I’ve been suffering from major recipe block. Or is it recipe flop?
Is that even a thing? I guess it is. I didn’t know it was a thing until I started making so many darn recipes. After last week’s so-so recipe creations, I spilled an entire can of coconut milk all over the inside of my fridge on Friday afternoon. Checkmate. That’s when I knew it was time to step away from the kitchen for a bit.
As it turns out, I like to eat a lot so my kitchen boycott didn’t last very long!
Then there is writer’s block. I can totally understand how writers lose their marbles and go completely bonkers. The more you think about writer’s block, the more blocked up you get. The blanker and more annoying the screen gets. And then you just end up writing something random like this post. I’ve also had speaker’s block since 1985. It can be cured with a couple glasses of wine though, so it’s not too serious. You should’ve seen me on Saturday night! I could’ve hosted my own talk show.
Despite feeling a bit apathetic to recipes as of late, food and I are still on very good terms. Shocker, I know! Grudges are not something I’m into. Just because my homemade chocolate recipe didn’t turn out the other day doesn’t mean I don’t happily take handfuls of chocolate chips from the jar when I walk by. I’m a firm believer in second chances. Plus, this recipe from 2009 wasn’t so bad to begin with.
To celebrate my love for food and streak of recipe flops, this is my next installment of Foods I’m Loving Lately. If you are looking for a recipe, there are a few below, including a fun strawberry lemonade that I can’t get enough of lately.
1. Avocados
For some reason I fell off the avocado train for a couple months, but I’m back like I was never gone. Do you ever forget about foods you love? I do it all the time. Then, BAM, one day I spot it in the store and it’s love at first sight all over again. Eat them in a wrap, on toast, in a salad, or in 15 Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta. I’ve also been known to just slice one open and spoon it straight into my mouth.
2. The Ultimate Organic Raw Wrap by Natural Living
When I think of all the wheat or rice based wraps I’ve enjoyed in my life…these flax wraps trump them ALL! They are bursting with good-for-you ingredients like ground flax, veggies, herbs, lemon, and spices. Wait! How can ground flax taste this good? I really don’t get it either. I bought these at Organic Garage in Oakville (in the freezer section)..but promise not to take my stash from me…
Dressed up with avocado, veggies, and hummus…incredibly good and healthy.
I was actually inspired to dig out my dehydrator (which has been collecting dust!) and try to make my own! I’m going to take my first shot at it today…wish me luck. Sour cream and onion kale chips and banana flax wraps are also on the menu. But first, I should wipe the 5 inches of dust off it.
3. Frozen Mixed Greens
Are you stuck in a spinach rut with your Green Monsters? It’s an easy thing to do. Buying frozen mixed greens is an easy way to get a nice variety of nutrients in your smoothies. This blend in particular has a mix of collard, kale, and mustard greens. I’m not usually a fan of collard and mustard greens (ok…never), but I don’t even notice them once blended into a smoothie.
4. Banana Soft Serve
Spring is in full force and so is Banana Soft Serve! I have bags of frozen bananas in my freezer to prove it. One thing is for sure, you never want to be caught with a banana soft serve craving and find yourself without any frozen bananas. It’s soul crushing. If you haven’t tried it yet, now is the time. To make it simply process frozen bananas in your food processor until creamy like ice cream. You can add a splash of almond milk or other mix-ins as desired. I will forever be grateful to Gena for bringing this into my life.
5. President’s Choice Organic Almond Milk
President’s Choice just made me love them a bit more. They just came out with an organic version of their almond milk. This could be all in my head, but I SWEAR it tastes better (I did a side by side taste test). It’s also the same price as the non-organic Almond Breeze in one of the stores I spotted it.
6. Sasha Co. Spelt Bread Crumbs
Like Panko, only whole grain and very flavourful. I love mixing these into stir fry’s to add a little somethin’ somethin’ & crunchy crunch.
7. Oh Mega Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies
Eric always says that I never make good recipes more than once, so once in a blue moon I prove him wrong. These cookies lasted 2 days.
8. Crofter’s Raspberry Spread
What do you get when you spread Crofter’s raspberry jam, Sunbutter, and a mashed banana onto a piece of toast? Heaven, that’s what.
9. Lemon or lime water
I’ve been trying to get more water into my diet and this is a good start to the day.
10. Asparagus
Ok, I’m finally getting a bit tired of asparagus (I’ve made a couple cookbook recipes you didn’t see!), but prepared this way is just irresistible.
11. Kettle Brand Krinkle Chips
We don’t buy chips very often, but when we do it’s a real treat. I love the short ingredient list of Kettle chips: organic potatoes, safflower/sunflower oil, and sea salt. The jalapeno and salt & vinegar are next on my list.
Might I also add, they are the perfect food to cure a hangover on a Sunday morning!
12. Endurance Crackers
The easiest cracker to whip up and the perfect vehicle for hummus.
13. Medjool Dates
Nature’s candy! I’ve been trying out homemade date syrup too.
14. 60 Second Strawberry Lemonade
Delightful on a hot day. For the recipe, click here.
What foods are you loving lately?
For part 1, see 7 Foods I’m Loving Lately.
I love everything you posted except red beets, golden I can handle! I hope you can give me some ideas for my dehydrator, mine is a dust collector too. How bout some more good salad combinations, dressings, etc.?
