Welcome to my new series..a collection of posts celebrating my favourite food:
The wonderful world of vegetables, great ways to cook and enjoy this earth given produce 🙂
I know that lots of you already do great things with vegetables, so these posts may not necessarily be aimed at you, although I hope that they may still bring you some new ideas and tips; what this series of posts might do is bring people to your mind that you know need some inspiration for including more vegetables in their lives, or would like new ideas for cooking vegetables, and in which case, please do pass the posts and ideas on. I have put together this series, coming up over the next few weeks, to produce food for thought where vegetables are concerned, and this is where the idea came from…
This series has been prompted by a friend of mine…he is on a weight loss journey and has already lost 4 stone (25 kg/56 lb), but still, he will admit himself, has a long way to go. He’s already achieved so much and I’m so proud of him, but I know that he is now stuck; he has been following a ‘diet plan’ which has brought him this far, but the food is not inspiring enough to keep him interested. And it is not teaching him about leading a healthy lifestyle in the future, it’s just showing him how to lose weight now, so I’m hoping that I might be able to inspire him to view how he eats differently and make good choices for his health in the long term.
Starting with: making vegetables interesting..
If, like my friend, your experience of vegetables has only been what you’ve had with your childhood meals, ie, boiled peas, carrots, broccoli or cauliflower, and over cooked sprouts at Christmas, vegetables probably seem like a pretty dull, uninspiring concept. I’m here to tell you, there’s so much more to vegetables!!! And there’s so many more ways to eat them just just boiling or steaming.
So, my aim, is to inspire anyone who’s interested, to fall in love with vegetables, to make them a star on your plate, not just the added extra because you think you should eat more veg!
I plan to share methods for cooking vegetables, celebrate their flavours and add more, provide crunch or various other ways to celebrate these beauties…I hope you will join me and enjoy the posts.
Please do also share your tips and recipes in the comments as the posts come out – I intend to share recipes of mine and lots of your too 🙂
As a starting point, I would ask you to consider where you buy your vegetables. If you only ever buy vegetables from a supermarket, you are not experiencing vegetables at their best, and you’re probably paying more for them than I do. Vegetables in supermarkets may all be uniform in size and polished and shiny, but for me, they lack flavour and diversity, and completely miss any benefits of seasonality.
If you can visit any local markets, or get a veg box delivered, you will find ‘real’ vegetables, in gloriously uneven shapes, as nature intended, and sometimes even with some mud thrown in! Buying and eating vegetables based on the seasons in which they are grown in your country of residence will also ensure that you get the best flavour. Vegetables that are force grown to be available all year round or refrigerated for months on end, are not fresh, fabulous, local produce.
If you have a market near you, or regular farmers markets, please do visit and check out their produce. Not only will you benefit, but you will also be supporting local farmers.
Like I said, all food for thought, so, for now, welcome to my new series, I hope you like the idea. And please do get involved 🙂
Part 1 : coming up soon…get roasting!
I’m bringing my new series introduction to this week’s Fiesta Friday party and hope that lots of the party goers will join me and share their ideas as my series unfolds. Join this week’s co hosts Kaila and Jenny and check out everyone’s great dishes 🙂
Such a great compilation Elaine ! Love how u are making the veggies shine ! ❤
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Thank you 🙂 🙂
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Really look forward to this new series. I am always looking for ways to make vegetables more interesting, Can’t wait for the first post.
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Thank you so much, I wasn’t sure what people would think so you’ve given me a great boost 🙂 thank you for the feedback x
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What a great idea, girl! Can’t wait to see what you’ll cook! 🙂
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Thank you so much, I’m so glad you like it! I pressed publish then held my breath…!!
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Looking forward to this series! My little input is – a spiralizer does WONDERS to open the horizons for veggies. I am not too wild about recommending a gadget, but in this case it is worth it for the impact it can have on someone struggling to incorporate more veggies in the diet, and different, new ways to use them
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Thank you so much Sally, I shall make a note of that and include it in the series, can I quote you?
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Oh, that would make me do a long, extended version of a happy dance! 😉
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Ha ha! Can we have a video??
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Awesome idea, lovely pictures and yumm! look forward to it Elaine!!
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Wonderful! Thank you so much, shukran 🙂
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ha ha afwan!
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Veggie stars. I love it! Count me in.
Tracey
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Yay! Thank you xx
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Wonderful, Elaine! I’m looking forward to the series. I agree, venturing out to the farmer’s market is a great way to get fresh veg and some unique items too. I also find growers are so engaging and often have meal ideas to share. Where I live, local markets have really bloomed. Just down the road we have an organic market which is great to access to as well. 🙂
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How wonderful! Sounds like you are very lucky 🙂
I completely agree, the stall holders tend to be so proud of their produce and happy to talk and share ideas – I was at my market yesterday and talking to a man that runs a stall full of wonderful Indian foods, packed with amazing and unusual fresh produce and he sent me home with something completely new and a way to cook it!
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Wow, that sounds like so much fun! What will you make? Ha ha, I’m curious. Or maybe it will be a blog post? 😉
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Maybe…let’s see how it comes out!!! 😉
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Ha ha, I’m hoping for the best! 😀
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Me too!
