Thank you all for your kind and honest words! It seems I’m not alone, but I didn’t think I was really. There’s a condition called “seasonal depression” – I think this feeling, however, is totally natural. All seasons have a purpose and I think our personalities go with the cycle. We rest, recuperate, and comfort our souls. Then when spring and summer come around we’re bursting at the seams with energy and vibrance!
Anyway, let’s eat, shall we?
- Friday night dinner
I didn’t do much cooking for dinner, but it was so good nonetheless. I baked some kale chips and served them with Gardein “chicken” tenders, and Newman’s Own Organic pretzel sticks. To polish it off I had an Original Hermit topped with sunflower seed butter – yum! The Gardein “chicken” tenders were actually quite delicious and I do recommend them. They didn’t taste like those freaky mock meats that make me do a double take on the ingredient list. You can find them at Whole Foods, but I’d also check your local grocer as well just in case.
This is my sketchbook... or actually where I write down my ideas for projects.
I’m currently working on creating a peaceful environment for myself. Not necessarily something that’s sacred, but somewhere I just feel comfortable. I’ll be setting it up, documenting, and doing things with it in open fields around my area.
Up close and personal!
Crispy apples
For breakfast I prepared a bowl of Brown Rice Cream with raisins. After I was done cooking it, I topped it with a chopped apple, pumpkin pie spice, NuNaturals vanilla liquid, Artisana almond butter. It was missing something though. That’s when it hit me! Maple & Apple syrup! Personally, I wasn’t too keen on Artisana’s almond butter.
I decided to get a little fashionable for my Saturday morning class with a pair of cool tights!
My breakfasts never hold me over for the entire class which goes till 11:40. And I always forget to bring a snack! Today someone did a presentation on Japanese gore films, and I was still ravenous despite seeing all that gross stuff. Oh my gosh I can’t even explain how disgusting the clips the guy showed us were. I can usually handle things like that, but this was too much. Anyway! When I got home I knew just what I wanted to make. I put on a big band record on the turn table, and me and my roommate prepared our lunches side-by-side.
With all the bread I have now, I knew I'd be making a sandwich.
I cooked some portobello slices, red onion, garlic, and tomato in a balsamic vinegar reduction with black pepper. Then I spread on some goat cheese on one slice and toasted it all in the oven. I used two slices of French Meadow Bakery’s new Our Daily Bread – awesome sandwich bread! Once it was done toasting I snuck in some basil for the finish touch. For the kale I wanted to try something different. I sautéed it in olive oil with raisins, toasted pine nuts, sherry cooking wine, and seasoned it well. Afterwards I grated some parmesan on top. Delicious! Delicious! Yum yum yum.
So freaking good.
I was actually browsing for awesome sandwich ideas and I stumbled upon this little gem I thought I’d share with all of you: Vegetarian Sandwiches to Take to Work .
And to finish my meal I savored a piece of chocolate.
I decided to try the Orange Dark Chocolate sample the people at Newman’s Own Organics sent me. This was delightful! I usually have a hard time letting things just melt away in my mouth – like hard candy. But chocolate has never been a problem, especially if it’s a good one!
Today I ran a lot of errands and got some things to start my latest sculpture project. Dinner time rolled around and I whipped out The Accidental Vegetarian once again.
Gnocchi with wild mushroom and rosemary ragu
Simon Rimmer be my best friend, please?
This was, too put it lightly, absolutely delectable. I didn’t use regular red wine when making the ragu, since I only had sangria on hand. But it’s safe to say that the sangria did no harm. The hint of citrus might’ve amped the flavors a bit – but in a good way.
So this leads me to today’s truth…
I love food!
Your meals always look SO well-put-together. I absolutely love how you can make food into art.
Melt-in-your-mouth chocolate… there are no words
those rights are killer! I live in leggings during the colder winter months — they’re so comfy and a perfect pairing for boots!
LOVE your fashion sense, girl.
AMEN to that- i love food too!!
how are those newman owns pretzel sticks?? i saw those today.. almost bought them!
lol. i think we might have something in common.
Your a foodie, i’m a chef.
You really seem to know what you’re talking about.
ME TOOO!! i love food. and we all should because without we’d all die. i love your gnocchi. i haven;t had any in ages. well time to make some soon then
hope you have a fabulous sunday and let me know what other kind of recipes i should send you via FB okay?
xoxo
love you
I LOVE food too
Your eats are so beautiful…your back in the game girl! lol
Maggie
That Ragu sauce looks awesome! And i had never seen that cookbook, thanks for showing the pic of it!
Yes, food is a wonderful, wonderful thing!
The stability ball exercise you described actually sounds kind of fun. Do you know what it’s called so I can look it up? I’m a visual person, so seeing a video will probably help me fully understand it. Thanks for the tip!
girly-girl! you must add ”publish a cookbook” to your list of life goals! you are amazing! i would love to be your roommate
your kale dish looks fantastic! pine nuts and golden raisins pair so well. and french meadow bakery! fabulous. im so lucky to live nearby. come to mn soon so we can dine/shop/play together!? the vegan vanilla cupcakes are beyond. i swear.
i love you gorgeous! hope your sunday is swell!
xo brooke
ps. your personal peaceful environment plan looks so intriguing! please keep us updated!
just found your blog and I love it!
I love food too, truthfully!
The tights! I love it:)
And really, it’s no surprise you like food…I know I’d LOVE your cooking! Your sauteed kale, YUM:)
xoxo
i love those tights! and i love food too!!!
I love food too!:)
And all the eats in this post, jumm!
Hope you’ll have a great week!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
No lies, this: “They didn’t taste like those freaky mock meats that make me do a double take on the ingredient list.” is music to my ears! I can’t stand biting into something “veggie” and thinking I’m eating real meat.
That sandwich combo sounds fantastic! Woohoo for food
Ohhh I love food too. I’m so thankful for the blogosphere and the ability to share the love/passion with so many other people. Yay.
that sandwich sounds to die for! Your food is wonderful
Okay please dish the dirt on where you got those tights?! I need them in my life. That is how I will get over my SAD (seasonal affective disorder) – I totally suffer from it during the short, grey days of winter. Love you girl, keep your chin up. x
I love food too! And I love fake chicken nuggets (Boca’s are AMAZING btw!).
Katharina, I’m sharing your love for food. I’m finding it almost hard to believe that you can have an ounce of depression when you’re enjoying such good food! But of course our moods are not always contingent with our eats…
Either way…I know how you’re feeling right now…I seem to have chronic PMS these days…
Love this post! I see you call for Sherry cooking wine. Ever hear of this stuff: http://www.academiewines.com? They blend tasty wines for gourmet cooking. And you can drink ‘em too!
Just thought I’d share. Keep up the great posts!
And we love you, Katharina! BTW, do you embroider? I’ve always wanted to learn but never have learned how. Your gnocchi with wild mushroom and rosemary ragu looks heavenly! Your food always looks amazing
I loved this post!!
like youuuu loves!
so amazing
and your tights, are faaantastic!
your food always looks so simple. delicious. and well put together. I have mad love for you and your blog. and for food.;)