Bahaha an old warped picture from Photobooth - because it's Friday and everyone's smile should be that big!
Oats with bananas mashed in + Asian pear + biscotti + cashew butter
I am just going to do all my posts like this: breakfast-y foods first, then the rest just fall in place.
Waffle Pancake Wednesday
On the side is a chocolate protein shake I made with mixed berries and rolled oats for kicks.
These pancakes were HUGE! Almost the size of a plate. So I cut one in half and decided to do two different toppings. One side has coconut oil, apple slices, cinnamon, and confectioner’s sugar with nutmeg. The other half was just buttered, apple slices, cinnamon, and maple syrup. I sprinkled the last of my rolled oats on the whole shebang. I kept alternating between the two because I loved both sides equally. But which side was lucky enough to be my last bite?
Last week I received a package in the mail!
I’m sure you guys have seen Late July at your grocery store, but have you tried their stuff out? They’re organic snacks and a very family oriented company. Companies that care are an A+ in my book. I was sent their new Mini Sandwich Cookies to try out. The flavors are: milk chocolate and white chocolate. The website says that they are melt in your mouth good, and I agree. I also enjoyed washing down these cookies with a warm glass of almond milk. Yes, these are tiny (my hands are just bigger now that I’m a “big kid”), but it’s so fun to feel little again. If any of you Mommies or Daddies out there are trying to shy your kids away from chemical-laden treats, but don’t want to eliminate sweets – these are worth trying!
Cute!
“Seven different endangered animals are featured on the cookies and 10% of the profits go to the Jane Goodall Institute to help with their efforts in endangered animal awareness.”
My favorite grilled cheese sandwich!
I hope by now you all know what’s in this sandwich. Mango chutney + cheddar cheese. Rather than using pumpernickel bread -which I didn’t have- I used 2 slices of the Spelt loaf I bought last week. While eating this sandwich I realized this bread is the perfect grilled cheese bread. I’ve said it before, but bakery bread just tastes so good. But I’d imagine the best bread would come straight out of Mia’s oven! What’s that peeking in to the left of the sandwich?
Why hello there tasty salad.
While Kim and I were in the kitchen making dinner, she offered me some of her Lime tortilla chips. Then I thought, this would be awesome on my salad! I love edamame, and after seeing edamame hummus at Trader Joe’s I want to make some of my own.
Lately, I’ve been making myself a cup of agua de panela with a squeeze of lemon juice. What’s panela? It’s whole cane sugar, basically, unrefined sucrose. I just googled it, and this how someone described it, “a sweetener that tastes like a cross between molasses and brown sugar.”
I bought this box last time I went down to Colombia.
Running low, uh oh.
I’m sure you can find this at a Latin food market. Who knows, with the international food aisles the chain supermarkets have now, you may even find it there!
A Jamaican inspired meal.
While browsing the internet for tempeh recipes, I came upon one for Jamaican jerk tempeh. I’ve always wanted to try jerk something, so of course I decided to give this recipe a whirl. I found some others that asked for apricot juice instead of OJ. I think apricot is a better choice because of the sweetness. Since I didn’t have a lot of those spices on hand (crazy!) I used my tea masala. Tea masala has a bunch of Indian spices. I served it on brown rice I cooked with cinnamon, and once served I mixed in coconut oil. On the side I made a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad.
Since I baked the tempeh and it was rather dry, I spread on some tamarind-date chutney.
Such an exciting meal with an array of flavors. Sweet, citrusy, savoury, and a spicy kick.
I’ve been making more use of my toaster oven, now that I discovered that I can actually bake with it.
Toasted kabocha seeds with brown sugar and cinnamon.
I baked the kabocha with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar then sprinkled some of it’s seeds for decoration. Then I assembled some Ak-mak crackers, spread some creamy gorgonzola, agave, red onion, Asian pear slices, and a sprinkling of more cinnamon. I haven’t had these Armenian crackers in so long! They’ve been sitting in my cabinet and I forgot all about them. It took me forever to finish this plate. An hour later I realized I was still eating. I find that when I eat alone, I finish rather quickly. But with this meal I took my time, and I didn’t even have to try.
