Monthly Archives: March 2010

Kaia Foods Review

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Friends, I have an over due review to share with you all! The kind people over at Kaia Foods sent me a sampler package with various things to try. But before I jump right in, I want to share some information about them with you.

“Keep it simple. We believe that’s the key to proper nutrition. All we do to make our foods is sprout, season, mix, and puree organic ingredients before dehydrating them at low temperatures. The nutrients and great taste stay intact and aren’t processed away.”

They actually launched the first-ever raw fruit leather, and they also have other products that are ‘raw’, certified organic, gluten-free, and vegan. Moreover, 1% of sales go to food aid programs such as The Hunger Project and The UN’s World Food Programme.

Not your ordinary sunflower seeds…

I was sent these two sprouted sunflower seed flavors to try out:

Cocoa Molé and Sweet Curry

The Cocoa Molé flavor was a bit too earthy for me and I didn’t quite catch the cayenne pepper in there. But the Sweet Curry flavor… whoa mama! Okay, so it was hard for me not to finish off the bag. These were so wonderfully flavorful and delicious. I could eat them alone all day long, but sprinkling them on dishes is also a great idea. Seriously, who knew such little seeds could deliver flavor with such a bang!

Next up...

The wondrous fruit leathers. Check out these flavors!

These are not like most fruit leathers that are sticky, but I think that’s because these are dehydrated at low temperatures and have no added sugars or concentrates.

Lime Ginger: I didn’t like this one at all! I don’t know, something was just really off tasting about this for me.

Goji Orange: I didn’t like this one either, but it was more palatable than the previous flavor. I think these two were just not my taste because the other flavors were much more to my liking.

Spiced Apple: This was yummy and definitely not too sweet. This was like eating an apple with pumpkin pie spice, only in fruit leather form! Perfect for on the go and much more compact than an apple.

Vanilla Pear: Okay so I saved this one for last because it was my favorite. It’s got a really simple ingredient list and it’s obvious what it tasted like. When do pears and vanilla not go well together? Yeah, that’s what I thought!

If they come out with more flavors, I’d be interested to see what they are because these flavor combinations are already intriguing.

Last but not least...

I tried the Cocoa Bliss buckwheat granola. This was also a bit too earthy for me, but better than the sunflower seeds. The raisins and various nuts made it better than the sunflower seeds. Anyhow, I really love the texture of this granola though. After looking at the other buckwheat granola flavors: Dates & Spices, and Raisin Cinnamon… those sound more to my liking. If I saw them in the store I would definitely give them a try.

I hope you all enjoyed the review! If you’re interested you can find their products in stores nationwide such as Whole Foods, and online at their website. I hope all of you started your week off on the right side of the bed!

Soaking Up the Last Rays of Sun

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Here’s the right way to start every day!

Coconut smoothies and cheers to the sun gods!

On my last day I managed to write a paper and work on my tan.

Finally, when I could take the sun no longer I headed inside to get ready. My mom really wanted to take my friend to this German restaurant that has become one of her favorite places for dining out. I think it’s partly because everyone that works there loves her. In fact, when we were seated, a few of them came up to our table to say hello and they just wanted to talk to my mom hahaha.

I spy... lots of delicious German chocolates.

She made a new friend!

Welcome to Old Heidelberg! Wilkommen!

Weird lighting, but as long as I'm with my soul sista' it's all good.

My dad with the star of the restaurant.

Prost! Those are just .5 L

Fresh bread = THE BIGGEST BOMB.COM

My friend got a salad with her meal.

I thought it was cool how it was like a sample of various German salad dishes. They were only missing the famous German potato salad. Anyway, the vegetarian choices on the menu were barely existent, but I managed to find something. And it did not disappoint.

The BEST potato pancakes I've ever had, and I swear the sour cream was housemade.

Potato pancakes, latkes, whatever you want to call them… are one of my favorite things! So saying these were the best is saying a lot.

German Beef Rouladen with mashed potatoes and a bread dumpling

Paprika Rahm Schnitzel: red and green peppers, sour cream sauce, and rice

Bavarian Lamb Shank served with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes

Then it was time for the desserts!

Rote Gruetze with Vanilla Sauce

One of my favorite desserts... carrot cake!!!

An adorable plate: freshly baked apple strudel with vanilla sauce and ice cream

Oh my gosh I was so happy to be eating delicious food from my home country. Not to mention, Germans do desserts right. They’re not overly sweet, instead they let the actual flavors shine through. I love that about their desserts. It brought back so many memories and we told my friend of all the traditions they have over there. I’m so glad to be going back there this summer. Can’t be away from home for too long, can we? Eventually we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and made our way down to Miami for our last night of south Florida fun!

Showin' our tanned legs!

We ended up going to this place my mom wanted to go to that had an intense tropical theme going on. There were performances in two areas going the whole night. It was neat to see them re-enact the Brazilian carnival with the beautiful and barely there costumes. There were also men dancing their hearts out, and I actually thought they were much better than the women… and not just because they were better looking. We decided to end the night pretty early around 1 or 2 am since I had to start driving the next day. Was it really almost time to leave? The beginning of the week seemed to go by slowly, but towards the end time just seemed to speed up.

