Hey guys, I have a question for you...
What kind of content are you hoping to see on HNL in 2022?
I've been trying to plan out my content calendar for the coming months and coordinate some recipe testing and photoshoot days, but it occurred to me that before I get too far, I should stop and check in with you guys first.
Lately it seems like there's been a shift in food blogging and everyone is just chasing keywords. I definitely find myself caught up in that from time to time - hello, Air Fryer Recipes are a goldmine of good keywords. But I don't know how many of my readers actually have an Air Fryer, or how many want Air Fryer recipes.
(For the record, every single one of my Air Fryer recipes is also tested in the oven and I ALWAYS provide instructions for both methods. Same goes for Instant Pot Recipes. I always test more than one method and include multiple sets of instructions in the recipe card.)
Of course, when I find a golden nugget of a keyword I'm 100% going to go for it, don't get me wrong. But I also want to make sure that I'm creating content that serves you, dear reader. Especially the WGTW crew who turn up week after week to just see what I have to say.
So, tell me. What do you want from me?
More Air Fryer Recipes? Fewer Air Fryer Recipes? More meal bowls? More quick and easy dinners? More healthy desserts? More vegan recipes? More nutrition content? More vegetarian comfort food?
I'd love it if you could leave a comment on this post and let me know the following:
- What appliances do you have in your kitchen (Instant Pot? Slow Cooker? Air Fryer?)
- What kinds of recipes and content are you looking for from HNL in general.
- If you have any really specific requests.
Thank you kindly! I love you guys!
Also, while I'm in the business of asking for stuff, I'm looking for recommendations for the best places to eat and drink in Chicago!
I have a conference in Chicago in early March which does appear to be happening, although I'm fully aware that a lot could go wrong between now and then. It was supposed to be September 2020 in New York and has been rescheduled twice now and for the love of god I have Business Class tickets booked and would the universe just let this tired mom have her conference?
It's a conference for food bloggers (yes, we are that cool!) and Emmeline and I are travelling there together and sharing an AirBnB with Sarah, obviously. We booked an apartment last week and then my AirBnB app (which I did not use - Sarah did the booking) got all up in my business asking if I was going to Chicago. What! How does it know?!
After two days of nerding out about SEO and content strategy and with our fellow food bloggers, Emmeline and I have an extra day in Chicago and we want to eat All. The. Things. I'm talking deep dish pizza, speak-easys, and whatever else Chicago is famous for. So hit me up with all of your recommendations!
As far as the conference goes, I know it seems like a literal shitstorm right now, but we shall see. We need to have a negative PCR test to fly to the US in the first place. Then we need a negative test within 48 hours to get into the conference AND a vaccine passport (I'll be triple vaxxed by then!) AND we have to wear masks the entire time.
While being masked for two full days of networking isn't how I wanted to attend this conference, I'll take whatever I can get at this point. So bring it on!
ON HEY NUTRITION LADY THIS WEEK
First up, a recipe for Chickpea Blondies that I've been working on for a while. I knew you guys would love it, and so many of you have made them already! These beauties are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, naturally-sweetened, and totally delicious!
The other recipe this week is a super easy and tasty one-pot pasta recipe... and I know you guys love one-pot pasta recipes! This One-Pot Lemony Kale Pasta is made with half lentil pasta to pump up the protein.
WHAT’S TRENDING ON HNL
Yeah, yeah, we all know that Mung Bean and Coconut Curry and How to Cook Mung Beans are in the top spots. Yes, still! So let’s look at what else is trending.
1. 10-Minute Vegetable Ramen Noodles. In the top spot again!
2. Black Bean and Quinoa Freezer Burritos. These are always a good idea.
3. Turmeric Latte Mix. Perfect to cozy up with on a cold day.
4. Red Lentil Dal. Love this cozy and flavourful lentil stew.
5. Savory Cottage Cheese Muffins. Love these protein-packed savory muffins.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
Emily left the following comment and 5-star review on our Vegetarian Dumpling Soup recipe:
This smelled so good the whole time it was cooking and the dumplings were super satisfying. I also have no idea what chicken and dumpling soup tastes like, but I love this chickpea version. Definitely a repeater.
