Hello hello there! I am so happy to say that these past few days have been awesome. I think it’s the whole mentality I’m trying to maintain to get me through the winter. It was actually the title for a recent post of mine, “life is what you make of it.” The winter doesn’t have to suck the life out of me (okay I’m being dramatic here), but instead I focus on what I’m doing now and all the positives of this holiday season. And all your answers really stuck with me and reminded me of so many things I have to smile about. Don’t we all?
Here are few of my reasons, inspired by some of you, in the past couple of days.
A different version of frozen yogurt
I took a container of So Delicious coconut milk yogurt and stuck it in the freezer.
Two cookies for good measure!
The night I received the package I had a couple of Holly’s homemade vegan pumpkin molasses cookies. Wow! These were so good, I’m glad she shared her recipe.
Inspired by two very special ladies.
The other day I saw that Maya and Eliza had each made a bowl of gingerbread-inspired oats. Do I need to explain? This is why I love breakfast. When I’ve had a delicious breakfast then I know it’s going to be a good day.
On my day off from classes I felt like dressing-up.
One of my favorite scarves - it makes me feel like Mozart.
And a skirt I should wear more often.
Along with some dark grey tights and red Mary Janes flats.
I had recently gotten a ton of basil.
So I decided to make a pesto. Rather than using raw pine nuts I toasted them first and it really made a difference in the flavor.
Afternoon snack
These are the Apple Grahams that came in the package Holly sent me. I’ve tried them plain, with the medley jam she also sent me, pumpkin butter, dipped in Sugar Cookie tea, and pumpkin spice soymilk. I have yet to crumble them on a nice warm bowl of oatmeal.
Almost forgot about lunch!
For lunch I tried another Gardein product. This time it was the chick’n scallopini. I really liked how they lightly-seasoned these, and they were also a really nice size. There are some vegetarian products out there that give such small portions and that can be frustrating. I decided to cook up the rest of cauliflower and chick’n scallopini in a Sweet Pepper and Coconut cooking sauce. Served with Nishiki rice. So good that even my little Moofia toy wanted some.
I recently picked up a new item at the grocery store.
What could it be? A rutabaga! I’m pretty sure I’ve never tried one before. My darling darling, Brooke, said this was one veggie I needed to try. She recommended to try them with cranberries, so of course I listened! I roasted the rutabaga and an apple with sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. I also had a Tofurky Kielbasa decorated with ketchup, beer-brewed mustard, and a bit of sweet relish. Yum! I definitely was looking up more rutabaga recipes after this.
This was a special bowl of oatmeal...
In Brooke’s survey one of the questions was, “bowl of hot cereal you have been wanting to try.” And I answered a banana rum cake-inspired oatmeal. Lynn thought it sounded good too, so I decided to make it! I made my way to the liquor store and got a miniature bottle of Captain Morgan’s spiced rum. I did not prepare my oatmeal as I usually do because I additionally cooked it with a couple spoonfuls of spiced rum and a bruleed banana. I topped it with a sliced banana, some pecans, New Morning Honey Grahams, and a ZenSoy banana pudding cup.
I even mixed spiced rum in the banana pudding!
I wanted to be drunk for my Taoism class! Kidding of course!
I hadn't worn this blazer in ages!
Lunch was surprisingly yummy.
I wanted to try out something different for the wee bit of kale I had left. It was just enough to help make this sandwich (I just boiled it). I assembled the sandwich with French Meadow Bakery’s gluten-free sandwich bread, cashew butter, kale, and pumpkin butter. This was a new combination I thought of and wanted to try out; I think some onion jam would’ve definitely sealed the deal, but this was delicious as well. I had some of the leftover hummus from Brittany’s sandwich recipe – perfect for the broccoli!
Bright and early on a Saturday!
Since I have to wake up really early on a Saturday morning (and I hadn’t gotten home on Friday till 4:30 am), I just want as much sleep as I can get. So when I woke up I quickly put my breakfast together. I tried another 18 Rabbits flavor that was sent to me; that morning I decided to try the “Nibble a Sultana” bar. I had it with a container of vanilla Greek yogurt, a diced apple, and cinnamon. I’ve seen sultanas baked with apples in little tarts. This bar didn’t have that same perfect granola-y flavor the other one had. It was okay, but I probably wouldn’t buy it for myself.