Started the day off with OIAJ, diced apple, and a strawberry & honey compote.

On our last day, my friend and I went to an incredibly relaxing yoga class in the morning. We thought it would be good to get some stretching in for our long car trip ahead.

My parents surprised us with German goodies when we came back from the class.

That marzipan you see there is not just any marzipan. Oh no siree! It is marzipan with apple, cinnamon, and bread. It was so good! Kinder, Milka, and Yogurette are my favorite chocolates ever! I even posed with the Milka cow stuffed-animal when I was a baby. What can I say… Germans love their chocolate enough to have glamour shots with one of the mascots. That cheese you see in the back was also tasty and I made a sandwich for myself for the road with the bread they brought back as well.

They also brought back quark--which is like a fresh cheese.

Lunch before we hit the road.

Last of the lentils + rice + coconut oil. Also had some of that bread with the cheese, tomato, fresh basil, and black pepper. On the side I had a big fresh salad!

Matilda left Florida with a new look

Bye bye Florida... for now!!!

And on our way back Kelley was able to relive some of her childhood when we stopped at Checkers

We made it safe and sound by the next day, and we belted out to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” with the windows down driving up a busy road to let everyone know that the girls were back in town!

Still Soaking Up the Sun, Con’t.

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I just realized that I forgot to reveal the truth! Drum roll please! Okay… so the truth is that I made out with one of the guys from my favorite band. Oh man, that is a long story to tell and I smile whenever I think about it. I definitely thought I was all that and a bag of potato chips after that hehe.

So back to the recap. The next day was cloudy and rainy so I decided to take Kelley to some specialty stores. But before that I whipped myself up a quick lunch.

Veggies, avocado, and a filled tortilla.

My parents had the sprouted tortillas which I’ve never tried before. I was surprisingly satisfied with these. Sometimes those kinds of tortillas taste too “brown” for me, you know what I mean?

Filled with the leftover curried fava beans my mom made, veggies, and Wisconsin cheddar

Then we hit the markets.

First we stopped at the Italian market. Look at all that pasta!
We also stopped by the Latin food store and I got some things for her to try: oatmeal milk and a sweet treat (cream with guava)

She really liked both of them! These are old favorites for me. Before my mom came home from work I decided to take Kelley to a secret location that a lot of locals don’t know about. I discovered the little spot back when I was learning how to drive and I was just curious to where this seemingly endless road would take me.

Who knew the everglades were so close to me!
Sunsets are beautiful here.
And watch out, you may bump into a alligator too.

Then we headed home for dinner.

Part of our dinner that night were some fried sweet plantains that we find at one of the markets.

And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but avocados are a staple at my family’s table! The next day my mom took off work and she wanted to make something special for us! She went through practically all of our cookbooks the night before to find some recipes to make.

She prepared an Indian feast for us, not leaving out the mango lassi of course!
Get in my belly!
We went to a museum to see our friends perform.
Two lovely ladies!
Goofy!!
We were happy that we got to wear our long dresses!
Dance!
They’re from Brazil and you can tell that they’ve got the rhythm and beats in their blood.
Samba! It’s actually one of my favorite dances.
They are such great performers.

I use to take dance lessons with the man in the picture. He’s so incredible and even knows how to belly dance! He knows how to shake his hips better than any one I know. But aside from that, this couple has so much love inside of them and it just radiates through their smiles.

Group shot!
Later that night we headed out with some more friends!
I was so happy to be with my two best friends–in the same place!!!
She came out to party with us even though she had work in the morning! She’s a trooper.
All of us, but my mom got cut out!
There she is!

Pilar ordered the Vesuvius Cake: Brownie Crust, New York Style Cheesecake, Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Truffle,and Chocolate Mousse Topped with Chopped Walnuts and White Chocolate Chips

You know I helped my homegirl out! The music was good and you know what means. It was time to dance. There was no one out on the dance floor, but who cares. As soon as we started shakin’ what our mama’s gave us, a crowd of people came and joined in on the fun. Seriously, how can someone just sit there when there’s music to be danced to and a dance floor? But at least it doesn’t take much to wake some people up!

My next post will be the final recap of my break in Florida. I miss it already! I’ve been calling my mom every night… actually that’s something I did anyway hehe. I hope everyone is enjoying spring so far!!! Don’t you just love seeing everything come to life?

Still Soaking Up the Sun

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Where has the time gone? It’s seeming to escape me! Anyway let me get down to business. Where was I? Ah yes, recapping my spring break in Florida!

Lots of overnight oats were had, and my friend even tried it (and liked it!)

She also started putting nut butters in her oats! There’s no looking back now hehe.

I made my overnight oats with something new my parents had in their fridge.

At first when I tried the Wild Wood Soyogurt itself I didn’t really like it. But it started to grow on me, and it definitely didn’t taste funky in my overnight oats. So the oats were soaked in this yogurt with raisins, rose water, and cinnamon. Topped in the morning with coconut milk, pistachios, and a sliced banana.