I have know idea either! But I do love this delicious vegetarian riff.
THIS WEEK’S MENU
Time to get back into a routine and back to reality this week!
HERE’S WHAT’S ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
Monday: Soup from the freezer and lots of veggies.
Tuesday: Quick and easy fresh tortellini with broccoli and halloumi. I make this approx once a week because it's super fast and everyone eats it without complaining.
Wednesday: Trying a new recipe for Sticky Tofu. If it's good, I'll share!
Thursday: Omelet night!
Friday: We are doing tacos for dinner! I might do these Sheet-Pan Halloumi Tacos.
Saturday: Going to do a big baked Mac and Cheese. This is my favourite recipe.
Sunday: Pizza night! Using up some Spelt Pizza Dough from the freezer.
Gail
Hey nutrition Katie
We use our IP about twice a month.
I lOVE salads! But not boring salads. Your spicy tofu and kale is probably my favourite recipe on your blog.
I think I asked you before: what about foods/recipes that include lots of immune-booster vitamins and minerals? Vitamin D and zinc come to mind, but probably Vit C, calcium - I can't remember which ones from my nutrition training 45 years ago!
And, we are loving "bowls" right now.
Thanks for asking.
Yannis
Thanks for all of your hard work. In our household we have a stovetop, an oven and a blender. Next on the list is a food processor. Would love more pasta recipes. Your halloumi carbonara is amazing!
Jennifer
Instant Pot and CrockPot, use each once or twice a month. Regular blender and food processor, so shy away from things that seem to need a high speed blender. Love sheet pan dinners, and things that freeze well. I love when main dishes come with side dish recommendations.
Maki Narusawa
I actually just bought a Ninja Foodi XL *today*. It's still in the box… so I'd love air fryer recipes.
I have a lot of food sensitivites (leaky gut; soy, wheat, corn, potatoes, rice, peas, suflowers, peanuts…a lot of the common foods.) so I appreciate any substitutions you mention.
Appliances: microwave, food processor, small blender, mandoline, steamer & pressure cooker (microwave), air fryer (10 in one… has dehydrator function! Whoo hoo!)
Janene
I have a slow cooker, a waffle iron and a rice cooker. I make fritters quite often, but would love some recipes for vegan fritters. I've made these with tofu, avocado and pea flour. Sometimes they turn out squishy in the the middle. Do you have a recipe for fritters where the insides are firm as well as the outsides? Thanks heaps.
Robin
Hello!
I have a Vitamix and a just an regular cook stove. I have a picky toddler so I like hearing what you make for the boys! Healthy desserts, one pot dinners, and I love a good sauce/condiment/topping that doubles or triples for other dishes.
Frau Spätzle
Love these weekly posts! And your blog in general, of course! <3
I do have an Instant Pot and would love to have some more good recipes to cook with it. I don't have an Air Fryer, but don't mind the odd recipe for which I would need one. One thing my kitchen really needs is a food processer. I only have a very old blender, which does the job some of the times, but most of the times the recipes which require a good food processor are out of the question. I guess, I'll finally have to invest in one this year.
I prefer simple recipes (not too many ingredients and steps) which can be adapted and adjusted to what's in my fridge and/or available where I live. I mostly let myself be inspired by (your) recipes and do my own thing. Especially after a busy day.
Thanks for all the inspiration that can already be found on your blog! 🙂
Colleen
Thanks for asking!
Low-tech household here by choice. We do have a slow cooker. I would love suggestions for sheet pan meals or meal bowls. My non-veg husband is BIG on umami in any vegetarian meals.
Hopefully, omicron will have passed before your trip to Chicago. Both of my grown sons have it now. One is quite sick and the other is asymptomatic.
maggie
I got an airfryer from santa. Learning to use it with your list.
