Bhelpuri, a popular Indian snack, is similar to American trail mix. It is a mixture of different ingredients and textures. Seasoned with cumin and curry, it is a mixture of different types of puffed rice, cereals, and potatoes.
Before Hurricane Irene takes over New York City, we decided to use as much of the perishables in our fridge as possible. The items were very random, ranging from eggs to olives to tortilla wraps. We both hunched down and stared into the random abyss of our half-fridge. We were still a little tired, confused, and hungry for brunch. Suddenly, Charlie shot up like a bolt of lightning. A lightbulb went off in his head, and I saw every beam and ray. He had an idea, was curious of its result, and quickly "shoo-ed" me out of the kitchen. He ran downstairs, dodged the coming storm, and came back with popcorn chips. "Odd", I thought, but Charlie was not sharing his brunch idea. Here is what we had:
Popcorn Chips
diced onion
eggs
black beans
sun-dried tomatoes
black olives
epazote
garlic
a potato
Charlie scrambled the eggs. Then, he diced and sauteed the potato. He mixed these items with the rest on the list. Add a little salt and pepper, and brunch was done. I stared at the bowl in front of me with deep confusion. "What IS this", I asked Charlie. He smiled and said "Mexican bhelpuri". What an original idea. So creative, so forward thinking. I cannot imagine a better way to (literally) mix the remainder of our fridge. It was absolutely brilliant and (shockingly) equally as delicious. It might look like mess, but try it! You will not be disappointed. Bombay meets Boca del Río...