Packed sandwiches, nuts, and some veggies for the beach.

It was so windy that my sandwich became a real “sand”wich! After the beach we headed to the local discount healthfood store.

I got some new things to try...

I also snagged a can of organic pumpkin puree since it’s rare to find one nowadays. I also finally got myself some of my favorite candies… Ginger People’s crystallized ginger m’mmm. I love letting these soak in my tea. I also spotted the Luna protein bar and I got the flavor that appealed to me the most (cookie dough). It was okay, but I don’t think I’m really into the texture of those kinds of bars. I’m more of a whole ingredient bar lady. All of the other goodies are new to me except for the coconut water.

I also stocked my freezer up. Can you tell I'm a college girl?

My favorite sandwich bread for PB&Js!

My friend couldn't decide which chocolate to get so I made it easy for her and exclaimed at this one! SOOO DELICIOUS!

I just had to marvel at the colors!

I had the leftover curried tofu my mom made, a sweet potato with cinnamon and coconut oil, and a salad with a homemade blueberry vinaigrette. Delicious thrown together meal.

More overnight oats + aloe vera on the side

Toppings: coconut milk, Kashi GoLean Crunch, sliced banana, pistachios, and a strawberry compote with honey

Holy yum! I loved the various textures in this breakfast and the fresh flavors. Strawberries and bananas are a fruit combination that never fail.

I made us a nice lunch before we headed out to go shopping!

This turned out to be so flavorful!

I wanted to fix the tofu so it’d be like orange chicken. I found a recipe that sounded good, then added some veggies and cooked some egg noodles. Then we were out!

`

I took her to Paul, a french bakery franchise.

Rainforest Cafe can get a little crazy... especially if I'm there!

Let’s just say I had a lot of fun going around the store with the hand puppets they sell. What can I say? My imagination is still going strong.

Tried on an amazing Alexander Wang dress.

We had a very successful shopping trip, and left the mall elated with the "shopper's high".

Check it out!!!

We got home and had dinner.

Mom made rotkohl (red cabbage) with apples, pan-heated parathas, avocado, and I quickly fried some tofu with a Key Lime Ginger sauce.

And while I was in Florida I enjoyed dates (organic on sale for $1!) with the cashew-macadamia butter I made for my mom.

I have to admit, that date looks inappropriate, but I’ll just leave it at that haha. Anyway, I’m still not done recapping my break down in Florida. So hold on to your seats because there’s more to come. I just hope my next post is sooner than later! Next thing you know it’s going to be April already.

Warmer Days

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Greetings earthlings!

Thank you Erin for passing this award on to me awhile ago. It’s about time I get around to passing it on to a few other creative writers, wouldn’t you say?

Here are the rules:
1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you.
4. Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth.
5. Nominate seven “Creative Writers” who might have fun coming up with outrageous lies.
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.

1. One time I started a fight in the girl’s bathroom in high school.
2. I have never worn green socks.
3. I always drool uncontrollably at the sight of a handsome guy.
4. I made out with one of the band members of my favorite bands.
5. I use to be a big “witch”.
6. I’ve eaten cow intestines.
7. I hate avocados.

Which one’s the truth?
I’m passing this on to these ladies:
Karina

Jess

another awesome Jessica

Lauren

Jenny

Katie

and last but in no way least, Holly

I asked my friend, Kelley, if she wanted me to make her oats in the morning.

I cooked her oats in almond milk and cinnamon. Then I swirled in some coconut oil and topped it off with banana slices and mango. I also spooned on a bit of Naturally More peanut butter. I’ve never tried this kind and it was very yummy! It wasn’t completely creamy and not super crunchy either.

I opted for something more refreshing.

I opted for granola, Greek yogurt, and Ezekiel toast. My parents didn’t have butter in the house (what?!) except for ghee aka clarified butter. It has a different taste than butter, but I liked it!

Ghee is considered sacred in India.
Mom made lunch again!

She wanted to try a new grain she bought at the store–amaranth. She made curry chicken for everyone and a tofu version for me. The amaranth itself was plain, but mixed with the tofu curry was much better and gave an interesting texture.

In Florida, avocado is a must with every meal.

Then we got ready to go out!

I think Matilda felt left out.
We went out to go dancing.

There was an artist painting a large mural that night in one of the dance rooms. They also had dancers that were painted from head-to-toe, a drag queen performance, people dressed up as squires, and many more theatrics. It was so much fun. We ended up meeting the artist’s agent and the club owner, then danced around in VIP till we decided to head home–daylight savings time hit us!

They took a couple pictures of us.

Lunch was a team effort.

I stir-fried some kale, mushrooms, and zucchini in a garlic & ginger paste + Soyvay sauce. My mom made her specialty curried fava beans in coconut milk. I also had some toast with peanut butter and a slice of Cabot’s cheddar.

Then we headed to Calle Ocho

Calle Ocho is basically a huge annual block party in the middle of Little Havana down in Miami. There’s lots of music, dancing, food, and people!

