Guacamole + Everything Bagel

Rating: 9.5/10

Been offline awhile, but back with a vengeance now! And wouldn't think of starting the summer without some avocado in my belly. Anyway, totally my new obsession this awesome guac dip. Wholly Guacamole, indeed. It's got all of what I love about guacamole (avocado, garlic) and none of what I hate (cilantro, lime). And of course, why go for chips when you got everything bagels lying around. As much as I despise sesame seeds on anything, if they're the price I have to pay to get caraway seeds, poppy seeds, and garlic all on one bagel then so be it, everything bagel it is. So when you put perfect guacamole with near perfect bagel: voila mouth happy amounts of flavor, chew, and easy on-the-go chow. Just break, dip, bite, and smile.

Nutrition:

• Wholly Guacamole (6 spoonfuls) = 180 Calories, 6g fiber, 330mg Sodium, 540mg Potassium
• Einstein Bros. Everything Bagel = 270 Calories, 2g fiber, 620mg Sodium, 20% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 470
Decent amount of fiber and Sodium for sure. Decent breakfast material.
 

Potato Chips + Fennel Arugula Salad

Rating: 8/10

Tried this new cheesy garlic bread flavored chips, a bit overwhelming on its own and needed companion foods to balance out the taste. People put cheese on salads, so why not cheesy potato chips? Viola, awesome pairing and balance of flavors.

Nutrition:

• Lay's Cheesy Garlic Bread Potato Chips = 290 Calories, 250mg Sodium, 610mg Potassium, 2g fiber, 15% of daily Vitamin C
• bowl of fennel arugula salad = 140 Calories, 4g fiber, 23% of daily Vitamin C, 12% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 430
Got in some fiber and vitamins.

Lobster Guacamole + Yucca Fries

Rating: 6.5/10

Yucca fries dipped in lobster guacamole. You know just to change up the typical chips in guac and fries in ketchup triteness. A promising combo in theory but reality falls short. They're both so mild tasting that it's just bland when together. I mean it's not terrible but there are better combos out there for both of them with more of a punch in flavor. The creamy, chunky guac and starchy yucca just don't cut it in a match. But I tried. Empanadas would probably work better with the guacamole.
(eaten @ La Cerveceria, NYC)

Nutrition:

• lobster guacamole (1/4 cup) = 116 Calories, 342mg Potassium, 3.8g fiber, 10% of daily Vitamin C
• 5 yucca fries = 242 Calories, 3g fiber, 20mg Sodium, 420mg Potassium, 51% of daily Vitamin C

Total Calories = 358
Got in a bunch of fiber, Potassium, and Vitamin C

Babaganush + Multigrain Flats + Cherry Tomatoes

Rating: 9/10

Oven toasted multigrain flatbread dipped in babaganush and eaten with yellow cherry tomatoes. After I ran out of naan, I went on a semi-mad search for a suitable partner for the magically delicious babaganush. Seriously like nothing can beat this dip, it goes with everything and makes them better. But the toasted outside chewy inside multigrain flats top it. So much texture in this flatbread with actual "you can feel it, taste it, and see it" grains and seeds all over. Then add in the sweet, sour, and juicy cherry tomatoes. Wham-o! Killer combo, so simple yet so complexly rich in flavor. Not to mention, quick and easy breakfast for someone on the go.

Nutrition:

• Golden Taste Eggplant Babaganush Dip (4 tablespoons) = 160 Calories, 280mg Sodium, 2g fiber
• OneBun Multigrain Folded Flats = 130 Calories, 2g fiber, 80mg Potassium, 230mg Sodium, 10% of daily Calcium, 6% of daily Riboflavin, 6% of daily Folate
• NatureSweet Sunbursts Sweet Golden Snacking Tomatoes (1/2 cup) = 45 Calories, 3g fiber, 250mg Potassium, 35% of daily Vitamin C, 15% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 335
Pretty light and packed with a bunch of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Young Coconut Meat + Yellow Cherry Tomatoes

Rating: 9/10

Coconut meat (scooped from a fresh young coconut I hacked to pieces for juice) eaten with yellow cherry tomatoes (ways more delectable than the red ones). The mild sweet, gelatinous coconut blends so smoothly with the juicy, sweet tartness of the tomatoes. Feel so rejuvenated eating this I can't even explain why. Yep, still on this vegetarian kick. Don't worry, not swearing off meat. Would never think of restricting what I can eat in the world. Omnivores for a reason, baby! And plan to take full advantage while I'm still young and healthy enough to enjoy food.