Why don’t you try experimenting with recipes for the blog/you and Eric that are completely different to those you are making for your cookbook? Maybe try other cuisines you have yet to dabble in much- such as Peruvian (Bryanna Clark Grogan has some authentic recipes), Iraqi, Caribbean, or Portuguese (obviously veganising along the way?!) That way you could be filling your brain with new cooking styles, flavours and ingredients and this might lead to even more inspiration later on in your recipe development. Maybe you could give yourself fun challenges, for example to make vegan croissants, homemade yogurt or tofu (with herbs or sundried tomatoes to make it more unique), an aged nut cheeze or marshmallows? (Some of these are on my to do list!) My inspiration nearly always fails me just when I need it the most too!
Hello Angela,,,sorry for your block,,,can only imagine,,,but it will not last when your so creative, naturally! I love avocado ANthing, and your 15 minute sauce-devine! Dates-yep, date paste absolutely and loving asparagus – tons this last week,,,just lightly steamed with a huge kitchen sink salad<3
Can't wait to see your next creation/pics!
Can’t wait to see if the wrap works out! I hope so, because I want to make it. Lately, I’ve been loving coconut milk ice cream, fresh blackberries (all berries really), avocados, kiwi, banana soft serve, Alter Eco dark blackout chocolate, dates, sunbutter, pistachios, macadamia nuts, almond milk, and almond milk-based hot cocoa. Mmmmmmm….
Whoa, I want that raw wrap! I’ve never seen anything like that here. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled!
The strawberry lemonade is so delicious! I added a few frozen raspberries, too. Yum.
I would love to try the Strawberry Lemonade, but the link isn’t working for me :(
It was 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, 1/4 c. water, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, a splash of maple syrup -> blend these together -> add a couple cubes of ice and re-blend. It’s so good :)
Thanks! Can’t wait to try it!!!
Oh that lemonade is just calling out to be made a summer cocktail!
Even though I just made (and ate) a kick ass lunch, that wrap looks delicious. Lately I have been loving Ezekiel bread toasted and layered with smashed avocado, heirloom tomato, caramelized onions and sprinkled with cracked pepper and nutritional yeast. I occasionally add sauteed mushrooms. Mmm…heaven!
I agree with crofters/sun butter/banana on toast. Good breakfast. Thanks for the reminder to go stick more bananas in my freezer. They are nice and brown! :)
I think we could all talk about food forever, no? Especially when it all looks as good as your photos!!
I love avocado’s I’ve been eating loads lately! Along with lots of green juices and green smoothies. I went off citrus fruits for a while, but I have been loving oranges again this week! Medjool dates are always a winner!
I’m back on the avo bandwagon, too, but totally loving kale smoothies for breakfast every day (I make mine simple: half cup plain soy milk, handful of frozen strawberries, one whole banana, couple drops of vanilla, and fill the rest of the blender with kale!), and just discovered kind bars, my guilty pleasure snack of choice now. I basically eat by “foods I love” principles; I just eat the same things over and over and then get sick of them and eat something else over and over again and … so on and so forth!
Um, now I want to make that avocado pasta meal. Also, that organic almond milk is amazing!!! I have been using it (and I am not a fan of almond milk) and love it. I have to make that lemonade, this week.
There’s been some research that shows doing the opposite in your spare time of what you do in your work time relieves stress and helps you perform better. For instance — gardening in your spare time, if you spend time analyzing spreadsheets all day. You should try it.
If I have trouble with writer’s block, and have to produce (sometimes waiting for creativity isn’t an option), I always try to trick my brain by writing backwards, trying to compose in verse, etc.
And if all else fails, there’s always dark chocolate and espresso. . .
I am loving eating avocados with Nama Shoyu…it is seriously heavenly!! I have also been steaming sweet potatoes and asparagus and combining it with whole wheat couscous. Thanks for the post. I always love to see what others are eating!
Um, I have the exact same bag of Kettle Chips in my pantry (from Costco I believe, and yum by the way), but the ingredients do not list the potatoes as specifically being organic, although they do talk about a lack of pesticides and artificial flavors…
Great list, Angela! I do forget about certain foods occasionally, and then randomly pick them back up one day…I just can’t seem to think of a specific example at the moment, haha!
Right now I’m loving bananas in cereal (rather than oatmeal with berries) for breakfast…not sure what spurred the change, guess I just needed something different!
Totally intrigued with the flax veggie wraps! I would stock up on them today, but can’t find them here. Crossing my fingers (and toes) that you can work up a homemade one just as tasty.
So many good ideas…thanks! Those flax wraps look fun. I hope I can find them. I have a bunch of asparagus in the fridge that’s been begging me to use it up so I’m going to try out your recipe tonight!
I love those frozen mixed leafy greens from Whole Foods! I used to always keep frozen spinach on hand for smoothies, but now I use those instead. They were especially helpful during my most recent pregnancy (I suffer from low iron during pregnancy) since I don’t like greens at all unless they’re disguised well!
I love this post and those The Ultimate Organic Raw Wrap by Natural Living wraps looked so so good, but I don’t think I will ever be able to make it to the store you buy them at given that I live in the states so…. I would love if you came up with a recipe for them so that all of us that don’t live in Oakville can enjoy them too! Your blog is the best!
tried two trials today…the first one was a huge fail but the second one is getting a bit closer :) Hopefully I will get there!