The crowd
Getting one of my favorite things–arepas de choclo (sweet corn cakes filled with mozzarella)
Gettin’ down
We also got sweet plantains.
My mom found some $$ on the ground–finders, keepers!
Then we were headed to south beach.
Driving down Ocean Dr. on a Sunday night.
24-Hour Diner
With a HUGE menu…
And a little market inside as well.
My adorable soul sista!

We ended up leaving because it was getting late and my mom was getting super antsy. Oi! But it was a nice little discovery, and I’m hoping to go back there one day. I hope all of you are having a wonderful week. Guess what? Tomorrow is Friday! Woo hoo!

The Great Adventure

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Hello hello and greetings from the Sunshine state! I’m going to be backtracking a bit though and showing you some new things I tried during the week before heading down south.

Inspired Breakfast

Cinnamon + cottage cheese + NuNaturals vanilla extract on an English muffin; I’ve seen many bloggers prepare this little combo a la K–I love the ring of that! I topped it with Mymoune’s Crème of Dates with Almonds. Check out the whole almond. On the other half of the English muffin I spread on some good old butter and the berry preserves Holly sent me awhile back. I also made a smoothie which entailed: hemp protein powder + blueberries + banana + almond milk. This was a simple yet so delicious breakfast.

Frozen entree worth mentioning

I tried another Amy’s frozen entree and I was not disappointed. My tummy was feeling funky earlier that week and I figured Indian food would help settle it down a bit. This was the Mattar Paneer entree and I loved that there were plenty of cumin seeds. After I snapped this picture I mixed it all together and added in some coconut oil and voila! No fuss meal.

Coconut Macadamia Ball… m’mm good

I remember on this warm and sunny day (spring is finally moving winter aside) I wanted to snack on something that reminded me of Florida. So I went for Betty Lou’s Coconut Macadamia Butter Ball, and I put it in the freezer so I could have it cold. I just love biting into these. There’s something so satisfying about biting into a yummy ball of nut butter.

Speaking of Betty Lou’s, here are some other goodies I’ve tried. Let me start off with the Krispy Bite. Holy yum!!! I think this may be my favorite little snack of theirs, and I think that’s saying a lot because I like everything hahah. But seriously, there is no eating like a turtle when I munch on these. They disappear faster than it takes me to open the wrapper up.

Close-up

Next up is the Almond Butter Ball. Doesn’t it remind you of the top of a Drumstick sundae cone? I love the denseness and it’s not overly sweet either. They also have a High-protein variation as well, but as far as taste goes… I prefer this one.

Tapping into my inner Renaissance woman.

I was actually able to go out with just this on! Hooray for warmer weather.

I always forget about these shoes!
Brought OIAJ to class the other day.

I am racking up the OIAJ, aren’t I? This was the last of my MaraNatha cashew butter and I knew how I wanted to bid it farewell–with a tropical flair. I cooked the oats with a tea masala (ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, nutmeg, and mace), banana, and almond milk. Then I threw in some mango bits. A little trick I learned is to pour a bit of hot water in the jar before you mix in the oats to soften the nut butter a bit. Then I stir it all together little by little with my special spoon (the one with the long handle). I definitely savored it because these nut butters cost an arm and a leg!!!

Road trip time!!!

This was my first time driving to Florida without my parents and it was so exciting!

Matilda can make herself comfortable anywhere.
I packed a sandwich–fontina + rosemary + sun-dried tomatoes

Speaking of sandwiches, I completely forgot that the grilled cheese sandwich included one of my latest finds–white truffle oil. So good! Anyway, this sandwich was yummy, and I was able to heat it up in the microwave at a gas station. We snack on these awesome pita chips, Sabra hummus, Pirate’s Booty, granola bars, sunflower seeds–hippie food! But whatever, we eat what we like. We drove through a torrential downpour that lasted most of the second half of the trip. Oh and there was an undercover cop that just pulled in to the highway from the side of the road and cut me off. If I didn’t move over I would’ve collided into it! But we finally made it to my parent’s place!

We finally got to my parent’s place and my mom prepared dinner.
Acorn squash, parsley, and cilantro soup
German Pan-fried potatoes + Stir-fry
Fresh fruit + Greek yogurt + cinnamon

My mom has been cooking for us a lot lately, but I’ve been helping her out too. I love cooking, but it’s nice to have someone make things for you for a change though, you know? Especially if it’s your mother’s cooking.

The weather down here has been wonderful, but the wind is not our friend. Every time we’ve gone to the beach, we’ve ended up being brutally attacked the sand. But we will return to Virginia as bronze goddesses, no doubt!

Living In a Daze, Part II

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Finally the day has come–the recap of the day of the fashion show is here!!!

Hippie food and Vogue can go together!