Nutrition:

• Asia Exotic Corp BL young coconut meat = 140 Calories, 2g fiber, 17% of daily Calcium
• Zima Seriously Sweet yellow cherry tomatoes (1 cup) = 70 Calories, 2g fiber, 80% of daily Vitamin C, 20% of daily Vitamin A

Total Calories = 210
Some fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Yay for digestion.

Fried Egg + Super Chop Salad

Rating: 10/10

Fried egg dripping in yolk tossed over a salad of baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, avocado, basil, mozzarella, garlic croutons, dried cranberries, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, sautéed tofu, and thousand island dressing. Been totally obsessed with salad creations lately. Funny I've never been much into salads until I realized I can add anything I want into it and still call it a salad as long as it has some basic raw vegetables in the mix. So began my awesome salad journeys. First up, topping a super-salad with a crispy, yolky sunny-side up egg. So much taste and chew in this masterpiece. The key to deliciousness is really to chop it all up with a giant knife while in a giant bowl to get all the flavors mixing before tossing it with the dressing. Can't wait to try more new salad combos!


Nutrition:

• 2 cups of Earthbound Farm Organic Baby Spinach = 14 Calories, 2g fiber, 112% of daily Vitamin A, 28% of daily Vitamin C, 10% of daily Iron
• cup of Nature Sweet Cherry Tomatoes = 27 Calories, 2g fiber, 25% of daily Vitamin A, 32% of daily Vitamin C
• 1/2 Calavo Avocado =  140 Calories, 5g fiber, 15% of daily Folate, 13% of daily Vitamin C, 10% of daily Vitamin B6, 10% of daily Riboflavin
• sprig of Lucinda's Specialty Produce Basil = 1 Calorie
• thick slice of Formaggio Fresh Mozzarella = 160 Calories, 300mg Sodium, 30% of daily Calcium
• cup of Fresh Gourmet Seasoned Organic Croutons = 280 Calories, 560mg Sodium, 16% of daily Iron
• 3 spoonfuls of Kirkland Signature Fruit & Nuts = 150 Calories, 2g fiber, 11g sugar
• 2 spoonfuls of America's Choice Roasted Salted Sunflower Seeds = 170 Calories, 115mg Sodium, 3g fiber
• 1/2 block of Soonyeowon Soft Tofu sautéed = 270 Calories, 2g fiber, 32% of daily Iron, 20% of daily Calcium
• 6 spoonfuls of Walden Farms Thousand Island Dressing = 0 Calories, 870mg Sodium, 30% of daily Vitamin B12, 30% of daily Vitamin E
• fried egg = 95 Calories, 15% of daily Iron

Total Calories = 1,307
Not skimping on the Calories here. But totally worth it. Super nutritious and kept me full for half the day. A lot of Sodium though, no wonder I was so thirsty afterwards.

Babaganush + Baby Cucumbers

Rating: 8/10

First off, SNOW BABY SNOW! Love being snowed in during blizzards! And after an afternoon of surprisingly nostalgic Blossom episodes on Youtube and Googling the word "fiefdom," I was in the mood for some odd vegan snacking before a messy meaty dinner. Baby cucumbers dipped in babaganush hit the spot. Not the most exciting combo but the cool, crispy, juicy bite with the cool, creamy, savory, garlicky, eggplant flavor was awfully refreshing. So adorable too these tiny little un-pickles.

Nutrition:

• 4 spoonfuls of Golden Taste Eggplant Babaganush Dip = 160 Calories, 280mg Sodium, 2g fiber
• 2 Sunset Mini Cucumbers =  30 Calories, 2g fiber, 340mg Potassium, 20% of daily Vitamin C

Total Calories = 190
Light and nutritious. Plus, good in the taste department too.

Lingonberry Preserve + Crueller + Arugula

Rating: 8/10

Man, I ate so many random combinations of food this morning, I can't even narrow it down to one. But I guess I'll start with all lingonberry related stuff. Cruellers dipped in lingonberry jam eaten with arugula. So much divergent flavors here my mouth was genuinely confused but in a good way, I think. The lingonberry really gave the crispy, chewy, mildly sweet crueller a hit of tarty sweetness. Then, the punch in the mouth that was arugula was like whoah where did that come from? Taste buds slightly shell shocked.

Linzer Tart + Italian Wedding Soup

Rating: 7/10

Great way to start a day in Sleepy Hollow. Italian Wedding soup eaten with a Linzer Tart in lieu of bread or crackers. I'm no fan of crackers unless it graham and bread is boring, so cookie to the rescue. Not a bad mix these two with the Tart's sweet, tarty, crunchy, powdery consistency and the soup's salty, chunky, chewy, smooth consistency.

