Recipe testing is no joke

Hey everyone! Hope your day’s been going well 😀

Recipe testing is seriously biznass. I thought it was going to be a breezy task, since the only brush with recipe testing I’ve had is the many episodes of Barefoot Contessa I’ve watched. In a couple of episodes, the lovely Ina Garden “tries out” new recipes (usually including a cup of heavy cream and the best quality vanilla), it comes out beautifully (shocker, right?) and she writes the recipe in her computer at the show’s end while drinking a cup of coffee. I can do that, right? Right? Ehh, not quite 😉

Instead of coffee, I had raw vegan red bull… aka green juice

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Like I told ya the other day, for our final this Friday we’re creating our own three-course menu and the recipes for said menu. I’m keeping it under wraps for the most part, but here’s a sneak peek one of the appetizer components:

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(Heaby, you were spot on, my friend.. raw zucchini hummus, anyone?)

And the entree:

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Know what that is?? You’ll find out Friday 😉 I did eat it for lunch though, and it was quite glorious. A lot of people in class are doing some swanky creative recipes, but I thought I’d play it safe and make something simpler and just make sure it tastes extra delicious 😀

And life wouldn’t be complete without these:

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I’m pretty much convinced the sous chef doesn’t like me. Every time I see him, I ask for kale chips 😀 Maybe if we’re slow at work tonight I can make my own so I won’t feel like an addict asking around for them all the time.

For the most part, I was in the cooking (or un-cooking rather) zone all day, but I had to stop and stare when I saw quite possibly the largest zucchini ever.

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That’s just not normal.

The guy in the background of the pic with the microphone was there interviewing peeps for NPR. Super cool 😀

Well, I’m back at the hotel-casa and am kind of exhausted from thinking of flavor combos and recipes. I loved every second, but it will definitely take the life out of you.

Time to crawl into bed and rest, perhaps have some Ezekiel cereal and head to work 😉

Have a wonderful night!

xoxo,

G

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20 Comments

  1. simpledaisy on September 28, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    It all looks awesome, as always!!!

  2. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on September 28, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Sounds like fun to me. 🙂 I love coming up with that stuff. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’d be much help in the raw department.

  3. Cara (Cara Craves...) on September 28, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    You know when a veggie is larger then the size of your arm that something is not normal. That zucchini is unreal!

  4. rhodeygirl on September 28, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    OOoooohhhh I can’t wait to see what it is! Looks delicious Gina!

  5. VeggieGirl on September 28, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    That zucchini is just…. there are no words, haha 😀

    Lovin’ the testing!

  6. Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) on September 28, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    I can’t wait to see the recipes! My zucchini hummus never turns out right… 🙁 It is always super watery and more like a soup.

  7. Melissa (Melissa Likes To Eat) on September 28, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    That is a ginormous zucchini. Wow!!

    I’m not good at coming up with my own recipes. I’m not very creative. I can follow instructions for a recipe like nobody’s business but I cannot come up with my own stuff. 🙁

  8. K on September 28, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    That’s a GC quality zucchini right there!! Your dish looks scrumptious!

    I laughed at the Ina comparison because she kills me when she says, “good quality ____.” I get a kick out of it and I have no idea why!

    • Fitnessista on September 28, 2009 at 10:40 pm

      it totally rivals mama gc’s giant zucchinis 😀
      haha i get a kick out of it too! like she’s dissing my wal-mart vanilla extract or something. pshhh

  9. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) on September 28, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Your rundown of Ina is spot on! Don’t forget the pound of butter in addition to the heavy cream. Or, a mere $75 worth of cheese on a cheese tray for the one singular other friend she has come over. You know, in case that person has an appetite of a basketball team or something. You’d need that much cheese. Or the one pint of fresh berries that cost her like $12 that she ends up grinding up into a reduction sauce of some sort. I posted about this on my blog a few weeks back…what I’d call limitless cooking. Both in terms of fat/unhealthyness levels (LOL!) and spending money on ingredients. I love Ina but she gets an A in both areas IMO.

    Anyway girl, would that be a collard wrap with a nut pate or veggies in it and the open face one is a collar leaf with a veggie tepenade of sorts and more nut pate? Hard to see but that’s what I’m guessin your making. I would love to be your recipe taste tester!

    Anyway have a great nite 🙂
    P.S. The zuke has TWSS potential but I ain’t goin there 🙂

    • Fitnessista on September 28, 2009 at 10:39 pm

      hahah i love what you said about ina. i just adore her though.
      actually, my whole meal is NUT FREE! totally veggies 😀

  10. Melissa (Melissa Likes To Eat) on September 28, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Oh, I almost forgot…I was catching up on your blog and I saw that your Polar died. Mine just died too. I would be working out and then my heart rate would drop down to the 40’s. Like you said, I doubt that’s accurate. 🙁 Then it would say “00” and stay that way. I contacted Polar today and it’s possible it needs a battery (which only they can replace). Big pain in the bum, but I have to mail it in to get fixed. I did buy a Garmin Forerunner 305 a couple of weeks ago hoping to replace my Polar instead of having to mail it in and possibly pain for repairs/batteries. The Garmin doesn’t calculate calories based on heart rate for indoor workouts…I didn’t know this….did you? Anyway, it’s awesome for running outside!!!! But I need to fix my Polar for my indoor workout classes. Guess I’ll have two heart rate monitors. Good luck with your Polar!!!

  11. Janna (Just Flourishing) on September 28, 2009 at 8:57 pm

    HAHAHAHAHA. The zucchini!!!

    And yes TOTALLY agree about Barefoot Contessa. I love her though, heavy cream aside 🙂

    And I really must try kale chips. What is on those? They look so good!

  12. Stephanie on September 28, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    Hahaha that zucchini is HILARIOUS!! I thought that zucchinis were less flavorful the larger they got however… hmmm sorry to be a debbie downer, perhaps I am wrong :/ Either way, your food is impressing me more and more every day — great job girlie!

  13. Amanda @ Panda Lunch on September 28, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    LOVE kale chips! I love kale in any form, but the chips are just yummy and addictive, you’re right!

    That zucchini is hilarious! I love the novelty of freakishly large or small produce.

  14. WholeBodyLove on September 29, 2009 at 12:42 am

    I share your kale chip love! I could eat ’em everyday of my life!

  15. carolinebee on September 29, 2009 at 6:56 am

    That zucchini is ridic! My gramz told me that when they get oversized like that they aren’t really even useable?? Good idea keepin it simple too, good luck on the final!!

  16. Paige on September 29, 2009 at 8:57 am

    So exciting to create your own spread! Does it involve kale? Chips? Haha. I’ve got to try me some!

    Holy large zucchini!!

  17. Diana (Soap & Chocolate) on September 29, 2009 at 10:32 am

    Dang that zucchini is a large marge. One that big might actually last me 2 meals instead of 1. 😉

    Can’t wait to find out what’s in your recipe creation! Looks luuurrvely.

  18. Jenna on September 29, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    can’t wait to see what you are making gina! i am sure it is great.

    jenna

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