We're going ethnic

For a variety of reasons, Trav and I decided to start cooking with as much of our food storage as we can get away with and only buying perishables as needed. We've been enjoying various rice and potato dishes but I get pretty bored with the same 'ole crockpot combos so I've been branching out and going ethnic for dinner. That's right: Ethnic. So. This is where I share and you dear reader: You be amazed by my culinary expertise!

And our first stop is to the Middle East for Exhibit A (Sunday): Falafel

These bad boys are made from ground chickpeas (and a whole lotta other things) which are then fried. I served them on lettuce leaves with tomatoes and ranch. I didn't have the stuff to make the yogurt sauce which we felt the lack of but they were still tasty. So this was a for sure try again meal - except next time I think I'll bake these bad boys. Can anybody say coronary?

Moving right along to Exhibit B (Tuesday) or in which our heros travel to South America for: Beef Empanadas!

These little babies were DELISH. Beef, raisens, egg, onion and lottsa yummy spices all stuffed inside a homemade pastry shell (so easy!). Look at those scalloped edges! Aren't they purty? The only alteration I made to the recipe was to bake them instead of frying (see above comment). I'm so excited to try out this recipe with other fillings: cheese, chicken and veggies, rice and beans...endless possiblities my friend! Endless!
So there you have it -- food I make when I get bored with the same old.
What do you make when you're looking to make a change and trying to use pantry items?