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What have you been eating, drinking, and cooking?
What food and drinks have you been enjoying (or not enjoying) recently? Have you cooked or created anything interesting? Tell us about it!
What food and drinks have you been enjoying (or not enjoying) recently? Have you cooked or created anything interesting? Tell us about it!
Frozen blueberries, by the ten pound bag. I'm working to change my snacking habits, and a small bowl of frozen fruit is working well for me. I used to have some chips and salsa or an energy bar, but either one is more food than I really need. I love blueberries beyond all other fruits, and frozen they both keep well and I can't eat them by the giant handful the way I absolutely would if they were fresh and in season. So rather than a more high-calorie snack I have a small bowl of blueberries and am happy.
Blueberries are by far my favorite fruit too. I love fresh ones in my cereal, or with some yogurt and granola, but I actually prefer frozen ones for snacking as well. Something about how they crystalize makes them perfect for munching on. :P
My partner and I have been making veggie alternative to typical meat and fish dishes. We aren't vegetarians or vegans, it was more born out of cooking veggies and saying "you know what this reminds me of..." and experimenting. I think like a lot of people during Covid, getting creative at dinner time has been one of our highlights.
We made an amazing discovery at the local farmers market in the form of Lion's Mane mushrooms. We were intimidated at first but found a really tasty recipe for 'crab cakes' using the mushrooms as a substitute for crab. The texture and taste are almost identical with just a hint of earthiness. I used this recipe and have been changing up proportions to meet our tastes. All in all, a 10 out of 10 quarantine discovery.
The other big discovery has been around cauliflower. Pre-covid, I really disliked cauliflower. But after a number of delicious dishes made by my partner I am a full cauliflower evangelist. The first dish she made were blackbean/cauliflower enchiladas (recipe here). They are truly delicious and we've eaten them at least 20 times since the start of pandemic. 10/10. Also check out other recipes on Cookie and Kate, I really like her veggie options. Late in the pandemic, I finally tried one of the pieces of oven baked cauliflower on it's own and was surprised to find that it tasted like battered fish to me. My partner disagrees but it takes us to our next recipe.
Cauliflower fish tacos. This has been my favorite find of the pandemic. You roast up the cauliflower just as you would for the enchiladas but sprinkle on some New Mexican chili powder and ancho chili powder, like you would powdered sugar on a doughnut, before baking. Make a coleslaw (we added cilantro to ours), pickled radishes, a spicy mayonnaise, fresh diced onion, and a salsa or hot sauce (we've enjoyed a homemade salsa verde or Marie Sharps hot sauce). Lightly fry some corn tortillas in olive or coconut oil and assemble. I think they make for a near perfect fish taco substitute, but if you're like my partner, enjoy your veggie tacos.
Thank you for mentioning that crab cake recipe. My wife has been craving them, but I'm allergic to shellfish so they haven't been an option during lockdown. This looks like a great way for us to both get what we're looking for.
Glad to hear you guys will be able to indulge!
I've been making more salads lately which has been interesting. I always thought I just didn't like them, but it turns out I just haven't been dressing them well. Before I would drizzle some oil in but that was about it, whereas recently I've been taking the time to make a little vinaigrette and it's totally changed the game. I also made a tuna steak for the first time and was blown away both by how good it was, and how cheap it was. I got a steak that was enough for me for like $5, way more affordable than if I were to get actual steak.
That tuna steak sounds delicious! We've been doing more salads too, a big gae changer for us was sesame oil. It gives it such a different flavor and adds variety if you're doing them frequently in the week.
Smoothies.
I recently asked for tips and tricks and have been diligently experimenting with different configurations. I want to find a rock solid healthy "default" that I love, and then, once that's locked in, branch out from there.
I haven't figured out the magic configuration yet, but I'll also say that I've yet to make a smoothie I haven't liked. They are so easy and tasty. My basic composition is: frozen fruits, frozen greens, flax seeds, chia seeds, protein powder, sweetener, and almond milk,. Makes a tasty treat that I genuinely look forward to, and is super healthy. I have one every single day.
Also, without oversharing too much, getting actual fiber on a daily basis is a total game changer in a good way. Highly recommended.
I love smoothies, but cleaning the equipment's always been too much of a hassle for me. Glad you're into them though!
Lol, I hear that! We learned quickly to soak the cups and straws, lest the fruit remnants superglue themselves to the plastic. We also bought a second blade for the blender so that we can always have a clean one on hand when the other is dirty.
Oh, that's super smart! The second blade idea is incredible, and yeah -- soaking I always do.
Me and my wife have been making Tachos (tater tot nachos), an invention of our own. Throw tots in a cast iron, bake em for 1/2 the time on the bag, then take them out, shake, top with nacho toppings, and pop em back in for the remainder. The cheese gets all crusty on the bottom and it's really good.
If you've been liking tatchos, may I interest you in totaquiles? Chilaquiles made with tater tots instead of corn chips, you get the crispy bits of the tater tots holding up to the sauce much better than more than the fried tortilla. They're divine.
I showed my wife and she very solemnly said "Yes." so we're doing it!!
Now just to figure out how to make it :P