Is your New Year’s resolution to eat more vegetables? Then get started with these 4 Unusual Vegetable Recipes. Plus find the linky for week 2 of #CookBlogShare!
Wow! How is it 2018 already? What happened to the end of 2017? It feels like that just disappeared in a puff of blue smoke! I guess that’s what happens when you attempt to create 20 Christmas recipes and blog posts in 1 month. Note to self – DON’T EVER DO THAT AGAIN! (Please someone remind me next November when I get all overexcited about Christmas again!!)
Are you the kind of person who gets excited about the new year? Or are you experiencing the January Blues already? I am very firmly in the ‘excited’ camp. I get stupidly excited about the new year every year – for me it is like a clean new exercise book – full of clean pages…acres of time stretching ahead of me, full of endless possibilities…and no mistakes and crossings out yet!!
For me it’s a time to set goals and think about what I want to achieve in this new year. And I can tell you I have some exciting things planned this year…I just can’t wait to get started on them all! If you want to read more about what I have planned for 2018 (as well as an honest account of how I did against the goals I set myself at the beginning of 2017) then do check out my Easy Peasy Foodie 2017 Roundup Post.
The beginning of the year is also a time for looking back over the previous year…it is no secret that I am stats obsessed when it comes to my blog…I love looking to see which of my recipes have done well and which have done ‘not so well’ (AKA bombed!)…I have really enjoyed reading all the ‘best recipes of 2017’ posts other bloggers have written and of course I have done my own too.
4 Unusual Vegetable Recipes
And of course the start of the year is a great way to try and get back into healthy habits after the excesses of the previous month. This year I have set myself the challenge of eating more fruit and vegetables – I figure if I cram my diet with vegetables there will be less room for naughty things! Hubby and I have gone back to our routine of having a fruit, veg and nut packed smoothie every morning and I’ve been cooking up lots more vegetable based dishes, such as my Easy One Pot Vegetable Paella – a vegan take on the Spanish classic, which is already proving super popular on my blog!
So it’s no surprise that it was vegetable based dishes that caught my eye in last week’s #CookBlogShare linky. What I particularly love about these recipes is that the vegetables are all used in slightly unusual ways – and really take a central place in the dish, not plonked on the side of the plate as an afterthought! All of these recipes really inspire me to eat more veggies and be more creative with them.
If you are not a #CookBlogShare regular and are wondering what an earth I am going on about, #CookBlogShare is a place for bloggers to share their recipes. If you are a blogger and have a recipe to share, you can link up your post by following the instructions below. If you are not a blogger, but love food and cooking, do check out the recipes that will be appearing below. If this week is as good as they usually are you will find some awesome recipes – the #CookBlogShare bloggers are very good at what they do!
Skinny Zoodle Alfredo
WOW! How perfect for January is this Skinny Zoodle Alfredo recipe from Everyday Healthy Recipes – I love how Monika has used zoodles (AKA courgetti) and a lighter alfredo sauce to create a delicious but healthier version of a comfort food classic. Monika’s blog is always a great source of healthy, vegetable packed, delicious recipes and this Skinny Zoodle Alfredo is no exception!
Healthy Carrot Muffins (Vegan)
Healthy cake? Where do I sign? These Healthy Carrot Muffins from Sneaky Veg are ideal for all of us who are trying to eat more healthily, but still want the occasional treat – without feeling guilty! I love how these muffins are low in refined sugar, packed full of nutritious ingredients and even suitable for vegans (perfect if you are doing #veganuary this year). They are nut free too so they are perfect for kids’ lunch boxes. Mandy is the queen of sneaking veg into fussy eaters, so if that’s something you are having trouble with, do check out her lovely blog!
Cumin Crumbed Tuna with Paprika Cauliflower and Crispy Kale
Though not an exclusively vegetable dish, this delicious sounding Cumin Crumbed Tuna with Paprika Cauliflower and Crispy Kale from Proper Foodie is jam packed full of vegetable goodness! But the part which really caught my eye was that Paprika Cauliflower. I am a HUGE fan of cauliflower – especially roasted cauliflower. In this recipe, Debbie has flavoured her cauliflower with paprika, turmeric and cayenne pepper, roasted it in the oven, then mixed it with chickpeas and pomegranate seeds – I reckon I could eat a whole bowlful of just the cauliflower! I love reading Debbie’s blog a she is a registered nutritionist, so I know all her recipes are properly healthy, well balanced and full of goodness (and NOT full of the latest fad dressed up with pseudo nutritional mumbo jumbo!).