Otherwise its the usual pots & pans. Learning to cook for 2 now as empty nesters.
I need to eat more protein so would love more protein-heavy recipes. Are there menopause-friendly recipes you can recommend please?
Many thanks
Andrea
Hey Katie,
I'd love to see more quick and easy dinner recipes, and as a special request would be interested in more "fridge salad" recipes (like your Savoy Slaw and smokes Tofu), that I could make on Sunday and then take for lunch during the week. I have an Instant Pot and slow cooker, no Air Fryer (just don't have the space for it).
I enjoy all your posts, but I especially like seeing what's on your meal plan for the week, so please keep that coming!
Thanks for all the great recipes, nutritional info, and for generally keepin' it real 😁👍
Joanne
I have a Stove and an airfryer but no instant pot, slow cooker or oven. I prefer recipes for complete meals rather than side dishes but I don't mind if they are bowls or otherwise! I LOVE tempeh but rarely buy It because it's a ridiculous price. I have kids so can't spend hours cooking (although I would if I had the time!)
I hope that helps.
Stephanie
Five of my favorite (not trendy but authentic) Chicago things that I bring visitors to:
1) Girl & the Goat - a tough place to get a reservation (maybe start now) but worth the effort!!! If you can't get a reservation, sometimes there's a spot at the bar. Hands down, best food in Chicago at a reasonable price point. Stephanie Izard has other restaurants but this is her original and the others are good too, but this one is still better.
2) The Green Mill is a really cool (and old) jazz bar...an Al Capone hangout back in the day.
3) Tours by the Chicago Architecture Foundation - the boat is the most famous, but there are others too...a great way to learn about the way the city was built.
4) The view of the skyline from outside of the Adler Planetarium - a great place for a photo of the city.
5) If you're up for being outside, the skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park is open until March 13th - no need to spend a lot of time here but a couple of loops around it is fun - great view of the city, and a unique experience. I bring people to Rick Bayless's XOCO after for Caldo (Mexican meal-in-a-bowl soup) and hot chocolate.
Fair warning...deep dish pizza is likely to make you feel terrible, and it isn't even really that delicious...so much cheese and oil that just sort of sits in your stomach like a brick. I would recommend skipping it, but I guess it is a unique Chicago thing.
Kim
For the Chicago trip, my husband said Giordano's is where it's at for the deep dish pizza! I have seen pictures of them before, and my goodness.. go in with an empty stomach because they're massive. Sounds like it's going to be a blast!
I have all the kitchen equipment. I do use the air fryer, but I use my IPs allll the time, as well as my crockpot more than my air fryer. I always love sheet pan recipes regardless if the pan contents go into a bowl, or tortilla or over rice etc. so those are some of my favorites, but over the summer my oven is virtually not used because of the heat and the rest of the fam aren't huge lettuce salad nuts like I am, so I would say maybe neat wraps, bean/pasta salads or some kind of stuffed vegetables? Different kinds of bean burgers are great with the kids too.
How about a mung bean burger?!! That would be delicious.
Thanks for asking us!
Shawn
I really enjoy HNL for the food content and your writing. In my kitchen, I have an air fryer, instapot and slow cooker. I use the Instapot 2-3 times per week and would love to see more recipes for that. I also love "casserole" kind of dishes so it would be nice to see some one-pot meals.
Thanks!
Christine
What appliances do you have in your kitchen— I have an Instant Pot and a Slow Cooker!
What kinds of recipes and content are you looking for from HNL in general.— I love the comfort foods for the winter, and quick and easy weeknight eats!
If you have any really specific requests.— could you come to my house and make food for me 😉
I love these weekly posts- I look forward to them every Sunday! 🙂
JudyH
I have a crockpot and an air fryer but I use them rarely. I mostly use pots, pans and the oven. I don't like to make huge batches of foods because I live alone. And I am vegetarian.