The past two months I’ve been setting goals to try new foods and new recipes. I can’t say it’s been a rousing success last month or this, but it’s a healthy new habit I’m working on. And I did get a few good (new) things out of it!
New Squash
I love squash. So when I get the chance to try a new kind? You know I’m game. The newbies: Turban squash and delicata squash (the latter a way awesome gift from Sarah). Verdict? Turban squash isn’t a favorite–dry, chalky, stringy and overall blah in flavor. Maybe it’s just supposed to be a decorative squash? However delicata squash is just like it’s name–delicate sweet flavor with a crumbly soft texture.
New Peanut Pancakes
As hard as it was to try a peanut pancake recipe other than my usual go-to, I just forced myself to try Heather’s Peanut Butter Cookie Pancakes. Verdict? Delicious! Now I can’t choose a favorite recipe–so I’ve given up and taken to mashing the two recipes together when I need a pancake & peanut fix.
New Bars
Pure Protein bars. Verdict? the “cake” part is the traditional overly-chewy grainy protein consistency of many bars, but the blueberry goo may or may not make up for it. An overall decent bar, but no new favorite.
New Balls
Quorn meatballs. Verdict? Quorn has some pretty rockin’ ingredients for a frozen premade product. I’d tried Quorn’s “chicken” products in the past and been impressed, and these are no exception. Good stuff–although way too salty for my current tastebuds.
Try anything new lately?
ForgottenBeast 
I eat tons upon tons of salads and to mix things up I bought some marinated artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes at Costco the other day. It’s amazing how just a few little changes can breath new life into your meals.
Oh man, sundried tomatoes make even iceberg lettuce exciting! You’re right, all it takes is a few little changes!
Way to go on trying new foods, Allie! I need to branch out more- I keep alternating between a handful meals but it’s hard to deviate when I still enjoy eating them! Does a new Starbucks order count? I’ve switched from iced Americanos to soy cappuccinos & I just can’t get enough of the latter!
I can’t lie–I had to scrounge to find some “out of the norm” meals from the month–I’ve been in such tasty food habits as of late, which I love, but I do need to work on shaking things up more. With a new Starbucks order, perhaps. Because yes, that totally does count! I really want to try a peppermint latte, yet I never quite manage to branch out from the usual…
I love trying new foods!! The sad part is Im not very adventurous, so I probably wont buy myself new foods. Unless its a bar or nut buter, than Im all over those 🙂
Oh man, I’d love to try ALL the nut butters…Why do they have to be so expensive??
Good lord, those pancakes look so fluffy! I’ve never used any of those flours before; I’ll have to see if Whole Foods has them in the bulk bins.
For those meatballs, maybe crumble them into an unsalted tomato sauce?
That would definitely help! And they were good with the broccoli, since it helped balance out the salt with a plain steamed veggie. And I’ve only found good peanut flour online so far (iherb). I think PB2 peanut flour is now in most grocery stores, but it’s not my favorite version/brand.
When you make the pancakes, do you always use the three different flours? Or have you had any success subbing?
I used oat flour (aka ran oatmeal through my magic bullet) in place of the brown rice flour in Heather’s recipe. Coconut flour is pretty hard to sub, so I left that one in (plus I have a giant bag of the stuff that I’m never going to be able to get rid of). Sarah’s recipe (http://www.ingredientsofafitchick.com/2012/09/14/peanut-butter-jelly-pancakes/) is a little simpler, and I often make those with the oat flour sub in place of the ground flax.
I also recently tried Quorn products. I didn’t realize they were in the US – I thought it was a UK thing!
Anyway, I was super impressed with them. They seem to have minimal ingredients, and the flavor is excellent. I much prefer their baked chicken cutlets to actual chicken, and I thought the mince was great in chili. Have you tried that?
Haven’t tried the mince, will add that to my shopping list–and yeah, it’s an entirely readable and not-too-long list of ingredients, which is always good in my book.
You have so much variety in your diet. I’m so jealous of that! I REALLY need to broaden up what I eat!
I definitely get in my food habits/routines, especially when I find favorites!, but I do try to shake things up every so often.
have you tried the quorn chicken fillets? those are freaking amazing. I am glad you tried the turban, I have wanted to buy it but wasn’t sure so now I will not be buying that sucker!
I have! I had someone make me a super-fancy chicken piccata dinner using those, and it was amazing! And yeah, I wouldn’t recommend turban squash when there are SO many other tasty squash options.
Oddly enough, I like the fruit flavored Pure bars better than their chocolate. The strawberry is pretty tasty too. And that Quorn – I thought the same thing about the salt. why is it so impossible for someone to make a low sodium veggie burger?!
I’ve since tried a choco-caramel Pure bar, and I have to agree with you! Clif builder (and probably a few others) do chocolate protein bars much better. And I have no idea about the stupid salt business! And I mean, the Quorn actually stuff tastes GOOD under all that salt, it’s not like they need to take the cheap way out to cover up blah/lack of flavor like some soy/veggie products do.
Clif is good… but it’s better because of all the sugar. 😉
Mmm, sugar…
Wait–what were we talking about?