Creamy Wild Mushroom One Pot Gnocchi (Vegan)
And lastly (but definitely not least!) we come to this delicious Creamy Wild Mushroom One Pot Gnocchi from The Veg Space. I love how Kate has created such a veg packed dish that is proper comfort food and ready in just 20 minutes…AND only uses 1 pot. This recipe definitely ticks all the boxes for me…and another great recipe if you are doing #veganuary. If you are looking for more quick and easy vegan comfort food, then Kate’s blog is definitely the place to go!
#CookBlogShare Linky Week 2
And so we come to this week’s linky. You can link up any foodie post that you have – both old and new posts are welcome. All you need to do is:
- Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions (maximum of 4, please).
- Add a link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!) and / or add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (you can find the code below).
- Comment on one of the host’s posts and a minimum of 2 other posts linked up here, and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
If you wish, you can tweet a link to your recipe to me @easypeasyfoodie and also (if you have room on the tweet!) my co-hosts Kirsty @k_phillipson, Jacqui @jacdotbee and Monika @MonikasRecipes, using the #CookBlogShare hashtag and we will retweet them. You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.
Need some help on Instagram? You and me both…so let’s help each other! Whenever you post to Instagram, use the #CookBlogShare hashtag, then quickly hop over to the #CookBlogShare feed, liking as many as you can and commenting on any that particularly catch your eye. Not a big job at all, but if we all do it, it would make a BIG difference!!
I will comment on all the posts this week and pin them all to the Cook Blog Share Pinterest Board. I can’t wait to see what you’ve all been making!
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Just to remind you, by joining in, you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!
Pin 4 Unusual Vegetable Recipes for later
Corina Blum says
Lovely round up! I love all the vegetables recipes and especially love Debbie’s recipe this month – there are so many lovely ingredients on that plate! I also need to get back to eating more vegetables and my daily smoothie habit too.
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Corina…I know – I love Debbie’s recipes too – it’s just a whole plate full of loveliness! I am so feeling the benefits already of my breakfast smoothie and eating more veg. I’ve also cut out coffee and alcohol (almost certainly not forever, though!) and I am feeling incredible…plus I am sleeping like a baby!! Eb x
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Happy New Year Eb! I’m loving all of the recipes you’ve selected for the round up – especially Mandy’s carrot muffins … plus Mr E & I received a spiriliser for Christmas so we’ll definitely be checking out Monika’s recipe.
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
They look scrummy don’t they? Looking forward to seeing some spiralizer recipes on Only Crumbs Remain soon! 😀 Eb x
Nico @ yumsome says
That mushroom gnocchi looks gorgeous – definitely my kind of grub! And I really must try your paella too, Eb! <3 xx
Eb Gargano says
Doesn’t it just? I am a huge fan of one pot and comfort food so this is right up my street – just have to persuade the kiddiwinks to like gnocchi… Eb x
Rebecca Smith says
It’s good to see something different in the veggie category. My family tire of boring steamed veg so I’m going to use these ideas and explore others too. Thanks for sharing xxx
Eb Gargano says
Agree! I don’t mind steamed veg occasionally, but I much prefer more exciting ways…like Debbie’s spicy cauliflower…or even better when they are in CAKE! 😀 Eb x
Mandy says
Thanks so much for including my carrot muffins in your lovely round up Eb! I am like you, I love January for the whole new start thing, less so for the freezing grey weather!
