Today I’d like to share something that I’ve yet to put in a blog post. If you’ve talked to me for any length of time over the past few years there’s a high likelihood at some point I’ve gone on and on about this because 1. I’m a verbal processor and 2. my middle name is loquacious. Actually, it’s Lynn, but wouldn’t it be so cool if it was?
Back to our story, it all started when I was wandering through the produce section of a local grocery store and I came across a rack towards the back that had crates of produce which were drastically reduced. #curious
As I looked them over, I could see there were some where the produce was starting to turn, but mostly it all looked perfectly fine. All I could figure was this was something the store did when they had an abundance of a particular type of fruit or veggie.
To be clear, at the time my culinary skills were just below basic. Dean actually did a majority of the cooking, cuz he’s awesome like that. Both our girls fondly recall that season of our life, whenever it was MY night to make dinner it was pretty much a guarantee that it would be mac-n-cheese. #itsthecheesiest
I was intrigued by what I could do with all this various produce. Sometimes a crate was filled with a single kind of produce, like one time it was all jalapenos. Other times it’s a random mix of various fruits and veggies that you may or may not be familiar with. Black radishes anyone?
Since at most a crate costs $2 and in return you get pounds and pounds of fresh produce I decided to get a couple to see what I could do with them.
First, I bring them home and go through each crate to toss out any of the obviously bad stuff and then set it all out on various platters and bowls so I can get an idea of what I’ve got to work with. This is also when I will look up to confirm things like; is that a turnip or a rutabaga and BTW what CAN you do with a turnip or rutabaga?
I’ve included a picture of the last batch of crates I got; along with pictures of what I made. Not too shabby for about $15.
OK, why am I sharing all of this? No, I am not vying to become the next Rachael Ray. I’m sharing this in the hopes of sparking new ideas of how you can find or continue to use your creativity. Here’s what I’ve been learning and how it applies to exploring your creativity:
Follow Your Curiosity
What is something that catches your attention? Is there a topic that you have always wanted to know more about or a skill you want to learn? Follow those promptings. For me, it was a combination of wondering what I could make, as well as trying types of food I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own.
Keep Expectations Low
I had very little cooking skills when I started, so there was no expectation of anything being good. For you, maybe your expectation would be just to try something new. When you start with lower expectations it gives you room to grow or space to determine that you don’t enjoy this new endeavor.
Have a Sense of Play
Play is a wonderful way to connect to your creativity. When you are exploring or learning, be mindful of what makes it fun for you. One of the things I enjoy about the crates is the variety of types of recipes I can make. Maybe it’s not about how fun the topic is, but about how you listen to fun music when you are creating.
Stay Visual
You are more likely to play with something if you see it frequently. For example, if you are learning an instrument keeping it in a place where you regularly see it increases the chances of you playing it more. The first thing I do when I bring the crates home is set out a bunch of platters and bowls to put the produce in. Then throughout the next few days as I see the produce I’m more likely to be inspired to make something.
Get Support Where Needed
When I wasn’t sure what some food was I would do a search online to be able to identify it and then search for some recipe options. If you want to learn something new, don’t be shy about seeking out help. Just be sure not to get stuck in the “info gathering” stage at the expense of taking any action.
Let me know if you enjoyed this type of content and if it’s got you thinking about exploring your creativity. Could you take one of these ideas and apply them to your area of interest? Let me know what you discover in the process.
Thanks again for letting me drop into your inbox and please share this post with anyone who may find value in learning more about finding their creativity.
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