers, design me a meal using only those ingredients! Keep in mind that the green beans and black beans are gone, and the chicken is almost depleted.