I finished off the last of the Udi’s Original granola (Raisins, Banana Chips, Walnuts, Cashews, Almonds, and Pistachios), with Greek yogurt, a sliced banana, Sunland’s caramel peanut butter, and drizzled coconut butter. I had to do some last minute things like waxing, exfoliating, and squeezing in some study time before the rest of my day was to be spent at rehearsal. But before I headed out, I threw together a quick lunch…

Leftovers from the Jordanian restaurant, steamed kale + butternut squash, avocado, and a sweet potato
I packed some snacks as well–bananas and a mini-jar of my favorite peanut butter.

The first run-through with the outfits.

I was a part of the first, third, and last segment so our group made the first and last impact.

Check out the killer leggings!
Then the hair and makeup team came and music started pumping!

Credit to David Lee

Quickly getting something to eat before the show…

The venue has a kitchen, so someone prepped a taco station for everyone!

Unfortunately, by the time I got there all of the guacamole was gone.

I made some great friends through the show.
And I got to hang out with some old ones as well!

Then it was time for the show to start! The room got a bit hectic and you could feel the energy buzzing. Not to mention the crowd started pouring in!!! The venue was packed and people were trying to sneak in, even. Can you believe I didn’t had an ounce of nervousness in me? I was way too excited and there was nothing that could bring me down. The moment I walked out on the runway I felt incredibly happy to be where I am. The place was packed so everyone was up by the stage, like a concert. Imagine walking out into a sea of people and feeling all their incredible energy and your own. HECK YEAH!

Credit to David Lee
Credit to David Lee

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to Todd Raviotta

Credit to David Lee
Credit to David Lee

Credit to Todd Raviotta

Credit to Todd Raviotta

Then the after party started and it was time to dance!

With my mom!

WOO

Everybody shakin' it.

Get down James Brown!

Hey Dad!

Cutie Mom dancing the night away.

My roomie was bartending!

My dad got funky and ended up having a fan club!

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

This was such a great experience and I definitely want to do things like this again!!! It was so much fun, you meet great people, wear killer clothes, and looking back on it… there was nothing negative from this whole experience at all. It was wonderful to see everyone let their personalities shine through and exude confidence, while wearing some seriously hot outfits. And why not?! Everyone should be proud of who they are and what they have to offer. Hey, I’m still living on cloud nine!

Next day I went to my parent's hotel to check it out--Edgar Allen Poe wrote a poem in this courtyard.

It was so charming!

I was still feeling sleepy from the day before.

But we headed over to a local coffeeshop to enjoy the beautiful day.

Dad paid with his allowance money hehehe.

Delicious drinks

Matilda came too!

Mom and sipping her usual order: cappuccino.

I got some good studying in before I dropped my parents off at the airport. We also walked over to the local health food store to check out their hot bar.

My yummy afternoon snack + a refreshing smoothie I brought along.

My parents don't mind their little shutterbug taking pictures of their food hehe.

Then it was time to drop them off at the airport. Usually I get a little lonely after I drop someone off at the airport, but since I had a much needed date with one of my soul sistas, there was no reason to frown. The weekend ended on a wonderful note with a heart to heart and this amazing grilled cheese sandwich…

Fontina + Roasted Red Pepper + Caramelized Shallot + Sweet Basil + Honey

The week has been full of school work and getting things back in order, and the elation still taking hold from the fashion show. I feel so accomplished and ready for spring break! Actually, later today I’m embarking on another adventure with my beautiful soul sista–ROAD TRIP TO MY PARENTS PLACE IN FLORIDA!!! Wow–so this was a crazy long post. I hope you’re all still awake!

Living In a Daze, Part I

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Hi everyone! As the title suggests, I’m going to break up the recent days in to more than one post. I still feel like my two feet have yet to hit the ground. Yes, I am feeling overwhelmed, but that isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. Why am I overwhelmed is the question. Over these past couple of days I’ve had many triumphs, adjustments, and realizations. I just feel like I’m about to start walking on new territory, but at the same time branching my roots out into familiar ones as well. It might sound confusing, and I admit it feels that way for me too! But whatever may be in store, I’m ready! And on that note, let’s jump in!

Spiced cottage cheese oats with coconut oil and peanut butter.
Ayurvedic recipe

This chili smelled divine while cooking it. The thing I love about ayurvedic recipes is that they include an array of spices that awaken different tastebuds. Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle, but I also added some diced sweet potato and coconut oil to my liking. Check out the description on the site for the chili: “smooth molasses with pungent cinnamon and smoked licorice black bean chili feels like a campfire in northern New Mexico under a new moon.” Imagine that…

Can you spy the Chinese star anise?

Operation Sneaky “Snack” cont’d included dried cranberries, butternut squash, Greek yogurt, and…
Betty Lou’s Cranberry Crave Harmony Bar; Success!

I wanted to show you all what this Betty Lou’s bar looked like. Check it out! Every time I open the wrapper I can’t help but think that it smells homemade. You know when you’re baking muffins and the sweet smell just puts you at ease? M’mm good.

Anyone ready for Florida?

That morning I had the juiciest, sweetest mango ever! Oh my gosh, just thinking about it is making me want go back to this. I had it with Greek yogurt, Udi’s Hawaiian granola (ginger-toasted macadamias, dried pineapple, and coconut flakes), and drizzled with coconut butter. Okay, so the mango alone was delicious, but all of this together… where do I begin? Ah yes, sitting on a hammock basking in the sun. But before we continue, let me put my ice cold pina colada down.

