I can’t say enough how much I love putting these posts together. Maybe I’m just weird, but the first thing I think of when I try a new food is, I can’t wait to share it on the blog. It’s fun to share stuff with you! After spending my teens and early twenties subsisting on fat-free diet “foods”, it’s a real joy for me to be able to celebrate my love for all kinds of new foods. Plus, putting together these posts gives me a nudge to try new things and bust out of my food ruts.
Without further ado, here are this month’s foods I’m loving lately…
1) Delicata squash
(also known as sweet potato squash)
I don’t know why it took me so long to try Delicata squash, but am I ever glad I did! It has to be one of the easiest squash to prepare. Because the skin is so thin, you can forgo peeling and just eat the (delicious) skin with the flesh. They are also fairly small, making them very easy to slice. Lately, I’ve been roasting them in olive or coconut oil, salt, and a pinch of cinnamon. So good!
2) Lentils & Split Peas
I’m on a big lentil and split pea kick lately. They are just so easy to throw into soups and salads and easily boost protein. I love that they don’t have to be soaked or fussed over like dry beans. Until I get that pressure cooker I’m coveting (cannot. wait.), lentils seem to be my go-to right now.
3) Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Oil from Costco
I was at Costco in Burlington a few weeks ago and I almost died with excitement when I saw that they now sell HUGE 1.5kg/3.3lb tubs of organic cold-pressed coconut oil for $16.99 CAD.
I immediately text this news to my coconut oil obsessed family:
(Don’t mind the creepy dolls, we were doing a little Christmas shopping!)
4) Seasnax
I have to admit – I thought people were crazy when they said they loved these nori seaweed snacks. While I can’t say I loved them at first, the taste grew on me. I love cutting it up and adding it to soups and salads. If I have a big salt craving they usually do the trick. Eric thinks they are absolutely vile, so to each their own…
5) Coconut Nectar Syrup & Coconut Sugar
I recently discovered Raw Coconut Nectar and I must say I am impressed. It’s simply the sap from tapped coconut trees and it’s very high in nutrients. I’ve been using it as a substitute for brown rice syrup in some of my recipes and it binds almost as well. It has a low Glycemic Index rating (35) meaning that it releases into the blood slowly and is less likely to cause blood sugar spikes. The biggest surprise when I tasted the coconut syrup? It doesn’t taste like coconut! At least not to me. It’s very sweet so I find a little bit goes a long way. Eric also loves using coconut sugar in his tea as a swap for refined white sugar and I also enjoy it for baking.
6) Pears
Aren’t pears so beautiful? I love taking pictures of pears and of course eating them this time of year. I’m quite impatient when it comes to waiting for fruit to ripen so whenever I have pears, bananas, or avocados that need ripening I stuff them in a large paper bag and fold the lid to trap some of the gas. It seems to speed things along.
7) Glo Bars up for auction
I’m excited to let you know that Susan is hosting an online auction (starting today!) for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As you might recall, Susan was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer over a year ago and she is quickly approaching a year in remission. In 5 months, Susan will be travelling to Scotland to run a half marathon for the society’s Team In Training and needs to raise all the money she can.
I’ve donated a box of Glo Bars for this great cause which has a special place in my heart as my grandpa is currently fighting multiple myeloma. The winning bidder will get to select the flavour of their choice and I can also make the bars gluten-free and/or nut-free upon request. This is a rare opportunity to snag a box of Glo Bars since the bakery is closed for the time being!
Please head on over to Susan’s auction and check out all of the amazing prizes up for grabs!
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below what foods you are loving lately too.
Coconut oil at Costco?! I must keep my eyes peeled for it the next time I’m there!
That squash looks great, going to have to try it… totally obsessed with squash this fall. :)
You are so lucky! I just get 200g glasses where I live…
I didn’t know they had coconut oil at Costco either! Need to get this!!! It can get expensive.
I love yellow split peas! Don’t make use of them often enough! Pears really are amazing when they’re in season! Love them paired (no pun intended!) with fresh figs!
Since there was as bug going around and everyone was getting sick (including myself), I did a little research to see what foods would be a great way to kick the cold bug. I found that Indian food was wonderful for illness! Turmeric, garlic, ginger, red peppers, onions, etc, foods that are prevolent in many Indian dishes were great for colds, so I’ve been on a Chana Masala kick.
I’m also very determined to recreate Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine in vegan form, i.e. cachapas! :)
I love just about any squash. Have you had Kiri? It’s on the sweeter side, and you can also eat it’s skin.
I love these posts too!
Lately, I am obsessed with your garlic roasted butternut squash, and sweet potatoe fries with chipotle dipping sauce (a yummy combo we make of veganaise, cilantro, lime juice and chopped chipotle peppers). SO GOOD.
i made your red lentil and butternut squash stew the other day and was suprised at how luscious it was – just delicious!! This time of year, lentils and squash are it for me!
