July 2024 Newsletter

Three bean salad, strawberry popsicles, quinoa power salad, and a case of content theft

Jul 24, 2024

Hello and happy July! Here’s what’s happening at The Garden Grazer:

Three Bean Salad

A healthier take on an old classic! This version is made with a sweet & sour dressing that includes no oil or refined sugar. It’s so fresh & vibrant - one of my summertime favorites!

Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad

Creamy avocado and quinoa come together for an energizing power combo. Then we bring sweet tomatoes, spinach, and a garlic-vinegar dressing to the party. (Yes!)

Curried Chickpea Salad

This is my vegan version of curried chicken salad! It’s quick to make, and so tasty in sandwiches, wraps, on fresh greens, or as a cracker dip. (Plus there’s no need to turn on the oven or stove!)

Strawberry Cream Popsicles

My daughter and I love this recipe, and we find it works great with other frozen berries (or berry blends) as well. Deliciously sweet & creamy!

Somehow summer doesn’t feel complete without a classic Italian-style pasta salad. This is my favorite that features curly pasta, crunchy veggies, and fresh herbs. Then it’s tossed in a zesty oil-free dressing.

For more salad inspiration, browse the full archives here:

50+ Vegan Salad Recipes

Restaurant-Style Blender Salsa

Blender salsa is my jam. It’s easy, refreshing, flavorful, and fun to adapt. This one tastes like the ones you find at a Mexican restaurant - so good.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate you being here. For more easy, delicious inspiration:

Browse The Garden Grazer

-Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

Content Theft

I’ve enjoyed sharing little tidbits about my experience in the food blogging industry, and I hope they’re of some interest. This month I’ll touch on one that repeatedly plagues creators: content theft. It happens frequently and comes in many forms. But for brevity’s sake, I’ll share just one example:

Several years ago, a best-selling cookbook author went on national TV presenting my recipe as her own. (Video here.)

Below on the left is the recipe I created as it was originally posted on my website in 2014. On the right is the recipe she submitted (almost verbatim) and presented on the Today Show in 2018. (You can click the image to enlarge it.)

Same ingredients. Same amounts. Even listed in the same order. Both the name (“Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad”) and my instructions were also the same. She even went as far as including my personal tip for how I cook fluffier quinoa as her own.

Coincidences happen, but there’s no doubt this was a clear, undeniable case of copy/paste.

I sent the Today Show a message alerting them to this years ago, but unsurprisingly never heard back. It appears she’s still a contributor to this day.

Most importantly, I share this not for sympathy but in the spirit of transparency, a cautionary tale about trustworthiness, and simply sharing my experience. I’m an observer by nature, and often see content theft by seemingly reputable brands, bloggers, or persons with significant followings and stature who profit by stealing (or slightly reworking) other creators’ hard work.