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A great initiative, Elaine. I buy my veggies at he local market where I can first just experience the riot of colours; touch, feel, and discuss the veggie with the seller; ask people what-do-you-do-with-this-veggie?when I spot an unfamiliar one, and of course, put in requests for something special that I want. 🙂
I so look forward to this series.
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Thank you so much 🙂
I do exactly the same at my local market! I just love, like you say, the riot of colours and aromas and people, makes me smile the whole time 🙂
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We love to go to our local farmer’s market (we have many!) I love your new series and look forward to seeing many beautiful veggies 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂 x
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Love the theme of the new series Elaine – and totally echo your words on avoiding supermarket veggies!
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Brilliant, thank you, Laura 🙂
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Can’t wait for your part 1 of the series Elaine! Super excited. Would love to learn more from you and contribute in which ever way I can 😀
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Thank you so much, Sonal 🙂 I’m sure you will have lots of dishes to contribute xx
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😘😘
Look forward to this new baby of yours
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Thank you, the support from everyone is so lovely xx
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What a great series! I love veggies, and always enjoy your suggestions. I’m always disappointed when I get veggies from the supermarket. They just don’t have great flavor. I will miss the farmers markets as the weather turns.
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Thank you so much 🙂
I’m glad it’s not just me who feels that way about supermarket veg!
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I never tire of good vegetable recipes. I look forward to this series.
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Thank you very much, Hilda 🙂
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What a great initiative Elaine, this is awesome. I can’t wait to see the part 1! 🙂 Have a nice weekend xx
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Thank you so much, I’m so glad it’s getting a good response! 🙂 have a great Friday xx
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Lovely idea for a series, and I’m sure even us old hands at eating and using veg will learn something. I agree with SallyBR about the use of a spiralizer. I LOVE mine and use it everyday. I am already a big veg head but this has made eating them even more enjoyable, and the lovely squiggles intrigue anyone who eats my food at the cancer centre where I teach and cook. Good luck with the new series. :-))
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Brilliant, thank you for your input and support xx
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Will definitely be on the lookout for this series Elaine – gosh what’s not to love in the beautiful array of veggies you’ve displayed. So colorful, nutritious and appetizing. Bravo to you!
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Thank you so much x x x
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This looks like a great series! Your vegetables always look so colorful and appetizing. I agree that getting fresh, seasonal vegetables is one of the keys to enjoying them. I look forward to learning some new recipes!
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Thank you so much, Jenny, I hope you are enjoying Fiesta Friday 🙂
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Love this idea! I love my veg, roasting is my favourite way to eat them – but I’m always looking for new ways to make them even tastier!
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Brilliant! Thank you Michelle xx
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If anyone can inspire us about veggies it will be you. I feel your friend’s pain too as I am also trying to take off some pounds. Great idea to share 🙂
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Thank you so much, I’m so glad you like the idea xx
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So looking forward, Elaine. I need lots of help in the veggies department! 🙂
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Thank you so much x x x
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Love it!!! Can’t wait to read more!! You are such an inspiration sweetie xxxx
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Thank you so much xx
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Elaine, I’m so excited to follow this series! I just love veggies, and I’m sure I’ll learn a bit from it too. And, I love all the support you’re giving your friend in the weight loss department as well. Thank you so much for joining us at FF, and have a wonderful weekend!! 🙂
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Thank YOU so much for your support. Kaila 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying FF. thank you for co hosting xx
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Hey Elaine! With a name like ‘pimp your veg’ , you can’t go wrong! Easy prep has been on my mind lately. I’d be happy to share ‘one pot prep’ which I discovered kind of out of necessity. Can’t wait to see what others bring to the table.
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Thank you so much, can I come back to you for some input as the series unfolds?
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What a great idea! It should be inspirational to those who need help in that department. And lovely colorful photos, as always!
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Thank you so much, I hope so 🙂
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Being a vegetarian I m eagerly waiting for ur series
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Thank you, I hope you like it 🙂
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Mouthwatering veggie pix! I’m looking forward to your roasting post… I roast all of my veggies!!! I want to see how you do it. 🙂
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Cool, I hope you like it then!!!
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Okay, looking at my veggie patch and the stockpile from our veg box, I need recipes for kale, beetroot, kale, bok choy, brussel sprouts and kale. 🙂
Looking forward to this new series, Elaine.
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Ha ha! Got a bit of kale then???
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Just a tad. 😀
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😉 have you tried it in a curry in place of spinach?
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Hadn’t thought of a curry. I’ve used it as a spinach replacement in casseroles and egg dishes. I’ll try that. Thanks! 🙂
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My pleasure 🙂
I’ve made this a couple of times with great piles of kale:
http://www.whitbitskitchen.com/2015/05/26/saag-mixed-greens-simmered-in-indian-spices/#comment-2005
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Kale chips? Moroccan spiced kale and chickpeas?
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Absolutely Elaine! Come any time. XO
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I have my own vegetable garden, and always looking for new fresh ideas for cooking veggies. I’m excited for your new series! Bring it on!
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Lucky you!!! Thank you 🙂 x
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What a great idea! Gorgeous, gorgeous photos. Just looking at them I am drooling and feel healthy. Love everything about it. 🙂
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Thank you so very much, Fae xxx
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