You’ve done it all right. You’ve watched Food Network. You’ve bought stuff at the fancy grocery store. You’ve learned how to cook quinoa. But then, it happens: like a thief in the night or like a time traveling boxer, it comes when you least expect it and floors you. Soon, everything is colorless and bland. Your world is thrown upside down and inside out. Your dinners become wimpy, pathetic things, and you begin to wonder if ordering pizza for the fourth night in a row is socially acceptable.

You are in a food slump.

It happens to the best of us. One day you’re experimenting with kale and fava beans and the next… Nothing. Poof. Your brain is full of frozen meals and meatloaf leftovers. The thrill is gone and you’ve fallen into the same old, same old. What can you do?! Is there hope for you?! Is it really not okay to do pizza four nights in a row?!

Well, of course there’s hope for you, silly. And pizza is acceptable all the time and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something.

Eat Somewhere New

In order to get over a food slump, you need to break out of your comfort zone of meat and potatoes. Go out to eat at a place you’ve never been before, or maybe try a completely different type of cuisine. Ever had Thai? Indian? Korean? Vietnamese? Polish? German? There’s bound to be a place in your town outside of your normal “go to” that can inspire you with new textures and tastes!

If you can’t find a new restaurant, why not ask one of your friends if you can join them for dinner at their place? Even if they cook things similar to what you make, you’ll be amazed at how the same dish can be completely transformed by a different chef.

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

So, you know you like to cook red meat. You’re good at it. Ground beef isn’t too expensive, you can season it with the best of them, and you know everyone in your house digs it. But remember what I said about meat and potatoes? Time to try something new and soar to new height with fish, shrimp, or even chicken.

A new protein might scare you, but it might also inspire you. And if you’ve already conquered the world of the carnivore, why not try something your vegan friends would approve of? Black bean burgers, quinoa cakes, deep fried tofu. There are so many options out there that you have probably already walked by at the grocery store!

Look At What You Won’t Eat. Try It.

Let’s argue that you hate tomatoes. You hate them, you hate them, you hate them. You absolutely despise them. You don’t want them near your food. You don’t want them near your house. You don’t want them here, you don’t want them there. You don’t want them in a box, you don’t want them with some lox.

Try them!

To get out of this slump, maybe try (for our tomato hating example) some fried green tomatoes. Try seasoning them with an Epare grinder, using spices you hadn’t considered before, and deep frying them and seeing if maybe you like them served like that. Try chopping it up and serving it with some zoodles prepared with an Epare spiralizer. We’ve got this great recipe from Divas Can Cook that is sure to change your mind on the weirdest fruit you know.

Ingredients

• 2 medium-sized green tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon dried basil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (I sometimes add a bit of dried basil, salt & garlic powder to this)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs ( I love using panko or crushed croutons)
• 1¼ cup yellow cornmeal

Instructions

1. Slice tomatoes into ¼- 1/2 inch slices.
2. Place tomatoes on several layers of paper towels.
3. Mix together salt, sugar, black pepper & basil in a small bowl.
4. Sprinkle tomatoes generously with spice mixture ( may not need all of it) and let sit for about 10-15 minutes to allow the extra tomato juices to drain out.
5. Meanwhile, prepare your dipping station! In one bowl, add the flour.
6. In another bowl mix together the buttermilk and egg.
7. In the last bowl, mix together the bread crumbs and yellow cornmeal.
8. Start by dipping the tomatoes slices into the flour on both sides and shaking off the excess flour. (be sure to get the sides as well)
9. Lay the slices into the egg mixture until both sides are coated with the mixture and flour no longer shows.
10. Place the tomato slices into the breadcrumb mixture and press to coat both sides evenly.
11. Let tomatoes sit for about 5 minutes to allow the coating to set.
12. Heat oil in a skillet until hot. (Do a test with a bread crumb first to make sure the oil is at the right temperature. The breadcrumb should begin to fry evenly immediately when placed in the oil.)
13. Place tomatoes into the skillet, without crowding the pan.
14. Fry each side for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
15. Place on a cooling rack with paper towels below to absorb the excess oil that drips off.
16. Serve hot.

Worst case scenario? You’ll confirm your bias! Best case? You’ve learned to expand your palette! Keep these tips in mind and enjoy getting out of that annoying food slump!

If you think you are ready to get out there and be adventurous, then start by purchasing one of our amazing top of the line grinders, or maybe something from our lifestyle catalogue! Have you learned a trick to avoid the kitchen blues? Know a good tip for expanding your repertoire and not falling into a pizza trap? Let us know in the comments below, and send us pictures of what you’ve made to our Instagram here!

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