My re-worked sculpture.

Pressed mesh wire into thinner wire to make these.

This one is my favorite; it’s just so sturdy.

This looks like I'm in prison!

Alas, I’m just stylin’ the pajamas my grandma gave me, and about to enjoy OIAJ!!! Now that doesn’t sound like prison to me. Sunland’s banana peanut butter… you were so good to me!

Mixed in with a melted banana, last of the "best mango ever", crumbled honey graham, and shredded coconut.

Glorious spoonfuls of banana peanut butter with my oats.

However, OIAJ wasn’t the only exciting thing happening that morning. No, I had to get ready to pick up my mom!

The look: slouchy button-up leg warmers with boots and tights

And not your grandmother's black turtleneck dress.

For a splash of color, I pinned on a vintage flower brooch to my coat.

We came home and I quickly put together our lunches

For myself I had a Garden Herb Sunshine Burger on a bun + ketchup + pepper jelly + onion + tomato, with butternut squash and sliced pear with cinnamon and coconut butter as well.

Nom nom

And for my mom...

This almost looks like a face! She had Ezekiel toast with fried egg whites and green “stuff” on top. The green “stuff” is a quick thing I whipped up: 1 avocado + nutritional yeast + soy sauce + turmeric + a bit of water for consistency. She also had some butternut squash on the side.

My dad picked up some goodies from a nearby local Jordanian restaurant.

Everything is made fresh, and they even grind their own spices and herbs weekly. In fact, they also make a Lebanese pita bread which involves garbanzo, barley, and other flours. My dad got a vegetarian sampler for all of us, and a spiced chicken gyro for them. The sampler included hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and dolmades.

I also got to take my mom to her first First Friday Artwalk!

It was very cold for her, but she loved all the life going on. She also got to meet some friends I’ve made in college, which is really nice! Now she has a better idea of who I’m talking about when I tell her things that are going on in my life. Anyway, this is it for Part I! Stay tuned for Part II (THE FASHION SHOW!!!) I hope you all have had a wonderful past couple of days. The sun is shining so brightly–I’m ready for the warm weather to stay!

The Savory and the Sweet

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Thank you all for your two cents on my last post. So many of your inputs were so helpful and encouraging. Really, I think my confidence levels have gone up a lot since I started this blog. I just get a really awesome sense of community and genuine care in the blog-o-sphere. There are a lot of times where I imagine a giant meet-up would ensue and the world wouldn’t even know what hit it. Wabam! Anyway, I have to catch you all up on something that’s totally slipped my mind–chocolate! How did chocolate slip my mind? Maybe because it’s in my belly.

Chai Tea Milk Chocolate

Oh yes, this indeed satisfied my sweet tooth. You could taste the various spices in this creamy chocolate bar. I actually let this melt in my mouth and just let the flavors unravel.

The much anticipated Bread & Chocolate dark chocolate!

I was so eager to try this one out since it sounded so interesting and very different from the other flavors. However, I think I built my expectations up a little too high. This wasn’t bad tasting, just sort of a letdown. It was a bit too acidic for my taste but I did appreciate the texture of the bread in the chocolate. Out of all the Theo 3400 Phinney flavors I tried the Hazelnut Crunch milk chocolate was by far my favorite. The saltiness from the toffee, crunchiness from the nuts, and the sweetness from everything else all embedded in a delicious milky chocolate, just spells out amazing!

Now the last of the Newman's Own chocolates!

I finally can say that I have tried everything that the more than generous folks over at Newman’s Own sent me awhile ago. Yes indeed. Let’s start out with the Espresso dark chocolate. Honestly, this bar was not for me. It didn’t really melt in my mouth and I was expecting there to be more of an espresso taste. The flavor did hit me… eventually, it was more like the aftertaste. Now on to the Mocha milk chocolate… that one was so yummy! It really did taste like a mocha but in chocolate bar form, which means it melts in your mouth! Yum! I think my favorite ones from the chocolates are the Mocha milk chocolate and the Orange dark chocolate.

The other day I used up the last of the bag of Udi's Au Naturel granola.

I had it with yogurt, diced apple, and cinnamon sprinkled on top. On the side I had one of my favorite combos: apple + peanut butter!

A Golden Smacker

This Betty Lou’s snack is appropriately named–the taste was golden! What is a Golden Smacker exactly? It’s a patty with peanut butter covered in dark chocolate. Now where can you go wrong with that? I absolutely loved the texture of the filling and I even spotted some raisins as well. This was so delicious and satisfying to munch on. I really savored this because it was just too good to just gobble up–even though that would be easy too! More please! Betty Lou’s also has a milk chocolate flavor if that’s more your taste.

I love lentils!