I am obsessed with lentils right now. They are such a great addition to soups!
Score on the coconut oil! I love all of those things, too, but I haven’t seen the coconut syrup before… will have to keep my eye out. Also, you reminded me how much I love pears – adding them to my shopping list! :)
I love photographing pears as well! Also, I have a delicata squash that needs roasting today. That coconut oil?? I must ask my SIL to check and see if the Costco they goes to carries it! I just bought my first bag of coconut sugar and am loving it. I’ve also tried the coconut aminos [soy sauce alternative] and really liked it. I’ll definitely check out the nectar when it goes on sale next.
I read about the coconut aminos too and I can’t wait to try some. Let me know what you think!
I love when you do these posts – you always seem to find little treasures at Costco that have yet to catch my eye —– like that coconut oil! ….and that marinara is my absolute favourite — to die for!!!!
I feel the same way about Costco – I always find that I miss out on so many things. I dont go that often so when I do there is always something new!
I have to say that you’ve really opened my eyes to Costco, for lack of a less-corny phrase. I went with the fams on Saturday, and I was all “Where’s the fun stuff that Angela always seems to find?!”
I snagged that giant coconut oil (along with a giant Christmas beer stein for my brother and kitter litter)! It’s sitting in my room right now b/c it’s too huge to put anywhere else.
I love coconut sugar but nectar?? I had no clue it even exist I must find a way to buy some; I have been looking for coconut jam but I cannot find any I hope I see some soon… I am so happy about the cause you are working for cancer is such a hard illness to fight I am going to check the website out I hope I am able to support in anyway…
Okay, this may or may not count, but….your 2-Minute Apple Cinnamon Peanut Butter!!! I’ve been eating this pretty much non-stop ever since your post in the beginning of October. :) I’ve also been exploring different blends – like one made with Cranberry Apple Butter. My favorite ways to eat it is as a topping for hot oatmeal and a dip for frozen banana chunks. THANK YOU!!
http://ohsheglows.com/2012/10/02/2-minute-apple-cinnamon-peanut-butter/
Aw that makes me happy! I love the way your mind thinks about dipping in frozen banana chunks. I thought I was the only one who loved to eat bananas straight from the freezer. I dont think I’ve ever dipped it in anything though so this might create a whole new level of obsession.
Ooo, I’ve just recently discovered eating banana chunks straight from the freezer…especially good dipped in melted chocolate chips :)
I’ve never tried delicata squash, but the easy prep sounds right up my alley! I’ve also been seeing a lot of coconut sugar around lately and meaning to try it… this is just the inspiration I need :)
I’m curious to try that coconut nectar. Thanks for the info about the sugar in the blood. These are they types of things I’m starting to be more conscious about.
I’ve tried nori sheets in soups and honestly it tastes ok, but for some reason I get grossed out by it sometimes…which doesn’t make much sense since I eat worse things (that should be “more gross”). I eat chips but really, those are a lot more gross than nutritious nori. I’m working on it!
I could see how it would gross you out…it gets kinda slimy in soups! Not for everyone…heh
I’m Obsessed with coconut oil lately. I got a gigantic jar on amazon (pretty sure the same size as yours) and I keep finding ways to use it, in homemade beauty products, skin and hair conditioners, cooking, making chocolate, etc. While the giant jar was a good deal, I also take it as a challenge, and have made it through about a third of it in just under a month.
I’m familiar with some of the things on your list and I definitely share the love. The thing I’m not familiar with have been on my to-try list for a while :)
Adore seaweed. I have packs and packs of them in snack form from Taiwan. My mom brought it and they come in different flavors :)
Good gracious, I go through coconut oil like nobody’s business, another reason I need to get my butt over to Costco!!
I bought an acorn squash for the first time the other day, I can’t wait to cook it… I found out the deliciousness that is butternut this year, and can’t wait to try the delicata now!
Coconut sugar and nectar are my go to sweeteners for everything now, I LOVE all things coconut :) Next on my list is coconut aminos.
Such a great list Angela, I can agree on all of it… now you’ll have to excuse me, off to keep bidding on those Glo bars!
Thanks for sharing and good luck with the Glo Bar auction!
6 foods I’m loving right now: honeycrisp apples, lentil/vegetable soups (made three recipes in one week!), carob powder, Nuts 2 You Almond-Hazelnut Mutter, Celestial Season’s Gingerbread Tea, and leeks (a relatively new to me veggie).
Love roasting split peas for a crunchy snack!
I’m loving your what I’m loving now posts! Hmmm….right now I’m loving green apples in green juice. I’m also loving pomegranites, especially in salads.
I’m also loving vega products. A lot. :)
im craving that green juice now! I can just taste it…