This was another fortunate chance to try something new. I am much obliged, Mr. Trash. I've never cooked fennel before, and I don't really like brussel sprouts, so I can't remember a time I purchased them to cook on my own accord. This was my chance to make something agreeable! I also have a lot of dried spearmint that I've been waiting to find a savory use for. I chopped the fennel and coated it thinly in olive oil, then rubbed spearmint all round with a little brown sugar. I halved the brussel sprouts and chopped up some tomatoes and drizzled them all in olive oil, then dusted them with salt, pepper, cumin, and coriander. Then I laid everything out on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Baked them at 400º or so until they were roasted brown and cooked through. The two preparations were a welcome blend of savory and sweet. I mashed the potatoes with a few healthy splashes of milk as always, but then sprinkled them with celery salt for something less usual, but as it turned out, still very very yum. Then I pan-cooked a fillet of Chimichurri salmon from Trader Joe's--and that's the only element of the meal that wasn't from the trash.
FRUGAN - living sparingly with regard to the detriment of one's wallet, environment, climate, society, and general sense of well being.
[i.e. the years I lived as a dumpster diver in NYC]