Local Food Blog Stars Share How To Get Out of a Cooking Rut
BY EMMA GEARY - JULY 28, 2023
Image Courtesy of Fit Foodie Finds
We’ve all been there - it’s night number three of takeout, the fridge is empty, and you can’t even begin to think about “throwing something together” for your next meal. For me, when I’m busy, overwhelmed, and most importantly, hungry, it’s hard to get excited about cooking.
As LAB explores the many ways we can get creative in the kitchen and take the stress out of gathering, we asked a few of our local favorite foodies how they break out of a creative rut and bring the fun back into cooking.
You’ve likely saved a few of their recipes on your own Pinterest boards, and we’re here with even more tips and tricks for the next time you’re staring blankly at your fridge.
Lindsay of @PinchofYum: Self-exploration is key!
“Often I find that being in a rut in the kitchen is actually a symptom of something else - I'm distracted, I'm overwhelmed, I'm spending too much time on my phone, and I'm not getting enough sleep. I try not to view "the rut" as a time when I need to muscle through and just make an amazing meal happen. Instead, I try to view it as a time to slow down, eat a bowl of cereal, order some takeout, and take care of the basics. You can't force inspiration when you're run down and exhausted.
Once I start bouncing back, I find the most inspiration from offline sources (which is ironic, since my job is creating inspiring food content for the internet). I look through magazines, old and new cookbooks, and I ask my friends what they've been cooking. And one of my favorite ways to become a more inspired cook is by eating more inspired food! Takeout, eating out, restaurant delivery - I lean in hard to all of these during cooking rut seasons. Eating good food helps me stay excited about food, which translates to better energy and more ideas in the kitchen.”
Looking to reignite your inspiration? Try these summery team favorites from Lindsay’s blog, PinchOfYum.com:
Images Courtesy of Pinch of Yum
Lee of @FitFoodieFinds: “Lean into the season!”
“Just because we're food bloggers doesn't mean we've never been in a rut when it comes to cooking. But, there are a few things that we use in our everyday lives to inspire us to get creative and have fun in the kitchen.
First and foremost is in-season veggies. Are strawberries ripe and juicy? Make a simple strawberry broccoli salad. Sweet corn knee-high? Try a street corn pasta salad. Start with 1 ingredient and go from there. And, don't feel like you need to follow a Michelin-star recipe to make a good meal.
We also love getting flavor inspiration from the local restaurant scene here in Minneapolis. If you love the Chicken Tinga Tacos from Centro, bring that flavor into your kitchen with a simple Chicken Tinga recipe.
Last but not least, social media! TikTok and Instagram are swimming with fun recipe trends right now and we’re here for it. We’ve jumped on a few trains and have no regrets. It’s allowed us to try new methods and new recipes that we would never have thought of before.”
If you’re looking for new summer recipes, here are a few delicious ones we’re loving from FitFoodieFinds.com:
Images Courtesy of Fit Foodie Finds
Stephanie of @Stephanie.A.Meyer: Rut-busting Tips
“It happens to all of us, even food bloggers and recipe developers. Life gets busy and we fall into a pattern of buying the same tried-and-true groceries, using them to prepare the five quick meals we know by heart…and beating those meals to death.
If the thought of another dinner of grilled chicken, rice, and a salad sends you straight to Uber Eats for takeout - and far away from your health goals - I’ve got a few flavorbomb, rut-busting tips for you.
Use condiments and even better, make your own condiments. I write meal plans for clients and my secret sauce for preventing boredom is…secret sauce! I call them kickass condiments because I like a condiment to deliver a lot of variety, crave-ability, and nutrition to boot. Think pestos, chimichurris, ginger scallion sauces, tahini/nut-butter sauces, anything that is fresh, spicy, acidic, salty, sweet, creamy, or all of the above. Make two each week and elevate your go-to, fast recipes to something special.
Cook ahead, or as I like to call it, batch cook. A lot of boring meals happen because you don’t have a plan or many ingredients on hand. A better way to organize your time is to make extra when you do cook. When you grill that same old chicken breast, grill extra, and use the leftovers in a salad for lunch the next day, with a great condiment. When you make tacos for dinner, make extra filling and use it to spice up your eggs for Breakfast.
Take a cooking class. There are so many cooking classes available via Zoom, where you can cook right in your kitchen. Look for classes where you’ll be making more than one meal, so you leave the class with food in your fridge and a few days of fun new flavors.
Here’s my personal favorite - invite people over. Sometimes (often) I can get my creative juices flowing for someone other than myself. In fact, I prepare quite simple meals for myself but I enjoy going all-out for my friends. Pick a cuisine, dive deep, and make enough for leftovers (freeze what you can). I hosted a Spanish-themed party in February that inspired me all winter long.”
Check out some of our favorite recipes from Stephanie on Freshtart.com:
Images Courtesy of Stephanie Meyer
Emma Geary
Emma is a writer living in Minneapolis. When she's not checking out a new brewery with friends or blasting Taylor Swift in her car, you can find her dreaming up ideas as the Brand + Editorial Manager at LAB.
