Are you bored with dinner and need to discover new foods?
Over the last few months, you probably are cooking at home more and are getting tired of some meals?
Of course, we all have our favorite comfort meals, but there is something very special about discovering new ways to leave our taste buds dancing.
The more you cook, the more of a challenge this can be.
The key is to try something new while respecting your taste preferences and dietary requirements.
Here are five fantastic ways to discover new foods when you are tired of the same recipes.
Change Your Salad Selections
Leafy vegetables are low in calories; the darker the leaf, the more packed with vitamins and minerals it will be.
Trading iceberg lettuce for Romaine lettuce or Beefsteak tomatoes for darker tomatoes, like NatureSweet, are great options.
It updates the taste profile and esthetic of your side salads and any dishes that incorporate them.
You can inject another fresh ingredient into the recipe for success by growing fruits and vegetables in your own garden.
The homegrown produce will offer a noticeably different taste, which can add versatility to your recipes.
Sometimes in life, the simplest upgrades generate the biggest improvement.
Use Meal Kits to Discover New Foods
The popularity of meal kits for seniors has grown at a rapid rate in recent times.
They deliver the spices, ingredients, and instructions to bring a plethora of new recipes to life.
The packages allow you to build bundles of meals that appeal to you, offering a truly personalized taste experience.
You can combine some of your favorite meals with new ideas from around the world.
It’s far more convenient than struggling to find spices and ingredients in the supermarket.
Most recipes are easy to follow too.
Focus On One New Ingredient
Strong ingredients have the ability to completely change a meal.
You’ve already experienced this over the years with chili, garlic, and other powerful tastes.
Investing a little time in adding a new ingredient to some of your favorite meals is easy.
It may unlock improvements on meals you’ve been cooking for decades.
Mushrooms, for example, are an optional extra in a plethora of recipes.
Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Botanical Interest has a wide variety of seeds for you to try different herbs and vegetables.
This year, I am growing New Zealand spinach (seeds from Botanical Interest), conducive to warmer climates.
If you’re curious about revamping recipes, start with herbs.
Try Online Shopping
Supermarket chains are great for convenience, but have you considered internet shopping?
When hoping to discover new tastes and treats, visiting a local store that sells worldwide cuisines would be ideal, but the internet makes it so much easier to try new things.
Whether discovering Asian foods, European delicacies, or African meals is your preference, all types of unique ingredients are available online.
The array of foods that can be delivered to our doorsteps is one of the great things about the diversity of modern culture.
If you cannot find new things in your local supermarket, you can always shop online as an alternative.
Utilize New Cooking Tools
The methods used to cook foods have a telling impact on the final result.
For proof of this, you only have to compare BBQ meat with meat that’s been cooked in the stove.
Kitchen gadgets are more accessible than ever.
From George Foreman grills and slow-cookers to portable pizza ovens and rotisseries, the options are plentiful.
Food gadgets can shape the way we eat and keep us from being bored with the mundane.
Instant pots have revamped the way we look at fried-foods.
Here are a few of my favorite innovative gadgets:
The truth is having the same old meatloaf recipe every time you want meatloaf can get very boring.
At least to me, it can be.
In 2015, I was so bored with the same recipes, I challenged myself and did not repeat a single recipe for an entire year!
It forced me to try different cooking techniques and play with my ingredients a bit.
Inspired by a fellow blogger, I came up with this successful recipe.
Cheesy Skillet Chicken and Rice
Equipment
- 12" non-stick skillet
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped fine
- 1 Large Perdue boneless, skinless chicken breast cut down to 1/2" pieces
- 4 oz. link of your favorite chorizo cut down to 1/2" pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
- 1 Tablespoon sweet paprika
- 3/4 cup uncooked, long-grain white rice
- 1 cup freshly chopped broccoli florets
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup vermouth
- 1 cup freshly shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a 12" non-stick skillet, drop in 1 Tablespoon of butter. Place on medium-high heat until melted.
- Add chopped onions and cook until slightly softened, stirring frequently.
- Add chicken. Turn often till chicken is just starting to brown.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add another tablespoon of butter to the edges of the skillet, melt.
- Pour uncooked rice around the perimeter of the pan, with the chicken in the center.
- Sautee the rice in the butter to coat the grains.
- Make a hole in the center of the chicken, in the center of the skillet and add the garlic.
- Cook the garlic for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the chicken broth and the vermouth. Heat until boiling.
- Turn heat to low. Cover skillet with a lid and cook for 12 minutes.
- Carefully open the lid. Add last tablespoon of butter and paprika. Stir contents. Sprinkle chopped broccoli on top of everything. Return lid and cook another 8 minutes.
- Carefully lift the lid and gently stir the mixture. Remove from the heat.
- Sprinkle cheese on top of everything. Return the lid and allow to sit for about two minutes.
- Top with parsley and serve.
Breaking dinner monotony doesn’t have to be complicated.
Try a few of these suggestions and let me know how it goes!