Carrots and rutabaga mash + sandwich
With the rest of my rutabaga I followed Brooke’s advice again and made a mash out of it! I stumbled upon this recipe and I knew it would be nothing short of delicious. However, I ended up sprinkling on some pumpkin pie spice and mixed some coconut oil in as well. This had me licking my bowl clean. The sandwich was inspired by a local coffee-shop item on their menu. It had my homemade basil pesto, Gardein chick’n scallopini, roasted red peppers, and goat cheese. Wow! Do any of you ever recreate restaurant recipes?
I just had to!
After going on a long walk excursion with a friend I came home to work on my project.
And I got kind of side-tracked...
Okay, really side-tracked!
Then I finally got back to work.
Then, next thing you know dinnertime rolled around! I had become so focused that I had totally lost track of time.
Yin and Yang
I made sweet and sour lentils and had it with leftover Nishiki rice and coconut oil.
Korean-Russian Carrot Salad
I’ve had this recipe saved for a really long time and totally forgot about it! This tasted very different from what I usually eat, sweet and spicy, but it was a very pleasant change.
Later that night I ended up going to some of my friends’ art exhibit and met up with another friend. Afterwards we went to a birthday celebration and eventually I came back home and I woke up with two thoughts on my mind. “I have on last night’s makeup” and “April’s pumpkin French toast sticks.”
An example of a perfectly delicious Sunday breakfast.
April’s recipe also calls for a peanut butter frosting. I changed it around a bit and made it vegan by omitting the eggs, and used Pumpkin Spice soymilk (highly recommended!!!) and a thickening agent. I used two thick slices of Rudi’s 100% Whole Wheat bread. The toppings include: diced apple, more pumpkin pie spice, and some Apple & Maple syrup. This breakfast was such a great way to start a beautiful day.
Well now I’m off to enjoy the sun and walk to the Farmer’s Market with Matilda. I hope you all had a relaxing and fun weekend! I’ll leave you all with a clip from a new hit TV series aka a video recording I made:
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Original Video – More videos at TinyPic
Much love!
Polaroids! Ggosh I haven’t seen those in ages. I used to love how you could see the picture instantly… but I guess now we can do that anyway.
You always have such beautiful pictures, they make everything look that much yummier! I’m especially loving that mash – I like winter squash mashes the best.
STOP BEING SO CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN!!
WHY? WHY? Why does everything look SO good! I adore the ying&yang dish. It would be so hard for me to eat it in fear of ruining it!
My sister always freezes her Yoplaits yogurt and it comes out like ice cream!
All those oats look fantastic! What was in the gingerbread one??
And your french toast looks fantastic! Yum! What thickening agent did you use?
I’ve already made my seasonal soy nog oats, but gingerbread oatmeal is definitely going to be next on my list! Thanks for sharing
THAT sunday breakfast looks amazing. i think i want all of your eats + fashion sense. i love your style!! AND my yogurt frozen
You are the slammiest dresser! Love the scarf and it DOES have a Mozart flair to it!
Katharina – you posses so much beauty and talent in such a vast array of things.. from your clothing (that scarf, oh my gawwwwwd!) to your food to photography. You are a very gifted girl. Thank you for sharing your beauty with us!
Wow girl. What a post.
First, I missed holly’s cookies and those look amazing.
And April’s french toast sticks and your take on PB frosting…divine.
Your food looks gorg, you photograph everything so lovely, and everything just looks amazing
xoxo
loved this post my love! amazing eats and so many amazing inspirations! that gingerbread oats look amazing!
love u! and those pumpkin french toast sticks omg look so good! u are such a talented lil chef! as liz said stop being so creative in the kitchen!! lol.. 
and love the Polaroids and all the fashion! u have the best taste in food fashion style and not to mention, ur just too cute and funny! ur posts always brighten my day 
love u!
xoxox
maya
i love you. i love all your outfits! and i love your Polaroids!
pumpkin silk, i must get that soon…
yours looks fab! love making gingerbread inspired oatmeal…
i still have a few left from the package they sent me, i think i shall do that tomorrow….
we can make this holiday season amazing!
i have a polaroid camera, but i need film for it….
and that video, your voice is so cute
well any ways, ahhh gingerbread oats
and Brooke’s rutabaga! looks amazing, never had rutabaga before but i must try it, i always loved Brookes recipe, and we have the same taste buds haha…
18rabbit bars, great thinking with the yogurt
and i am so happy that you are feeling a bit more positive about the holidays, its all what we make of it, right?
love you to bits
xx
Eliza
So many yummy inspired eattss. Well done, all around.
