Five Delicious Recipes to Try if You’re Tired of Making Bread

I’m just going to call the next few blog posts my quarantine diaries. Because they basically are. So prepare yourself for quarantine diary #1:

Kristen is now a foodie. Une petite gourmande, if you will.

I know, I know. I never thought I’d live to see the day. I mean, for the first 12 years of my life I didn’t like any food that wasn’t Ramen noodles or peanut butter sandwiches. I was really that picky… ask my mother. As the years have gone on, however, I’d like to think I’ve grown out of it. I like almost any type of food now (except seafood and pizza. Ew. I will never like those two things, I promise you.)

I mentioned in my blog post last week that I have tried making so many types of bread while in quarantine (I also made pasta from scratch thanks to a dear, proudly Italian friend). I realized that cooking is definitely both an art and a science (don’t even get me started on French cuisine…), but I never thought I could be so interested in how to properly store vegetables or how certain spices mix perfectly. Cooking has become both a hobby and a stress reliever for me.

Though I still enjoy baking bread, I’ve decided to expand my horizons a little bit. And if you’re tired of making a sourdough loaf or the easiest Pinterest bread recipe you can find, here are some other ideas.

Crunchwrap Supreme : I made this for the first time the other night, and it satisfied a craving I didn’t even know I had. Why have normal tacos or burritos when you could make a crunchwrap? Pair this dude with a nice homemade guac or salsa for a slightly healthier rendition (and no, it’s won’t cost you an extra $0.99).

Mediterranean Sheet Pan Chicken with Homemade Tzatziki : Can someone say YUM? I don’t know if I have ever tasted a better chicken marinade. It’s so simple, so delicious, and so fresh. The best part is how versatile it is! Make it carb-free, dairy-free, or have allllllll the yummy ingredients you want!

Chicken Tikka Masala : This just might be my ultimate comfort food (besides mac n cheese). The process is kind of long, but the result is a well-earned and not insanely unhealthy meal! The velvety coconut sauce is so delicious. (pair it with a homemade naan if you’re really feeling adventurous!)

Power Bowls: Read that again. One more time. What do you think of? That’s it. Whatever you think of. Throw it in a bowl, and it’s a power bowl. Obviously, you want to stick to ingredients that are relatively healthy (I normally do quinoa, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and a hummus or other creamy sauce). Experiment with different veggies, grains, and even add some protein if you don’t want it to be a vegetarian meal.

Falafel : This was a tricky one, not going to lie. It took hours to get the batter right (and I’m still perfecting the crispiness since I don’t have a fryer). If you’re up for a challenge, try making this yummy Middle Eastern staple. Adjust the amount of ingredients to fit your needs, and even though she says you need dry chickpeas, you can get by with canned. Pair with couscous, pita bread and/or veggies.

I think I’m going to try tackling a shakshuka recipe next… For now, I’ve got to go get a snack because this blog post made me hungry. Until next time.

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What are your favorite recipes? Are you a baking/cooking enthusiast now or are you missing restaurants right about now? Let me know if you try any of these! For more recipes, check out some of my favorite foodies below!

Kennedy Haffner
Pinch of Yum
Christina Robinson

P.S. None of the photos are mine. They come from the original creators of these delicious meals. All credit to them, for both the food and the photography.