try something new

It's easy to get stuck in a food rut...I'm a 32 year old woman, and I'm just now realizing that there are whole aisles in the produce section that I've never even touched. With my blinders on, I go down the familiar path, putting cucumbers and mushrooms and tomatoes in my cart.

What about that other stuff?

This week, I am proud to say I am trying TWO new things!!



Tonight, we tried a jicama. We discovered this fruit? veggie? on the Ingrid Hoffmann show on the Food Network. Neither Chris nor I had ever heard of the jicama, so I decided to get one at the store. Ingrid claimed that it was a cross between a water chestnut and a green apple. Looks kind of like a turnip. Hmmm. I cut some up and tried it by itself, as well as in my salad. By itself, it was a bit odd. Very dry. It was much better in the salad, as it does seem to take on the flavors of whatever it's with. Will I buy another one? The jury is still out on that one...

Tuesday, I am going to try an apple pear. It came in this soft mesh woven cup, as though the fruit is very delicate and needs to be protected from damage. It seems hearty enough to me! At the grocery store on Sunday, the checker and the bagger (both high school boys) went on and on and on about how they had tried some apple pear when the sample lady had some, and oh it was so good. That just cracked me up! So, I'm excited to try it. I will let you know my thoughts tomorrow...

What have YOU tried lately that you've never tried before?? And any recommendations on what I should branch out with next??

On a totally different note, I finished the book I was reading this morning before work!

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult...very, very good. I really enjoyed this story and the way that she writes. I will be getting more of her books for sure. The thing I liked best? You know how the book reaches the climax, and then things start to get sorted out, leading up to the end? Everything is wrapped up in a little bow? I was reading along, almost to the end. Everything was coming together and working out. I'm cruising right along. And then, the very last sentence got me! The very last one! I read it and just sat there with my mouth open. Gotta love it!