Popcorn Chicken + Sauerkraut + Relish

Rating: 6/10

Popcorn chicken topped with sauerkraut and relish. Why not? I was debating between the chicken and a hotdog with the works before I realized the only reason I wanted hotdog was for the toppings, so best of both worlds here. The juicy-stringy, sour and sweet sauerkraut plus relish combo added an extra pow of flavor to the salty, crunchy, chewy chicken. The strength of taste was a bit overwhelming without something creamy to lighten it like maybe mashed potatoes or alfredo pasta. But it was interesting and I don't mind this outcome much. I'll take it over hotdog any day.

Fennel Arugula Salad + Rice Krispies Treat

Rating: 8/10

Fennel arugula salad eaten with Rice Krispies Treat. I haven't had Rice Krispies in maybe a decade now. But somehow it found itself on my counter top when I was stir frying the fennel, so I figure why not combine. The sweet, chewy, crunchy treat just adds another layer to the already tasteful, leafy salad. Taste buds a-tingle!

Vodka Sauce + Feta Cheese + Naan Bread + Avocado

 



















Rating: 5.5/10

A lazy homemade pizza with random ingredients I found in the kitchen. First we have the kick of creamy, tomatoey vodka sauce poured over the chewy fluff of naan bread. Then cover it with chunky, salty-sour feta cheese crumbles and bake it in a toaster oven before topping it with the buttery, green lightness of sliced avocado. This turned out really salty, which I didn't particularly expect. But I guess basically everything combined here is salt-based and when you put them together it all adds. The avocado did nothing to calm the strength of  taste here. While not as much variety in flavor as I would prefer, still a somewhat pleasant experience. May work better with mozzarella and arugula instead of feta and avocado.

Nutrition:

• 1/5 Bertolli Vodka Sauce = 150 Calories, 730mg Sodium, 2g fiber, 15% of daily Vitamin A
• scoop of President Feta Crumbled = 70 Calories, 260mg Sodium, 10% of daily Calcium
• Reya Tandoor Baked Naan = 280 Calories, 740mg Sodium, 2g fiber, 16'% of daily Iron
• avocado = 240 Calories, 10g fiber, 25% of daily Vitamin C

Total Calories = 740
Kept me full for the rest of the night. Wow looking at the Sodium count, that's almost a whole day's worth. But hey also got over half a day's worth of fiber too. Win some, lose some. Plus some Vitamin C & A, Calcium and Iron.

Roti Pancake + Arugula + Cookie Butter

Rating: 9.5/10

Fresh arugula wrapped in fried roti pancakes dipped in cookie butter. Tried this with nutella too, cookie butter works better. The sharp arugula flavor and leafy texture rocks with the hot, chewy savoriness of onion roti. Add the subtle creamy, sweet goodness of cookie butter and we have liftoff.

Fennel Arugula + Breaded Chicken + Cherry Garcia

Rating: 10/10

Salad, dessert, and entree all in one. This is what a complete meal is all about. Really, why wait when you can combine for the maximum taste trip? Breaded chicken seasoned with cumin and Italian herbs goes perfectly well eaten with the fennel arugula salad as it does covered in Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream. The salty, savory, herby kick of the chicken is the center point of the meal with the ice cream and salad as alternating sides. I have to say stir fried fennel and raw arugula make the best salad combo: the anise crunch of the fennel and the punch of whatever it is you call the taste of arugula. I'd be happy to eat it just on its own. Same with the ice cream. But the chicken is naked without its sides.

Chocolate Graham Cracker + Shanghai Risotto

Rating: 8/10

Chocolate-covered graham eaten with Shanghai-style Chinese Risotto with veggies and meat. I love all things graham cracker with its sweet, grahamy crackerness, and to cover it in chocolate, awesome (just one marshmallow and camp fire away from s'mores). Plus the soft, salty, savory deletion of Shanghai cuisine. So much delight in my mouth for this salty-sweet combo. And it's relatively healthy, too.

Pierogies + Fried Pickles + Chipotle Dip

 
Rating: 7/10

Courtesy of food trucks, potato pierogies cooked with onions and deep fried pickles, both dipped in chipotle sauce. Mouth full of pow from both the fried pickles' zing of salty and sour as well as the chipotle dip's jab of spicy and savory. But somewhat calmed by the pierogies' mild savoriness. As for texture, you've got your crispy and juicy from the pickles, creamy from the dip, and chewy from the pierogies. I'd say that's a pretty tough combo to beat (if I liked pickles just a smidge more this would be so perfect). Taste buds still tingly and ready for battle. Arg, I feel like a Polish pirate right now.