How to survive a month spent writing a novel, having a job, upping your workouts and pretending you have time to be social? Make it fun with some new foods. I try to use one new food a week. I failed last month, but you can check out September and August for other new food adventures.
Week One: Black Rice/Forbidden Rice
What I Made: A bowl of black rice and veggies (avocado, mashed squash and carrots) smothered in spicy peanut sauce. I love the texture of this rice, and it has a surprising amount of flavor. I’m not a big rice eater, but this might convert me. It is much more expensive that white rice (but what isn’t more expensive than white rice?), but I will definitely be buying and cooking black rice again.
Week Two: Coconut Milk
What I Made: Smoothies, shakes and hot chocolate. It’s good–creamy and slightly coconut-y–and I’ll buy it if almond milk ever ceases to exist, but until then almond milk will remain my first choice (and one true love).
Week Three: Salted Chocolate
I’d never had the all-famous salt-and-chocolate combo, so I bought these bars when they were on sale at Whole Foods. Gotta say, not a favorite, but that’s more a review of the company than salt and chocolate. There was no taste of salt in the almond-chocolate bar, and the chocolate in both bars was subpar and lacking in flavor or something. So maybe I’ll try a different brand-with-salt (if one goes on sale…).
Week Four: Rice Pasta and Fennel
Thanks to Michelle for inspiring me to give fennel a second chance!
What I Made: Pasta topped with fennel, broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and fake sausage.
I loved the taste of fennel raw. Once cooked, it didn’t taste as strong, but I still enjoyed it. I’m interested in trying a citrus/raw fennel salad recipe, I think the flavor combo would be stunning. The brown rice spaghetti, on the other hand? Complete fail. Don’t expect me to be buying rice pasta again any time soon. Gummy, no texture, no taste, not spaghetti-slurpable and it all stuck together in one big goop.
Try anything new recently?
I really like fennel in salads, it has such a unique flavour! Actually millet is much cheaper than white rice, at least here
However forbidden rice is super expensive, even though it is very tasty.
Unfortunately nothing new in my food life
I still havent tried fennel – it sounds so unique. I did buy a rice blend with black rice in it, so I can’t wait to give that a go.
I’ve never had fennel either, it sounds delicious!
Coconut flour is about the most recent new food in my life–LOVE
I tried coconut flour and just wasn’t a fan, I still have half a bag I don’t know what to do with. Any recommended recipes?
That first meal looks delicious!
Try Lindt chocolate with a touch of sea salt. It’s quite expensive, but I tend to find it on offer quite often, and it’s definitely worth it.
I’ve never cooked with fennel, but I’ve eaten it in restaurants and I love it! It’s another thing I’m quite scared of attempting on my own.
I was a bit intimidated by it too, but it turns out it is super easy to cook with, just slice it up and saute! Or slice it up…and snack before it makes it to the pan
I have been unhappy with all the brown rice pasta I’ve tried. My friend says the penne is better than the spaghetti. We bought coconut milk and I didn’t like it. I bought almond milk. I really like almond milk but the hubby is on the fence.
Glad it’s not just me, I was beginning to wonder if I just cooked it wrong…but it’s pretty hard to cook pasta “wrong.” Mm, glad you like almond milk and that the hubby is working on it, haha. I love it!
I love that you are always trying new stuff! I’m not a rice fan either… but I am a fan of the price of white rice!! I tried coconut milk and almond milk and disliked them. I really love soy and rice milk
I have never cooked fennel. I hear it tastes good. It looks pretty!
You have such great taste in new foods. I love them all–even the brown rice pasta. I usually get the brown rice pasta for curries and stuff and didn’t have a weird gummy texture.
The best black rice dish I ever had was black rice pudding with coconut and green tea. Stunning to look at and so dang good!
Hmm, maybe I’ll try it with a “saucier” topping if I give it another go, that might have been part of the problem. Plus anything with curry on it will end up being good by default…
All of those foods would be new to me too! I’ve had coconut milk but not that kind!
Yum! Looks like your trying (and retrying) some great things!
I must try and find almond milk
I’m not a big rice fan either, but I’d like to try that! Also, I’ve been wanting to try coconut milk so thanks for giving it a positive review because I was just considering it about 2 days ago! (I’m also an almond milk lover)
Big fan of peanut sauce, and so are my kids. The Lindt brand makes a good salted chocolate. I tried Sloppy Joe’s last night and they were a bust, oh well. Oh, I love Almond milk as well, so much I buy the 3 pack at Costco.
I’ve heard lots of good things about salted caramel and chocolate but not 100% sure yet! I might do what you’ve done and wait till it’s on offer; the Lindt one is supposed to be a winner… Sad to say, the only thing I’ve tried out of this lot is the carton coconut milk, which is brilliant in smoothies… I very easily get stuck in food ruts so I should do a challenge like this!
I have never cooked/tasted fennel! Perhaps it will be something to try over the upcoming holiday season
I absolutely adore roasted fennel. It still retains its rich licorice flavor but gets all melty and browned and delicious.
You have to try lindt with sea salt – so damn good!
oooh I love theo chocolates!
Ok maybe I should try fennel again. That pasta looks great!!!