It’s time for another round of behind the scenes! For part 1, see this post.
Once again, I’m showcasing all of the flops, disasters, forgotten, and so-so recipes I’ve made since July. Only the best recipes get posted on the blog, but I think it’s fun to give you a sneak peek of what didn’t make the cut!
And show you some of the flops that I had to eat until I was blue in the face. I’m telling you I don’t want to see a sweet potato or spaghetti squash for a very long time…
Speaking of squash, I made a sweet cinnamon & Sucanat flavoured spaghetti squash.
I thought I was going to LOVE this change up from the usual savoury squash. It tasted good and all, but something was off and I got sick of it real fast. Butternut or acorn squash and a lightly sweet topping works, but somehow it just didn’t work with spaghetti squash…
Sure was pretty, though!
I’m guessing this was a brownie flop?
I really don’t remember! This was the only picture on my camera…no finished product. Suspicious…
I tried to replicate my Project Food Blog S’more in a jar, yet again.
Still didn’t turn out how I remembered it! I lost the recipe and haven’t been able to replicate it since last Fall.
Homemade Vanilla Bean almond milk!
It tasted pretty decent, but I didn’t find that it was much cheaper than buying it from the store. And the leftover almond pulp just stressed me out…
I made a navy bean based pasta sauce that was a huge flop.
Ok, it wasn’t that bad, but it was just bland no matter what spices and seasonings I added to it.
Navy beans are tricky to get right…
I tried an all natural, oil-free, and no sugar added granola bar recipe that I found on Pinterest, but I wasn’t a fan…It was pretty mushy and tasteless.
I made a gorgeous two-tier carrot cake…until it crumbled!
But love is all you need, clearly.
They are holding hands, right? bahah
I made a peach and cilantro pesto.
The pesto tasted great, but once on pasta it just tasted bland and boring.
Watermelon smoothies!
Just watermelon, ice, and almond milk.
Crock Pot Blueberry Pie steel-cut oatmeal.
I didn’t post this because I prefer the make-ahead steel cut oatmeal. Mainly because I really don’t like cleaning the crock pot! The oats just get all stuck on (even when I grease it) and it’s not a fun cleaning job. Or maybe I don’t know the trick?
I made s’more granola bars, based off my chocolate chunk toffee bars. I didn’t like them more than the original recipe, so I figured there was no point in posting. The toffee bars are the best! So far…
I made nut-butter crusted potato chips, but they didn’t turn out.
Stick with the nut butter parsnip fries, for sure.
I made that cinnamon sweet potato coconut soup that I told you about…
Nothing to write home about.
I also tried this magic trick for instant oatmeal. You pour boiling water over the oats and leave it in the jar for 15 mins. Sadly, it didn’t work for me after 4-5 trials using different amounts of oats.
Update: I did hear from a couple of you that you need to fill the oats half way up the jar. I tried this a couple times, but maybe I should give it another shot!
I made a vanilla cake batter smoothie. I prefer the chocolate one!
I roasted cherry tomatoes…
and made a roasted cherry & lentil wrap. The dressing I made for it was a bit off, so I didn’t post it.
Click “continue” for the other half of the post…lots more pictures to come!
Eric likes taking pictures of the moon…lol.
I bought a new kind of wheatgrass powder from Whole Foods.
These espresso beans are addicting, but a bit hard on my stomach!
I made ANOTHER sweet potato soup. I’m stubborn.
Second time is not a charm.
I made crispy pan-fried tofu which tasted pretty good, but I was reminded why I don’t eat soy. (I get stomach pains from soy)
Really good Cinnamon Bun oatmeal…lost but not forgotten.
I made roasted red pepper pasta sauce. I had such high hopes for this!
I wasn’t sold on it. It just wasn’t thick and creamy like I wanted it to be.
So I made another.
Close but no cigar.
I made Carrot Cake Granola Bars.
