This weekend my friend Courtney invited us over for dinner. I should have snapped pictures of her house to show you because her eye for design is on point, but being the weird friend that I am, I stuck to taking pictures of dinner instead.
What a gorgeous spread!
Courtney is into healthy eating and we chatted for a bit about cow shares, juicing and the dill pickle sauerkraut pictured above, which has a… shall we say pungent aroma, but is delicious! As we talked, I realized I’ve been stuck in a food rut for a while now, which has had me less-than-inspired about healthy eating. I’ve sort of been on auto pilot, making the same things on repeat, but as we chatted, I could feel my food mojo starting to flow again.
A trip to the newly expanded Davidson Farmers Market kept the juices flowing. There is something invigorating about being around so many fresh, local flavors, and having a playground pit to keep the kiddos entertained.
When we saw Summit making pour-over coffee, we had to try it ourselves.
Unfortunately my coffee tasting talents are about as refined as my wine ones, so besides ‘really good’ I lacked words to describe the fresh cup of joe.
I perused the stands, took pictures of fresh organic flour and picked up some info on a local, organic CSA that I’m really tempted to sign up for. Basically, I was in my happy place and feeling excited about switching things up in the kitchen. To start, I grabbed this gorgeous broccoli rabe, which Barbee Farms tells me will most likely be around another week or so.
I’m set on picking up some more next week because I was blown away at how tender it was. I did a quick saute with olive and garlic, then tossed in some quinoa, a sprinkle of salt and a squeeze of lemon and called it lunch.
After that, it was hard to drag me out of the kitchen.
I prepped some quinoa with a dressing of olive oil, lemon, soy sauce and garlic, an idea I got from Courtney that was bursting with flavor.
I started soaking some dried chickpeas to make hummus and make a test batch of baked oatmeal breakfast bars with cacao nibs that still need some work, but were good enough.
Finally, I decided to use a button on my Blendtec that I’ve never pushed before- the whole juice button. I know it’s different from a juicer, but it’s what I have and I was intrigued. I added 3 chopped carrots, some water and ice and a ripe pear then hit blend.
40 seconds later, I poured out samples of the PEAR-rot juice, thinking I was pretty clever with the name, until I had to convince Hailey that she was NOT drinking PARROT juice. It took some lengthy explanation but she eventually downed her cupful after I showed her the discarded carrot tops to prove the juice was indeed veggie-based, not bird-based.
Oh, kids.
Last night we sous-vided (not sure I can use it as a verb, but we’ll just go with it) our last grass-fed steak, gifted to us by a friend, with the first corn of the season and some grilled zucchini.
It felt like the perfect way to usher in a new season of fresh flavors and a newly invigorated excitement for the kitchen.
How do you break out of food ruts?
What spring/summer produce are you most excited about?
I can’t wait to see berries make their appearance and am definitely planning on taking the girls to pick some this year!
emma @ be mom strong says
I have a friend like this, but she reads my blog every time I post so I guess I can’t post pics on my blog!
I am not a PEAR fan, but that does look refreshing! We have a vitamix so I don’t know if it would also juice… pseudo juice?!
Brittany Dixon says
I’m sure the vitamix would do the same. Definitely a psuedo-juice but good enough for not having a real juicer on hand 🙂
Brynn says
Your weekend looks so fresh, fun and flavorful! (OK, I really wasn’t trying to do that.) I often get stuck in food ruts so I love when friends, the season or a new recipe inspires me. Using seasonal foods really helps to change up recipes and get your creative juices flowing.
John J. says
Bring on the fresh home grown tomatoes!
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
I’m in a bit of a food rut myself! I recently discovered that my little baby isn’t getting enough milk so all my food/kitchen energies have been focused on foods that will hopefully increase my milk…I am sprinkling Brewer’s Yeast in/on everything!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh man, I’m sure that is stressful! Have you tried taking alfalfa? That can increase milk too! And I’m not sure if it’s your thing, but drinking beer itself always helped increase my milk. Good luck mama! <3
Brittany says
I can’t pass up a pour over coffee! I’m so excited about fresh berries!
Amber says
My haul from the Davidson Farmers Market included a HUGE tomato plant that weighed at least 30 pounds
Brittany Dixon says
Oh awesome! I saw the plants and was so tempted! Just figured that I have enough plants I’m torturing for now 😉
Julie @ A Better Life with Burgers says
Ahhh how I love the farmer’s market! I live in California, so we have tons around us, but we moved away from my favorite one and I am still not over it. Hopefully all the fresh spring and summer produce will help me move on!
Elizabeth Evans says
It’s funny to hear you say you’re in a food rut because your food always looks amazing, fresh and healthy! You inspire me in the kitchen and help me stay out of a food rut : )
Brittany Dixon says
Oh you are kind! I just find myself running out of pictures to share because it’s always the same thing. How often do people need to see a picture fajitas, right?! 😉
Noa says
I am interested in finding a cow share opportunity too. Do you find out what farms offer that online, at the farmer’s market, or through friends? Is this the time of year to sign up for something like that?
Brittany Dixon says
I’m pretty new to the concept, but this opportunity was presented to us through a friend whose cousin owns a bunch of grass-fed cows (more for the love of it than profit). I know for us, we need to sign up in the next few weeks. I’m sure if you google it in your area you can find a place to start researching it, or check out a local farmers market and ask around. I wish I was able to be more helpful!
Rebecca says
The broccoli rabe looks delicious – I can’t wait for our farmer’s market to kick off again here in the UK, this post inspired me to get more creative with spring and summer produce – the asparagus season in the UK is always amazing. This weekend was the first time it felt like spring!
Heather says
I’ve definitely been in a food rut, but with the nicer weather, I feel like it’s changing. I’m really looking forward to peaches and nectarines and rhubarb when the weather is right. We’ve also been talking about joining a CSA lately, so maybe it’s just that time of year. 😉
Sherry says
Yes-definitely in a food rut here. But fortunately I never tire of a good salad. If I had a cook, I would eat like you do! Looks delicious!
Lindsey @ Simply Lindsey says
I love pour over coffee!! It’s such a delicious and mess-free way to make coffee. So much less to clean up too! We’ve been in a food rut lately, mainly because we kept making the same things because we liked them so much! To break out of a food rut, I’ll find new recipes on Pinterest or on blogs and also not make the same things over and over again no matter how much we want to! 🙂
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
So many yummy eats! I’m excited for berries and sweet corn and chicken kabobs on the grill!
Danica @ It's Progression says
I definitely fall into food ruts, and it’s in those times that I tend to crave more unhealthful food. To break out of a rut like that I make sure to stick to meal planning, which includes at least one new-to-me recipe to try and then a make a point of picking out one or two produce items that I normally wouldn’t buy at the store, just to try a little something different.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Your “Parrot” juice sounds delicious!! I love pretty much anything that involves carrots, though. I just bought a Vitamix a few weeks ago and I need to try out juicing with it!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I am just excited for all the farmers markets to be in full swing! They are so fun to wander through; you never know what you will find!
I do love blackberries, though 😉
Albe Marle says
Pear juice? Sign me up! I love pears! I never even thought to use them for juice.
Kari says
Parrot juice! I love it….too funny!! I am most looking forward to garlic scapes….just thinking about them gets me excited!