It has been way too long since I’ve done a WIAW post. If you ever need inspiration for a different, fun, creative meal, be sure to check out Jenn’s blog for hundreds of ideas – so fun!
For this week’s post, I want to share three new to me meals. I decided to branch out a little while grocery shopping this week and picked up a couple of new ingredients, and I think it paid off!
So, let’s get started…
First up, we have a spinach, tomato, carrot, goat cheese, tempeh salad topped with Annie’s Goddess dressing…
Tempeh is a kind of soybean patty. It’s different from tofu in that it’s almost burger like. The kind I picked up also included some garden vegetables.
I’ve only cooked with tempeh once before, and I honestly wasn’t a huge fan. While shopping this week, I picked it up thinking, “Hey, why not. Everything deserves a second chance.”
So, when cooking with it this time around, I stuck with the instructions on the back. I heated 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan, cut my tempeh into small cubes, and cooked it in the oil until it started to get brown and crispy. And then for a special kick, I added a few dashes of soy sauce right before taking if off the heat.
The verdict the second go around? It tasted a lot better then I remember. However, I think I’m much more of a tofu lover. 
Next up is a meal comprised of familiar sounding ingredients that I’ve never thought to combine all together before.
This is a quinoa, black bean, sweet potato bowl topped with salsa and goat cheese…
Super duper easy and filled with protein. The only step that required some prep work was peeling and cubing the sweet potato and cooking it in a tablespoon of olive oil. I decided to go with a simple stovetop method this time around. Good call on my part. 
And finally, I leave you with a goat gouda, tomato, and basil mayonnaise sandwich on toasted rye. A-mazing!
I bought a wedge of some goat gouda this weekend at Whole Foods after reading so much about it on Gina’s blog. I absolutely love goat cheese, so again, I thought, “Hey why not.” I think I’m in love, y’all. This cheese tasted nothing like what I expected it to (I had very low expectations). It’s not tangy like crumbled goat cheese. In fact, it’s very creamy and slightly sweet. I can’t wait to use it more in different recipes. YUM!
Oh, and I made the basil mayonnaise by combining a small spoon of olive oil mayo and a couple of squeezes of a tubed basil herb blend.
Happy WIAW, everyone!!!
So now it’s your turn…did you try anything different in the kitchen this week? Any new recipes ingredients, cooking methods?
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Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says
September 7, 2011 at 6:56 pmyour tempeh salad sounds good! i just bought some and might give it a try your way!
Parita says
September 7, 2011 at 7:16 pmOoh…let me know if you do! The soy sauce was definitely a good addition.
Ty says
September 7, 2011 at 10:04 pmOh yes! I made a point to try lots of new things because I’ve been buying up new-to-me ingredients left and right.
I tried capers, anchovy paste and barley so far. Quinoa (seriously, never had it before!) is planned for dinner in a few days. 🙂
Sounds good with sweet potato like you have it here!
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 8:10 amQuinoa is one of the best things ever! I think you’ll like it a lot – especially with some fun mix-ins.
sprint2thetable says
September 7, 2011 at 10:44 pmTempeh can be really good! I grilled the one in my WIAW after coating it in EVOO and sriracha. If the bitterness is the problem, boiling it can take some of that out. I used that method with the Crab-free Cakes.
Rye bread is so pretty. Love that tasty-looking marbled sammie. 🙂
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 8:10 amYou know what…I remember reading about the boiling method on your blog. I should’ve done that! I still have the package left, so I’m definitely going to boil it first next time. Thanks for the reminder!
Khushboo Thadani says
September 8, 2011 at 1:37 amEr wow, excellent looking meals! That bread looks amazing- I had do a double take because I was convinced it was marble cake ha! I’ve tried tempeh once but didn’t love it like I thought I would, especially since tofu is a staple for me. Your quinoa bowl has my name written all over it- all my fave ingredients in one!
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 8:08 amRye bread is so good. I think it’s my new favorite. And I’m glad you didn’t like tempeh too much either. Makes me feel better!
Amy @ Second City Randomness says
September 8, 2011 at 7:06 amI heart goat cheese. We had it on our massive pizza last weekend and I was in heaven. Pizza will never taste the same again!
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 8:07 amYou need to try goat gouda then! I think you’d love it.
Shannon says
September 8, 2011 at 8:09 amGood looking meals! 🙂
I tried making sweet potatoe fries 🙂
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 8:07 amThank you! And sweet potato fries are my fav – especially with some chili powder sprinkled on top.
Ameena says
September 8, 2011 at 11:57 amI recently tried the sliced goat cheese from Trader Joe’s and it is fabulous! If you haven’t tried it I highly recommend it – even Maya loved it!
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 8:06 amMmmm…I haven’t looked for sliced goat cheese yet. That would be perfect in a hummus sandwich!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
September 9, 2011 at 2:39 pmI’ll still buy it occasionally, but I’m not a huge tempeh lover either. Tofu is way better!
This week I made Angela’s tortilla soup from Oh She Glows. It was delicious and so easy to make!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
September 9, 2011 at 4:35 pmNewbie here!
So glad to have stumbled on your blog – congrats on the wedding btw 🙂
Parita says
September 9, 2011 at 4:40 pmHi Kiran! Welcome! And thanks – I’m super excited!!!
Meghana says
September 15, 2011 at 9:10 amThose all look amazinggg! Want to try each one!