Eric said, “It’s a crime against humanity that you didn’t post this recipe.”
I think he liked them. ;) I loved these as well, but will need to work on the recipe a bit more.
I made Peach oats.
A bit tart.
I made tropical coconut milk pineapple oatmeal. It was quite good!
Pumpkin Butter Swirl Oats….also very good.
I shot my new Fall header on a coffee table in the back yard!
And things got a bit crazy, as usual.
So that’s what you haven’t seen since July! Time sure flies.
Any surprises in this post? Any crimes against humanity?
WOW! Everything looks amazing!! :)
I love this behind the scenes post! Of course it would be awesome if meals turned out perfectly 100% of the time but we learn from our experience…and they can provide good laughs for later :). Hope you find that smores in a jar recipe soon!
WOW you sure are a busy bee testing out all these recipes in addition to the ones that make it onto the blog… i admire your creativity and determination :)
Hhahah I love these Ange! It’s nice to know that even pros like you have plenty of flops! I posted a roasted red pepper based sauce today that could be used on pasta I think – I poured it all over baked chicken but I’m going to try it with some noodles in the next couple of days. PS – I’ll be looking forward to that carrot cake bar recipe. You know what I’m like with carrots. ;)
Wow– it’s crazy how many meals don’t make the blog– although I have to say, I think some of your “flops” look like real winners!!!
The trick with crock pot oats is to put them in a water bath. I do one cup of oats in a pyrex dish inside my crock pot and then put enough water to cover the dish half way up the side. It works beautifully. You can add toppings in the water as well, except for nuts and stuff like that that you don’t want to be mushy.
Well you may call these flops but I found some good ideas in there…particularly the cinnamon bun oatmeal and pumpkin swirl oats! It’s nice to know it takes a lot of trial and error to get the good stuff :)
Good or bad, I would happily eat ANY of these! Especially those s’mores granola bars!!
i agree with eric… you realllly need to post that recipe :)
I love that you’re always working! Plus, it’s nice knowing that everyone has flops in the kitchen. I burnt butter once – I didn’t even know that was possible!
haha I didn’t either. I’ve heard of browned butter though ;)
I love these behind the scenes posts! It’s so assuring and fun to see that your favorite food blogger is also human! :0) My biggest continuous flop is never remembering how quickly lentils will boil over and leave a nasty smell hanging in the air.
I do that alllll the time
Wowza! Thanks for the recipes that you do post – the ones I have made have turned out great – now I can see why! You only post the recipes that meet your high standard! Thanks Angela.
I enjoyed this post Angela—it takes a lot to share your flops, haha! Makes me feel better about all of mine though! :)
Love seeing that I’m not the only one who screws up recipes sometimes! Even though your food may not taste great, your pictures are still gorgeous! Love the new header, btw!
Thanks Anne :)
cinnamon bun oats sound incredible!
I probably would have posted all of those just because I would have been proud of my ingenuity ;) No, thank you for not posting because I do the same thing- sometimes a recipe just isnt worth other people following if its not quite right!!
PS- I made vegan sweet potato biscuits with chilli and I am SOOO proud of myself, def. going to post that one! I used olive oil as my replacement for butter in the recipe- is there a better alternative when baking vegan?
Earth Balance is a good butter replacer.
Sweet potato biscuits could def. convince me to eat them again!
I feel so much better that you have as many flops as successes! :D
That pan-fried tofu looks amazeballs! I have such a hard time getting a good sear on my tofu…any tips?
I find using 1-2 tbsp oil is key for a good sear…and cooking until browned.
I tried the cornstarch trick but I didnt find it made a difference.
Even your flops look delicious :) And your photos are so great!
oh, angels, your kitchen flops would be my kitchen successes in a heartbeat!! those s’more brownies look fab.
Processed navy beans with diced tomatoes and spinach. Add some Italian type seasonings :) awesome pasta sauce!
ahhh I knew I should have added tomatoes! Great idea