So here’s my heart to heart for you guys:
The topic I want to share with you all is about “being on top of things.” There are responsibilities that I can’t ignore; like taking care of my beloved Matilda. I’m ready, but it’s hard when others around me don’t quite get it. Which is why I probably feel more at ease around older people because they don’t see my responsibleness as pooping on the party. But there is a crazy, fun-loving side to me as well! I’m starting to get it back. I think I explained before that I went through a period in my life where I became overly practical and cut out so many things. It was such a bleak moment, simply a moment… that I don’t want to go back to. I enjoy the feeling that I get from knowing that I’m flourishing again and walking down the street with my head up high and shoulders back ready to take on whatever is ahead of me.
Oh, and to fill you guys in on my school shtuff:
Not suppose to be eating in my studio!
In that big tupperware I layered a lot of kabocha, brown rice + coconut oil, and leftovers from my Jamaican jerk tempeh with tamarind-date chutney. And a little jar of roasted seeds!
Next week is my first critique of the semester in my main sculpture class. I’m kind of nervous because I’m making a video for it, and I know that some people might be like… why didn’t she make a sculpture? Well, I might make one – I just haven’t really thought of anything yet. I don’t really search for ideas, they just come to me. Hopefully, as I’m editing the video I’ll be knocked out of my chair by an idea that hit me!
Staring contest or crotch shot
Na-na-na-na-boo-boo, getting ready to do upward dog.
Stay tuned for the next post because I plan on featuring a culinary adventure I will be attempting tonight. Happy Friday everyone!
Amen to your “heart-to-heart” for today.
Good luck with the critique!! I used to be super nervous with those as well when I was a design major.
Matilda and Chooey totally need to have a play-date
Happy Friday!! Looking forward to your “culinary adventure.”
That is the most beautiful smile I have ever seen! You just made my Friday.
So jealous that you are enjoying so much Kabocha in your life. I’ve only been able to find this delecat sqaush once. It was the best day of my life but unfortunitely, has not happened since.
Hope you are having a fabulous day my dear!
Call me crazy but the far right portion of your pancake from Wednesday looks like Michigan
I love spelt bread!! You just reminded me to pick up another loaf!
As far as being responsible goes – I’m 22 and I still get crap for being too responsible at times. For example, going out to clubs/bars. Yeah it’s fun but I leave early because 1. homegirl’s tired! and 2. I don’t want to drive home when all those crazy drunks are on their way home too! Do what you’ve gotta do, who cares about the haters
Good luck with the critique too!
AHHHH my goodnesss! You have THE BEST eats!! I have soo much to talk about!! I love the tempeh action, the salad with edamame is beautttttttiful, and oh my! Your oatmeal and pancake breakfasts are so freakin gorgeous!!!
Tamarind sauce is sooo good too!
Arent Ak-Maks the bomb!?
HAPPY FRIDAY LADY!!!!!!!!!
You are too sweet for words! I understand yo heart to heart.. I ALWAYS hang out with older people because I just feel more on their level! Of course I go crazy and like to party, but in a different sense than people my age. And I also just like to do things by myself more than people my age seem to do.. I grew up so much more independent and I LIKE going grocery shopping by myself and just chilling, I don’t always have to be surrounded by peeps to be enjoying my day, ya know? Don’t let anyone getchu down!
YOUR FOOD IS ALWAYS GORGEOUS AND DEEEELICIOUS!
<3<3
Your dog is so cute! And I agree with homegirl, the food always looks delicious
your smile makes me smile
and your food kind of does too 
good luck with your critique girl! be sure to let us know how it goes.
<3 your crotch shot, classic Lindsey Lohan style.
What a beautiful smile you have! Thanks for sharing that picture. I love how you display your sliced apples and pears – it makes the meal so much more special. I would eat those pancakes and oats every day.
And that salad looks mighty tasty as well. I love edamame in salad but the lime tortilla chips is what really got me. I can’t resist a good crunch!
I really enjoyed reading your heart-to-heart moment. I liked your honestly. I, too, can get overly practical and sometimes I just need to remind myself that life is short and I need to just allow myself to really enjoy it. Thanks for sharing!