I cooked these lentils using my mom’s secret recipe and adding some twists of my own–bay leaves, coconut oil, sauteed onions and garlic. However, the rest will remain a secret mwahaha! Anyway, I cooked some rice with cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods to go along with the lentils. This hit the spot! Out of all the lentils, red is my favorite by far. And  I had plenty of leftovers; perfect for a busy week. To go along with the rice and lentil combo, I steamed a buttload of kale and had some dates + ginger + cashew butter.

I bought this jar of sweet mango pickle on sale for 99 cents awhile ago, but have yet to find something to serve it with.

With the lentils? Nay. Any ideas?

Dinner on-the-go I tried something else from Amy's kitchen!

I think it’s safe to say that whoever was around me in this class was jealous because it smelled really good, and it tasted even better! Not to mention, burritos are so convenient and not messy… unless you order a mondo one at Chipotle! Luckily, in this class I do not get in trouble for eating. Sidenote: later on in this post you’ll see my solution to packing something for the class I got in trouble in.

After running some errands with my dad (yay he's in town), I came home hungry but I didn't know what to have.

Then it occured to me that there is no wrong time to have a sweet potato. Plus, I just replenished my supply and this was the last one in the old bag. I just microwaved it and topped it with coconut butter, cinnamon, and I smeared a bit of Sunland’s banana peanut butter to be a taste-tester. Do any of you do this? Some times I’ll have something with half of it topped with one preserve and the other half with another flavor–this usually happens when I can’t decide or I’m just feeling curious. Oh, and for the record, the banana peanut butter with the sweet potato was awesome!

Inspired by chocolate-covered strawberries!

I know one chica that would love the sound of this! I cooked my oats in the rest of my almond milk and coconut oil. Then I topped this creamy bowl of goodness with April’s protein brownie batter recipe and threw in some beautiful strawberries. This all mixed together was so good. The other night I also tried a different variation of the protein batter recipe by using vanilla protein powder + cashew butter. I don’t think you can make a bad decision when it comes to this recipe. It’s so simple yet so delicious!

Leftovers + Whole Foods hot bar goodies!

When I was running errands with my dad the night before I spotted a dish that I’ve only seen and tried once at Whole Foods. I loved it when I tried it and I always checked to see if they had it. But that night, they finally did! It’s a spicy eggplant and tomato dish + I wanted to try the tofu korma. My dad brought up a lot of avocados from Florida = an avocado a day for me yay! I love avocados but they’re so expensive up here that I don’t buy them often unless I see them on sale. However, in Florida they are incredibly cheap–we’re talking 30 cents each at some places!

The tofu korma was the bomb diggity! It had me craving basmati rice and naan + some other delicious Indian food!

Savory snack time!

I topped a Seedlander Dr. Kracker cracker with cottage cheese, kale, avocado, s & p. This was simple, fresh, and I recommend it! I picked up some cottage cheese at the store the other day, and I’m glad I did. I’ve forgotten how practical and tasty it can be. By the way, if you haven’t tried Dr. Kracker’s crackers then you are missing out! These are so flavorful even on their own. They are a bit pricey, but I found them on sale at TJ Maxx so I figured “what the hey!”

Now presenting the solution to my no-eating-in-class problemo!

Obviously, I did not follow that rule. It did, however, inspire some sneakiness and turned into “Operation This Isn’t a Meal It’s a ‘Snack’”. I also forgot to mention that while running errands with my dad, Whole Foods had a 33.5 oz tub of Greek yogurt that was promptly put in my basket! So yes, as of late I have been relishing in that tub of Greek goodness. I also bought a set of tupperware with a twist on lid to ensure no spills! When it’s on, this girl knows just what to do! So I filled the container with Greek yogurt, diced apple, and cinnamon. Then I brought this amazing bar to crumble into, what would evolve into a delicious yog-mess. I wish I could’ve snapped a picture of this bar! You could see the ingredients, and I even spied some dried apples! I was actually worried upon opening the wrapper that the aroma would waft on over to my professor and that he would catch me red-handed. Mouth full I would say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Anyway, back to the bar. This is a very different product from all the Betty Lou’s reviews I’ve done so far. I think the packaging itself goes along with the fun and light-hearted attitude the company seems to have. And the flavor? It has everything a chewy granola bar should have! Oats, maple, cinnamon, fruits, nuts, and seeds! Now I know why it’s called a Harmony Bar! FYI: “Operation This Isn’t a Meal It’s a ‘Snack’” was a success!

Okay, so I fear this post has a lot of words and pictures and I don’t want to overwhelm anybody. Although I do have so much more to share! But no worries, there’s always a next post. Also, I have really taken your advice on making a to-do list to heart. It has made managing my time so much easier and tasks just seem less daunting. It also helps that I’m checking some things off steadily. Many weights being lifted off my shoulders = easier to breathe. That reminds me! We are over that mid-week hill and now we’re just rolling down to Friday! Actually before I end this post I’m going to sneak in one more picture because I can’t contain my excitement.

From the fashion show rehearsal!