I’m SO with you on delicata and turban squash– turban kinda tastes like you’re literally eating fabric of a turban hahaha But delicata?! YUMMM 😀
And can I just say those pancakes literally made me drool all over my keyboard! I HAVE TO MAKE THOSE! 🙂
Ahaha, it IS very turban-cloth-like, glad it wasn’t just me with a disappointing turban experience. Disappoint turban experience–now I want to start a band and name it that. And oh my gosh, you DO! Peanut flour and cookie goodness in pancake form…
HOORAY FOR NEW BALLS~!!!!!!!
[I had to say it. Had to =) haha]
happy wiaw!!
I’m glad somebody did 😉
Pancakes look amazing.
I love Quorn. I think it is incredibly versitle and tastes really good.
They definitely have some of the top vegan/veggie meat option out there!
I like quorn’s “chicken” patties (although my family are not fans). I’ll have to try the balls! btw, sometimes when squash is stringy it’s just not fresh, or was picked too late. It might not be the type. I had a stringy acorn squash last night and I’m pretty sure it was because it was hiding in my cabinet for 3 weeks. 🙂
Nah, I’ve definitely had less-than-satisfactory old squash, but I’m pretty sure this was the type. I’ll have to stick to acorn, delicata, kabocha, butternut in the future. Good thing there are so many options 😉
That squash is crazy looking! I bought a bunch of new squashes the other week at the grocery store and so far have only eaten half of one of them… fail! Those pancakes look incredible.
Luckily squash lasts forever so there’s no rush 😀
That is a one funky squash. I’m pretty sure it is purely for decorations 🙂 There are a bunch of funky irregular looking squash in the market, some just don’t look edible :S I’ve tried some new chocolate I brought over from Switzerland if that counts 😛 Food wise- I’ve tried this coconut thai cream of vegetable soup at my university vegetarian cafe. Amazing!
Ooo, chocolate ALWAYS counts, I don’t what the category or challenge is 😀 And that soup sounds amazing!
I wish I could say I’ve tried something new lately, but I haven’t! Oh well… I’ll get to the grocery store some day… maybe over Christmas break. I really want to try a soy coffee creamer but my local store doesn’t sell soy. Sad.
Ooo, if you do find a good soy creamer, let me know! I always mean to buy and try one, and then talk myself out of it.
Thanks for the shout out! I am glad you have peanut butter pancake options now! 🙂 I have never tried the Turban squash (it kind of scares me), but Delicata is AWESOME!! I have one sitting on my counter just WAITING to be baked! I just tried chestnuts for the first time today…I like them!! I have to figure out a recipe to use them in now! 😉
I will forever and always give you props for your PB pancake recipe 🙂 I need to buy more delicata! And I love fresh fire-roasted chestnuts–always a Christmas tradition in my family.
I don’t comment a lot on the WIAW posts. Kinda not my thing. BUT I like the way you always shake it up!
Thanks Stacie! Keeping it fun definitely helps me to keep it healthy–Why go out to eat/find junk food when there’s so much delicious, new good things to try first? (Okay, and to try the occasional new Poptart flavor…it’s all about balance ;D )
yummm, those peanut pancakes look amazing! so fluffy. totally craving pancakes now…
i just tried both of TJ’s winter teas (i see from a few posts back that you’re a fan of the candy cane green), and i loooooove them both. and i tried making cauliflower rice, which turned out well despite my skepticism.
They are SO good! And yup, I have been drinking mug after mug of the candy cane green, so glad you love it too!
Hey way to throw yourself out there and try some new stuff!! The pancakes look delicious; so soft and fluffy….I think I’m talking about pancakes…
I always look forward to your WIAW post, girl. Those pb pancakes are pretty darn AMAZING!!
Awww, yay!! I’m SO glad you liked the pancakes! Like we really need any MORE reasons to be obsessed with peanut flour, right? I just realized my stash is starting to get low…wish they sold it in 5lb tubs! Lol
I’ve still yet to try delicata, but now I want it with some blueberry goo on top! 😉
Haha, I know, I go through so much of the stuff (and may have two more bags on their way through the mail right now…)
Umm, blueberry goo on squash would be amazing. Wonder if Pure Protein sells just the goo? Except, whoops, I’m guessing that’s NOT where the stick the protein in their bars…
DELICATA! 🙂 I am so glad you loved it. It really is my favorite.
At least for today.
You know what I love most about you trying new foods? You try new foods *and* you’re cheap. It means you can have the variety without breaking the bank.
I’m in a food rut, but it’s working at the moment. I’ve always had success going with familiar foods when I’m feeling challenged like I am with the Holidays looming. In 2013, I will be spreading my wings a bit…I hope! 😉
Thank goodness for peanut flour #cantstopwontstop, never enough! I think I could eat a jar a day if it wasn’t so expensive… So many different ways to use it! Favorites being pancakes and to make a peanut sauce for TJ’s chicken and veggie potsticksers 😀 I love Luna and Cliff Mojo bars and love TJ’s turkey meatballs… Bars and balls!