I really do try to make healthy food for myself and my family. Sometimes, trying a new food at a restaurant will encourage me to give it a try in my own kitchen. And sometimes, I create an epic fail.
Yesterday, I decided to make a quinoa salad. I've never made quinoa at home, but have enjoyed it when dining out. I found a magazine recipe that I thought sounded good because I liked the ingredients: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dried cherries, pecans.
While those items may sound good by themselves, combining them with quinoa was quite the nasty concoction. These leftovers went straight to the garbage can:
What have you tried, and then trashed?
Yesterday, I decided to make a quinoa salad. I've never made quinoa at home, but have enjoyed it when dining out. I found a magazine recipe that I thought sounded good because I liked the ingredients: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dried cherries, pecans.
While those items may sound good by themselves, combining them with quinoa was quite the nasty concoction. These leftovers went straight to the garbage can:
What have you tried, and then trashed?
I tried making some greens one New Years that were just awful.
ReplyDeleteDId you rinse the quinoa thoroughly? If you don't rinse it several times, it can have a bitter flavor.
I've never made greens, but I can't see it turning out well for me either.
DeleteIt was a small box of Pereg Gourmet plain white quinoa, so I don't think it needed rinsed. It was too sweet and just gross. I like rice pudding with raisins, so I thought I'd like this.
Oh Lord. I'd rather die that eat rice pudding, with or without raisins!
DeleteBut it's an old fashioned delight! I've probably only had it about 4 times in my life.
DeleteWell, you know me I don't cook, so I've never had to trash anything because I've never made anything from scratch.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, the ingredients really do sound yummy. When I clicked on the picture to see it BIG, it looked like a bowl full of brown sugar and graham cracker crust. It actually doesn't look bad, but it looks more like a spread.
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I cannot believe you've NEVER made anything from scratch! Nothing? Not even chocolate chip cookies?
DeleteI was so mad about wasting the dried cherries! Brown sugar and graham crackers mixed together would taste better than this!
You're brave; I don't think I've ever eaten quinoa or try to cook it. I don't think we've had many failures except the time I accidentally put too much lemon pepper in scrambled eggs.
ReplyDeletebetty
I'm only brave when it comes to non-animal related foods. I won't go near oysters, clams, octopus, etc. and nothing raw!
Deletenever heard of quinoa - so thanks for the heads up should i ever stumble upon it.
ReplyDeletemy fail rate in cooking is extremely low - a reflection of my participation rate rather than skill.
i'll say it here that my wife is a fantastic cook and she spoils us with a wide variety of tasty, healthy food, and ( this is something i cannot fathom) she loves to cook....of course this is not to say that she doesn't have the occasional stinker - a particular home made pastie a while back in which she had tried to jazz up with some added ingredients (chick pea's, & corriander) was a shocker - i tried to give mine to the dog and even he wouldn't have a bar of it.
I enjoy cooking because I love to try new things. I attempt a few new recipes a week. I'm usually happy with about 4/5 new things I try. My husband and kids always joke that if mom doesn't like it, the recipe is getting trashed, whether anyone else likes it or not! It's true!
DeleteQuinoa (pronounced keenwah - strange) is very fashionable over here so we tried it a few times but found it rather uninteresting. Not much goes in the trash because Jenny is an excellent cook. Usually the only things we dump are vegetables that we've forgotten about and are quietly rotting and festering in the fridge.
ReplyDeleteQuinoa is also popular here, along with some other new 'ancient grains' Ha! I think it's like rice, sort of bland, but edible if mixed with other good things. I've had it with fresh tomatoes, onion and grated cheese and liked it. I feel guilty throwing food away, but not this! It was awful.
DeleteNothing bland about brown rice. I love the stuff!
DeleteI'm just not a rice fan. Probably why I detest Chinese food. I know, I'm alone in that.
DeleteI consider myself a bit of a cookie connoisseur and decided to try out a friend's recipe that I saw online. It was disgusting. They were dry and had very little flavor. So disappointing. Blech. I wouldn't even have my kiddos try it. Just yuck.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe there's such a thing as a bad cookie! But I believe you!
DeleteHmmm. I wonder what went wrong with that recipe--'cause it sure sounds good. We make quinoa pilaf type dishes pretty frequently, and they're really good, so don't give up!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to recall ditching something...hmmm...well, one time I made snickerdoodles but used salt in them instead of sugar. "Thump" into the garbage can.
I'm wondering if quinoa just isn't a grain suitable for sweetness. I'll stick to the savory recipes from now on.
Deletei can't remember what i've tried then trashed but i know i've done it. that's the way it is with cooking. i've messed up waffles, pancakes, desserts. good way to learn what works and what doesn't. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe have a waffle iron and I refuse to use it. My husband bought it and I told him he'd be the one making waffles (I don't like them and it makes a mess). He makes them........about once a year!
Deletenever tried it and never had it recommended, which may be no small coincidence?
ReplyDeletei love to cook but mostly abstain to keep the peace. Queenie comes from folks who hate men-folk doing any more than grilling. there's more to the story but not sure details would benefit anyone ;-)
I'm always happy to have anyone cook for me.
DeleteHey, ya never know
DeleteI gotta say pinterest is the reason this type of thing has happened for me. The people put some awesome ingredients down on paper with a pretty picture and I am hooked. However, I am not a master chef so somehow my rendition of their seemingly great recipes never quite stack up the way I hoped.
ReplyDeleteI've been suckered by the app Foodgawker too! But this was a magazine recipe......that went straight in the trash!
DeleteBeing married to a really good cook does limit how much I bother with kitchening but I have had some notable failures because when I do cook I like to experiment. It's been a while and I am trying to remember the last thing I trashed rather than salvaged. Some things are just unsalvageable, but, like you, I hate wasting food. I do recall making a quick bread that was soooo baking soda heavy it was completely inedible, bleck.
ReplyDeleteI've had baking soda lumps not get beat in.....nothing like a mouthful of salt!
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