As for re-creating restaurant food, I’m constantly trying to re-create dishes, sandwiches, salads etc of food I eat frequently. (Sometimes I end up doing a better version- and I don’t even have to leave the house! But other times.. ah, nothing can beat the real thing.)
Your outfits are fantastic and the scarf is inspirational!
I used to always buy a spicy carrot salad when I lived by a Ukranian deli in Toronto and I always thought it tasted Korean! Where did you find the recipe? I used to eat it almost daily and miss it so much!!!
Your ying yang lentils are priceless as well, you inspire in so many ways.
Gorgeous pictures my love! That scarf is breathtaking! where did you get it? I love having clothes that make you feel wonderous! like a new person
I love the ying and yang of your rice.
your food creations always always amaze me.
xo
gorgeous! hi! ive missed you this weekend. but this post of yours is the perfect end to my sunday night!
wow so many new foodie adventures
first off, i love gingerbread oatmeal, its one of my favorites. molasses adds so much flavor and iron!
and rutabaga!!! im so glad you enjoyed this awesome autumn root. your beautiful cran-apple-ruta dish looks extra yummy! and ill have to try your mash this weekend (with our leftovers from thanskgiving). lol i always tend to eat roasted carrots with my mashed rutabaga. they make a great duet.
oh your sunday morning! divine. i wish i was in vt so i could have eaten vegan pumpkin french toast, and ventured to the farmers market with you + matilda. so much fun we would have had! (ps. ive tried pumpkin spice silk in vegan pumpkin french toast! so good! like dessert. i need to make that again…maybe this thursday…luckily my recipe is linked on my blog lol.)
love you, girly! hope you have a relaxing monday.
XO brookey
bahahah! i agree with liz! stop making me jealous of not being there and feasting on your amazing food. i wouldn’t even bother if i had to go to the hospital afterwards because my stomach couldn’t tolerate something
at least i got to enjoy the amazing food you made!
oh and i have this really amazing idea for gingerbread oats. you need to cook them in yogi tea. you know the one that smells like gingerbread already from the packaging. i tried it today and it’s amazing. oh and you should look out for Lebkuchen gewuerz. maybe your mum can bring it back from germany. i was lucky and found some in the german shop here. it’s fantastic!
aww i’m getting you all excited now right? haha i know you !!!
love you meine suesse
xoxo
Mmm…loving all of this! Can I come over?;)
How original: that homemade froyo!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
I’m loving all of the eats! Bloggers have such great ideas don’t they (you included!!)?!
I love the idea of freezing your yogurt – so clever! Your breakfasts always look so stunning my sweet – can’t get enough of them! I wish I could be that creative in the morning but usually my brain is still deadened with sleep!
Oh and I am wearing a gray blazer that I haven’t worn in ages today too
AWESOME EATS! I love that grey coat too! so adorable!!!
you always have such wholesome looking eats!!!
and don’t worry- I am queen of procrastination/getting side-tracked! I can ALWAYS find something to do!
HAPPY MONDAY, K!
AWESOME EATS! I love that grey coat too! so adorable!!!
you always have such wholesome looking eats!!!
and don’t worry- I am queen of procrastination/getting side-tracked! I can ALWAYS find something to do!
HAPPY MONDAY, K!
Gasp! These eats are all ridiculously delicious looking!
I love the look of your gingerbread inspired oats.
And that photograph of you holding up the polaroid!
I am so bummed that the film was discontinued… I am saving the few rolls I have left for special occasions. So sad!
Hope your weekend was wonderful,
by the look of your eats though it seems though it was!
Love the scarf, by the way
<3Karina
yummers – awesome you made that banana rum cake oats….
ummm pumpkin spice soymilk? that sounds ridiculously awesome!
how are all the goods? i haven’t tried the crackers or chocolate before, so you will have to let me know how they are. you are adorbs as always – love ya!
This food looks really great. And I hope that you have a happy Thanksgiving. Take care.
It just gets better and better.
The cauli cooked with Sweet Pepper and Coconut cooking sauce..wow. delish.
As does the GF bread and kale action.
And all the beautiful photos. WEll done, K. Well done!
xoxo
Banana rum and gingerbread oats? YUM! I need to try those combos! I love all the bloggie inspired eats
Happy Wednesday, my dear!
this popped back up in my reader! but i read it awhile back~random. i loved holly’s cookies. so good. sorry i have not been a commenting blog friend lately~i HAVE been reading via blackberry but it is so hard to comment from there. love you! have a great weekend babe!