When all else fails: what do you cook?

I broke my toe in a yoga class.

I was trying to do my first headstand since I carried a lunch box that had my name and class written on it. I kicked up, flailed my legs in momentary excitement then fell down with most of my weight landing on my big toe.

The girl next to me looked down her nose at how much of a thud I made and went back to trying to bind her leg behind her head.

I finished the class, felt tough and went looking in my kitchen for dinner and an ice pack.

Luckily, I found them both in the same place.  Frozen peas, what would we ever do without you?

So tonight; this is what’s on the table at ours.

Spicy pea soup

This is my fail safe dinner party starter, before barbecued fish with Asian flavours and dessert of chilled tinned lychees with good vanilla ice cream.

All I need to get my hands on is natural yogurt, frozen peas, stock and a jar of green curry paste. Of course I could make the curry paste myself, but this time, the yoga class won. Next time I might think again.

I plonk a tablespoon of green curry paste per person into a saucepan. I heat it up and add a cup of frozen peas per person. I stir and then add half a cup of stock per person. I keep it on the heat until it’s as warm as a grown up’s bath and then I use a stick blender to whizz it until it’s really smooth. If I had a proper blender then I’d put it in that, and I’d be pretty careful, because as I’ve learned the hard way, hot liquids whizzing at high speed can sting.

The end result might look like Kermit the Frog’s choice of foundation, but the curry paste gives the peas a good kick. It’s easy to turn the volume up or down on the spice. If it’s a bit lame I add more curry paste. If it’s too spicy then some extra yogurt will turn it down.

In summer I sometimes serve it cold in little glasses with a pumpkin seeds for crunch and a few coriander leaves floating like little lily pads.

Meanwhile the second pack of peas from the freezer is affixed to my foot.  And I’m rethinking my exercise of choice.

Victoria (Tori) Haschka is a Sydney born food travel writer. Her blog www.eat-tori.com follows her efforts in feeding The Hungry One (the husband) and their quest to find the best places to eat, drink and be merry. You can follow Tori on Twitter here

What is your failsafe fall back position? What do you cook when you are short on time or inspiration and you just want something that you know will work?