I brought my camera this time and I still almost forgot to take a picture. I cannot express how excited I am for this! It’s on Saturday–so close!!! We got our choreography down, did a lot of run throughs, scheduled our hair and makeup appointments, and overall just had fun.

p.s. my next post I’ll be sharing my re-worked sculpture!

p.s.s. my dear friend, Katie Anne, suggested I make a cheese post and I think that’s a really great idea! So I’ll be working on that. Does anyone else have any themed post ideas they’d like to see me write?

I’ve Got Questions; Have You Got Answers?

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Wow, March definitely crept up on us… actually this whole year seems to be flying by so far. This just means spring is making its way here sooner! My weekend was spent re-working my sculpture, writing essays and proposals, and squeezing in some much needed hang out time. Also this weekend, some of my friends were playing at a Haiti Benefit house show–DIY style! My Monday actually started out on a strange note; when I awoke I was greeted to the sight of swollen face… well the right side anyhow. Since I wanted to get that checked out by a doctor right away I had to miss my make-up critique, but I’m not stressing out about it. Health comes before school!

Nom nom--cheers to that!

Betty Lou’s Apricot Fruit Bar Pie = deliciously sweet and tangy, especially crumbled over yogurt, caramelized banana slices, and Sunland’s caramel peanut butter. I love how crumbling the bar makes it really resemble a pie of sorts. That morning’s breakfast’s  ”placemat” was an old magazine I was flipping through. While browsing, I stumbled across an interesting article that stressed the importance of eating throughout the day to keep energy levels up. I think most of food bloggers are into the habit of eating every few hours, but it seems that most people don’t. Lots of times I overhear people say that they haven’t eaten all day or since breakfast, and I wonder if they’re totally exaggerating or if they’re zombies. My body’s hunger cues chime in like clockwork, or sometimes even earlier. Lately, I find that my body is requiring even more than before. Am I turning into a boy? Hehe! Anyway, if my belly calls for something earlier than usual than I’ll have a snack to hold me over, and the hunger usually comes back around my usual mealtimes anyway. Works like a charm!

Actually, this brings me to a question I have for all of you: What are some savory snack ideas, and what are some of your favorite filling snacks?

Some dried fruits I've been enjoying: mangos, cranberries, and figs!

Now that my schedule has gotten even busier, more on-the-go meals have been had.

Usually, I don’t care for leftovers, but now they are a blessing. I get to enjoy home-cooked food on the go! I packed a bunch of steamed kale, sweet potato with cinnamon, a cute little jar filled with coconut butter for the potato, and the butternut squash casserole. I also packed a Cranberry Apple Boomi Bar (reminded me of how delicious autumn tastes). I actually got in trouble for eating in class; is it my fault I came prepared?  Just kidding! Anywho, this new class is during one of my usual mealtimes and I don’t like to wait to the point where I’m starving. My hunger escalates pretty quickly so I’m hoping I won’t get in trouble for bringing a more snacky-looking meal. I’m thinking Greek yogurt, a dense bar, and some fruit/veggies. It presents to be an issue on Tuesdays because I literally have a class right after. I’m open to any ideas you all have!

MORE PIE!

This time around I tried the Betty Lou’s Blueberry Fruit Bar. I had this with yogurt, banana slices, and warmed up cashew butter. Holy yum! Now I’ve officially tried all their fruit bar flavors, and I must say that I was truly pleased with every single one of them. I don’t know how they managed to make them gluten-free and taste like a yummy slice of pie, but they did. If you look into their products you will see how many allergies they take into consideration; they take people into consideration. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with one of Betty Lou’s sons and I can tell he has a genuine passion for life, family, health, and people; and yes, Betty Lou is a real person and also seems to have a zest for life from what I’ve heard. Companies like this are hard to find, but when I do, I definitely stand behind them!

My new cheese mistress, Fontina, makes her debut.

And she went all out! Dare I say, I think this may be the best pizza I’ve ever had. The thick crust the focaccia gave it reminded me of Sicilian pizza–so good!

Melted over the last of my homemade focaccia, tomato sauce, tomato slices, caramelized onions and butternut squash, and cracked pepper.

I've been putting my hemp protein powder to good use!

I decided to try a recipe that was actually written on the bag: berries, banana (I opted for the fruits to be frozen), milk (whichever you prefer), and the hemp protein powder of course. I’ve already repeated this recipe, and feel free to change up the fruits if you wish (but I suggest keeping the banana). Anyone have any hemp protein powder recipes they’d like to share?

While browsing through Ayurvedic recipes I stumbled upon this little charm...

Date + ginger powder + almond. I’ve also tried this combo with cashew butter, and I highly suggest you try it! When I was reading on Ayurveda, I stumbled upon a very interesting article that I thought was worth sharing: “The Spirit of Cooking”. I agree with a lot of points Harish Johari brought up, and I was introduced to new information as well: “if it weren’t for spices, America might never have been discovered.”

I’ve got quite a few things to look forward to this month: the fashion show coming up on Saturday, my mom is flying into town on Friday. I’m also taking a road trip with one of my best friends down to Florida for spring break. Then at the end of the month I’m going to see Wicked! I hope March has been treating you all well so far!