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure they look so delicious and I love how healthy they are! Hmmm – yeah I am definitely NOT a fan of the freezing grey weather! But the new start thing I love 🙂 Eb x
Jessica Cantoni says
What a lovely round-up! I absolutely love the look of the creamy one-pot gnocchi! I might have to try that. I’m like you when it comes to New Year – clean slate but definite blog goals this year! I’m starting off the new year with my new blog! I’m still keeping my old one (www/jesscantoni.com) for more lifestyle posts, but i’m super excited for my new one, and this is my first post that I’ve just linked up! Took me way longer to post it using wordpress but its tons better! Can’t wait for many more cookblogshares. I’m glad to be back! x
http://www.jesseatsandtravels.com
Eb Gargano says
Yay for you being back and yay for new blog – I am so looking forward to checking it out when I visit your post. I’ve never used Blogger so I can’t compare, but I assure you WordPress is a doddle once you get used to it! Eb x
Monika Dabrowski says
Thank you so much for featuring my alfredo recipe! The other features are really fabulous, but Debbie’s tuna recipe is my absolute favourite! I’ve just linked up a vegan side dish with a bit of colour in it:)
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure – it looks sooo good – such a lovely idea for this time of year! Debbie’s tuna dish is pretty awesome isn’t it – I love fresh tuna, but it’s the roasted cauliflower with chickpeas and pomegranate that got me particularly excited! Eb x
Jo / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Perfect start to the year round up! We have got our eye on Mandy’s carrot muffins in particular! Hubby was looking over my shoulder being nosy and said they looked rather good lol and quickly added that he would definitely eat them if I fancied doing some baking 🙂 Well, I just might then 🙂 x
Eb Gargano says
Haha – my hubby is always doing the same thing! He hasn’t seen the carrot muffins yet, but I think he might be similarly ‘encouraging’ if he saw them! Eb x
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for hosting. I linked my mom’s tuna noodle casserole recipe, a mac and cheese even an adult can love, and a healthy dump and go soup.. I hope you enjoy them! Have a happy week! #OverTheMoon #WWBlogHop #ThursdayFavoriteThings
Eb Gargano says
They all sound great, Marilyn! I am an adult who absolutely ADORES macaroni cheese…way more than my kids actually – LOL! So I am looking forward to checking that one out 🙂 Eb x
Debbie says
Ohhh lots of lovely veggies! How fantastic 🙂 Thanks so much for including my recipe and for your lovely comments about my blog 😀
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure Debbie – I LOVE your blog! Eb x
Cat says
I’d never thought of looking at January like that before. I’m not usually a fan of January because it’s the busiest time for me at work which means longer hours and generally being busier. I will try to think of it more positively now!
These recipes all look delicious. I don’t know how you did so many in December!x
Eb Gargano says
Oooh yes – January is a great month if you think about it the right way! Though I can understand how it might be a tough month for you, if you are having to work longer hours…still you can always make plans for what you will do after the busy period – then you have something exciting to look forward to! If I am perfectly honest, I have no idea how I managed to create so many recipes in December either…lots of late nights and working weekends! It was tough at the time, but now I feel like I have so much time…though I have projects galore planned for January and Febuary…so I’ll probably be just as busy!! Eb x
Balvinder says
What a great way to start with unusual vegetable recipes. Wishing you a healthy New Year!
Eb Gargano says
They are so fun and inspiring, are’t they? Vegetables definitely do not have to be boring! Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year too 😀 Eb x
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
What great timing for this roundup! Along with everyone else, I’m eating healthier foods this month—particularly trying to eat more veggies and seafood, so I’m eyeing Debbie’s gorgeous tuna! Your paella looks fabulous as well! I can’t believe you made it past December with that gruelling schedule. Congratulations! You’re my hero!
Eb Gargano says
Haha – I think we are all feeling the same after Christmas. I am really reaping the benefit of a healthier lifestyle, though. I feel so much better and I am sleeping like a baby! I know – I am not sure how I got through December either. Total madness. I am enjoying the (relatively) lighter schedule now though! Eb x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Oooh Eb what a delicious round-up. Thank you for hosting this weeks #CookBlogShare x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks you, sweetie. Eb x
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
Ohh good choice in the roundup Eb definitely ones to try and already some great recipes linked up. Got to love #CookBlogShare
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jacqui 🙂
Mandy says
Linking up for the first time from my new blog – eek! Hopefully it’ll go down well x
Eb Gargano says
Yay – looks amazing! (Your new blog AND this recipe!) All my fingers and toes crossed that your new blog will do well. Eb x
jenny paulin says
Those carrot muffins and that mushroom dish both look very tasty ,Eb. Great choices for your first round up of 2018 x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jenny 🙂 Eb x
Choclette says
I think I need that one pot mushroom gnocchi in my life!
Eb Gargano says
Haha, yes – me too! Eb x