In a Food-Rut? Think outside the Box.

Are you in a food-rut?
Can't think of something to make?
Walking around in the isles at the grocery and though everything looks fresh, nothing comes to mind, but you buy some products anyway.  Once you get home, you take them out of your bag and either put them away or stare at the wondering "why did I buy this?".  Even us chefs and cooks get in food-ruts, trust me, it's not just you.
But I have a solution for you!  Make a collage.  No really, not kidding here. Get out your food magazines, scissors, paper and tape or glue.  Yes, I do realize you probably haven't done this since you were a kid, but trust me on this one, it helps.  Simply just start looking.  See anything, anything at all that peeks your interest like a phrase: "piece of cake", "family", "eat".  Food that looks divine, colorful, photographed well, or simply you just think it's cool.  Cut out objects too if you like.  Have fun with it.  Once you get a nice little pile of clippings start pairing things together.  Think of a theme like colors, or flavors of food like spice, or words that match the foods.  Once you start getting your theme together, start cutting out the clippings artistically. . . meaning if there's an advertisement for lipgloss, cut the lips out and then cut out the black inside of the mouth then stick some food coming out the the mouth so it looks like the lips are eating.  Cut close to the pictures, cut out part of it or all of it, cut it out however you like.  Really, anything goes in a collage.
Here is what I came up with after spending an hour looking through some food magazines.

Theme: Green with a pop of Red

Foods: vegetables, limes, lettuce, drinks, that red burst

Words: "Family", "Live Happier", "Get a Head", "Your Heart's Desire". "Eat"

It all started with the head of bib lettuce.  

I then saw the margarita, and sushi, and a page full of vegetables. The "Eat" is from a sign of fun wall hangings in the kitchen.  See how I took a pair of lips and have them eating the "Eat" sign? 

After finding the shrimp cocktail and the Italian landscape clips, I saw the glass of red wine splashing into the glass, perfect for that red pop to balance out the red throughout the rest of the collage.

And now. . . in the end. . . I am inspired to make a fresh salad with a red wine lime emulsion, avocado, shrimp, a light leafy lettuce, tomatoes, maybe some cucumber and scallion, oh and a cheese to fit in with Italy.  Sounds like a nice, light summer salad.  Food-rut solved, well for now.  Food is about passion and creativity in your own light.  Keep thinking outside of the box!