Have an awesome weekend! Thanks for adding my to your blogroll. I just added you to mine!
Haha, that is why I feel so weird here…I am the oldest. For the past 3-4 years, I’ve always hung out with people WAY older than I am!
your Jamaican-inspired meal…are you sure you’re not trying to manipulate me into being a veg, too? LOL! It looks SO good!!!! Better than any chicken on earth!
Oh, and thanks for trying out my kabocha soup! Ain’t it awesome! Too bad you couldn’t add in the bacon for the extra chewiness…but tempeh could work as well, I’ll bet!
i need to get some kabocha, but first, i need to get a knife that will cut it open!
soooo many good eats! i bought a kabocha squash today, cant wait to have it
ur dishes always looks so good, i am in awe of how beautiful u are, ur smile in the first photobooth pic omg ur so freaking cute and pretty! ur teeth are so white and perf jeez 
happy friday and have a wonderful weekend beautiful.
Oats with bananas mashed in, Asian pear , biscotti and cashew butter…yum,!! that bowl of oatmeal is like art, and sounds and looks so good! okay
xo
maya
Your food looks amazing. All of it. Just wonderful. The apples layin across the toast w/ cinnamon though, I think you had me there
Thanks for stoppin by my bloggie lately and sayin hi, very nice and I popped you in my googlereader so now I can keep up with you too 
averie
Those cookies look yummy! What a nice surprise!
Those pancakes look amazing! So professional and creative!
And how do you cut up your apples so good?? your a pro!!
hmm again everything looks so good.
thank you for that little inspirational talk about yourself. i always love reading your blog and remembering that food is medicine and not our enemy!!
viel liebe kuesschen an dich
xx
I’m glad you realize you have other priorities important to you (like taking care of another being’s LIFE xD) than what many young people expect. I’ve always had trouble connecting with people my own age, but I seem perfectly fine with small children or older people.
And we learn to be okay with those sides of our selves.
Your waffles are art!
Glad you got some fro-yo! I hope it works its way into your morning
Girlie wirlie, matilda is so dang cute. Glad you are feeling more like yourself – it’s hard to go through phases where we don’t really recognize ourselves but I think it’s human nature to do so and it’s lovely to pull away from it with good perspectives…basically you rule.
I love edamame too! Always makes me so happy at sushi restaurants when they bring you a big salted dish of them! Yum.
Loving the jerk tempeh too – great idea.xx
Awww, thanks for the shoutout but really – I’m a terrible baker. I can’t even follow a recipe and somehow wing it, I guess.
Good lord, lots of kabocha action right here. I sooo love your creations.
Matilda’s look at you can only mean so much. Sometimes, just staring at our dogs’ eyes make me cry! I think they have more expressive eyes than humans.
“I enjoy the feeling that I get from knowing that I’m flourishing again and walking down the street with my head up high and shoulders back ready to take on whatever is ahead of me.” – Go Katharina! This statement just made my day.
Dear Katharina!
Greetings from Shizuoka, Japan!
Thank you so much for visiting and commenting on my blog!
I didn’t knw Asian pears/”Nashi” in Japanese could prepared this way!
As we are in full season right now, you gave me an idea!
Thank you so much!
Incidentally I just posted a new article on a “forgotten” vegetable!
Cheers,
Robert-Gilles
http://shizuokagourmet.wordpress.com/
how i am behind on two katharina posts i do not know – LOVE the photobooth, haha! me and my friends played around with that last night. instant smiles!
i am loving the toasted kabocha seeds, that jerk tempeh and the date-tamarind goodness. i heart tamarind. love all the eats – per usual.
i am glad you seem to be finding yourself again. don’t worry, i feel like life is a progression of finding yourself. in and out you go, but in the end, it will all come together
Why is your food always so gorgeous??!
And seriously, where do you get inspiration for all your meals? Some other blogs?? Everything is just so creative and looks so delicious!
I would love to try your version of the grilled cheese!
And i’m with you girl. I love to have fun but I also enjoy some relaxing nights after tough, busy days! I just feel like i’m being responsible too, but at this age…it’s hard for some to comprehend! You’re doing great though…hope you had a great Monday girl! xoo