HOLY CULINARY RUT!
Have you ever just been stuck? Uninspired? Or simply unexcited about what your next meal is going to be??
Sad to say, I have been in these shoes for a little over a week now – just kind of blank about what to cook up next! (Definitely not the best place to be when you want to talk and write about food!)
So what to do??
Whenever I find myself in a culinary rut, I start searching around for inspiration, looking for something to get me excited about food!
Here are my top six tricks to shake a culinary rut:
1. Cook with out a plan. I know this may sound counter intuitive, but rummaging through your kitchen with out a plan is a great way to get the culinary juices flowing. Try letting the ingredients lead the way rather than you leading the ingredients.
2. Watch food TV. This is especially helpful when you are feeling like a blank slate AND lazy. It’s a no brainer. All you have to do is turn on the boob tube and just wait for something yummy to jump off the screen. Instant inspiration!
3. Search food blogs! I can honestly say that this has become my number one way to get inspired by food these days. I am forever searching all the yummy food blogs out there. It’s such an inspirational way to find tons of delicious ideas
4. Thumb through food magazines and cookbooks. An oldie but a goodie, it works. Try taking an old classic and giving it a modern twist.
5. Get inspired by some of your favorite restaurants. Have a restaurant that you absolutely love? Borrow some ideas from the menu and try to recreate them at home.
6. Ask your friends what they are making for dinner. Let’s face it, we are not alone in this whole “we need to get dinner on the table every night thing”. I have gotten some of my best ideas from some of my best friends. So remember to ask around!
As for this recipe, I have to thank Gina from SkinnyTaste. I was bopping around looking for something to do with all of the leftover chicken I had from my roast chicken this past weekend when I stumbled upon this Skinny Chicken Waldorf Salad. This was just one of the many, many mouth watering recipes that caught my eye from Gina’s blog. Her site is loaded with lite and delicious recipes that will leave you never wanting anything but a healthy and nutritious meal again!
Many people like they’re Waldorf Salad with all yogurt and no mayo BUT I am not one of them. What can I say, I really love mayo so whenever I have a recipe that calls for mayo usually go one part mayo; three parts Greek yogurt. I find just a little bit of real mayo can go along way when mixed with the yogurt.
I also added some fresh chopped dill to this salad just to give it one more layer of freshness (I just love the way dill can elevate a dish!).
This salad is great over a bed of greens, served on a whole grain roll, or piled into a wrap!
Chicken Waldorf Salad with Dill
Ingredients
8 oz pre-cooked chicken breast (leftovers work great here)
1 medium green apple, chopped
1 cup of red seedless grapes, cut in half
½ cup of celery, thinly sliced
¼ cup of plain, fat free Greek yogurt
2 tbsp of mayonnaise
2 tbsp fresh chopped Dill
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp walnut pieces
Directions
Combine yogurt, mayo, salt, pepper and dill in a medium bowl and mix well. Add chicken, apple, grapes, and celery and toss until everything is coated in the yogurt sauce. Give it a quick taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
If you are going to eat it right away, stir in the walnuts and enjoy. If not, cover and refrigerate and then add the walnuts right before you are ready to serve. Enjoy!Makes 4 - 1cup servings.
Nutritional Analysis
Calories: 228; Total Fat: 10g; Saturated Fat: 1.6g; Cholesterol: 50mg; Sodium: 127mg; Carbohydrate: 13.7g; Dietary Fiber: 1.7g; Sugars: 10.3g; Protein: 21.1g
More from Clean & Delicious...
Baked Salmon with Dill
Mint & Dill Romaine Salad (simplicity at its best.)
Asian Chicken Salad
Simply Grilled Ginger-Soy Chicken
Salmon and Dill Frittata
Other recipes you may enjoy:
I have to say, this is the “freshest” and most wonderful recipe for Waldorf Salad I have ever seen. Thanks
I’ve definitely hit my fair share of culinary ruts — never heard that term before but it’s perfect! Thanks for the excellent tips — I usually go for #1 since it enables me to use what I have on hand! Am looking forward to trying the Chicken Waldorf Salad with Dill — sounds divine. Thanks for sharing!
Looks wonderful! Great tips on the culinary rut. It’s all to easy to get stuck in a pattern and SO delicious to break free! I have a few questions for you on your experience with IIN, I’ll be sending you an email shortly, if that’s ok? I’m interested in their program
OMG ~ How I can completely relate to a food rut. I have pretty much only wanted fruit/salad/not really exciting things lately. Thanks for the tips, Dani. That Waldorf salad does look delicious and I LOVE Gina’s site too