Monthly Archives: June 2010

Uh-oh!

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Hey everybody! I wanted to give you a quick update on the recent technology fart I’ve been dealing with. A few days ago my computer started to act funny and I went to the Genius Bar to get it looked out. Turns out that my hard drive is on the verge of crashing. Unfortunately, all of my computer stuff is up in Virginia, but my laptop can be saved–phew. Hopefully, I’ll be back to posting soon.

Also, to answer a lot of people’s question, yes I did have the belly dancing top in my closet before the party hehehe. I use to take belly dancing classes so that was one of my outfits for performances. And thank you all for saying I look like one! My mom has actually been encouraging me to use my talents to my advantage. Perhaps I will?

Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone!

When Life Gives You…

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Hey everybody! Thanks so much for the compliments on the blue… dress? I forgot to say that it’s actually a blouse haha, but that doesn’t really matter! But finding some matching bottoms does, and I’m on the hunt for some. Oh, and Matilda says thank you as well. She knows she’s a little cutie-patootie, but she never minds being reminded by others. Also, I found an unused notebook sitting around the house so I’ve already been compiling some things for my cookbook. I’ll definitely keep you posted on how it’s coming along!

A new grain for breakfast?

My mom recently came down with a stomach virus–uh oh–so she had to have things that were easier on the tummy for her. That’s when we realized we had a bag of Bob’s Red Mill 10-grain cereal. This is made with stone ground high protein hard red wheat, rye, triticale, oat bran, oats, corn, barley, soy beans, brown rice, millet, and flaxseed. I really liked it! The flavor that stood out to me the most was the corn. I thought about what fruits would go well with this. I opted for a sliced banana, and dried fruits like dates, golden raisins, and cranberries. Then I decided to put a big spoonful of my favorite crunchy peanut butter on top!

And what could this be?

The other day when perusing through Whole Food’s bulk bins I spotted Toffee Almond granola. Uh… what else is there to do besides fill a baggie up with it? Well, besides taste-testing it first, nothing! It is so so SO yummy, especially with Greek yogurt, sliced banana + dried dates, and chocolate almond butter. I also picked up another granola, but I’ll save that for another time!

Greetings!

Last weekend I went to a belly dancing party hosted by my mom’s friend.

Pulling out some moves I learned from belly dancing classes.
This furry little friend made lots of photo opts!
Doh! Too cute to be real!
She is one of my favorite people that I’ve met at our family friends’ house.
The wonderful hostess herself!
The decorations were awesome.
And some of the yummy food.
The princess woke up!
And we made a toast–laheim!
Oh hi!
Then the belly dancer came!

Only a few of us were filled in on the secret. And the people who weren’t in the know were definitely surprised!

In awe
And then the rest of us joined in.
Then the dancers took a break to pose for the camera hehe.

The party was so much fun, and themed parties are my favorite! My friends and I use to throw themed parties a lot when we were in high school. One party we never got to throw was one called the “Dream Team” party. Basically, we’d go as whoever we thought was the coolest person dead or alive. Maybe it should’ve been called “The Impossible Cool”.

The next day was Father’s Day I had something in mind.

I saw this as the perfect opportunity to give a shot at grilling. I have definitely eaten grilled things, but I’ve never been the one behind the heat. This was also a chance to try some goodies sent to me courtesy of Foodbuzz and Nature’s Pride. They sent me their new Premium Harvest line: country white bakery buns and deli rolls, and whole wheat bakery buns.

It was father-daughter bonding time.
Yum yum
The veggie spread…

Grilled eggplant with mango chutney, grilled key lime ginger glazed chayote, and the famous parsnip fries. Wow, the fries were delicious and everyone fell in love. We loved them so much that we actually asked “who gets the last one?”

“Okay okay.. I guess you can have it since it’s Father’s Day”
My plate

I made a batch of snobby joe lentils and grilled sun-dried tomatoes and onions to go with the country white deli rolls, and all of the veggies plus some goat cheese. I thought the deli rolls smelled sweet so I wanted to try them ASAP. They went on the grill as well, and they did not disappoint.

None of the meal disappointed!
And look! I picked a pocket-sized papaya the other day!

The tree has produced papayas of all shapes and sizes!

The country white bakery bun with a homemade backyard black bean burger.

I was intrigued by the use of cornmeal in this recipe, which turned out to be delicious. It was kind of freaky though how much this bean burger resembled an actual hamburger. Topped with avocado, baby spinach, and ketchup in a bun it was ready to be eaten! This Nature’s Pride bun wasn’t bad, but nothing really stood out about it. Since I didn’t want to waste these buns, I looked up different ways that I could make use of them and I got lots of results! There were suggestions like bread pudding and French toast. I opted for a very simple solution…

Enter the incredibly easy croutons!

You know what? I would buy these bakery buns just to make these croutons because they are addicting!

Leftover Bakery Bun Croutons

-Three bakery buns

-6 Tbl Olive oil

-1/2 tsp sea salt

-1/2 tsp dried oregano

-1/2 tsp garlic powder

-1/2 tsp onion powder

-1/4 tsp black pepper

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 F.

2. Take the three bakery buns and slice them into cubes.

3. Mix the olive oil with the seasonings. Then toss the bread cubes in the mix, making sure they’re coated.

4. Put into the oven for 15 minutes, turning them over half way through.

Then just see how long these croutons will last before they disappear. Afterwards I thought of trying them with parmesan next.

Another bun, hun.

Last but not least, I tried Nature’s Pride whole wheat bakery buns. I liked these better than the country white actually. I usually prefer things that taste grainier, but my favorite from all three were the country white deli rolls. Although they weren’t grainy, they were sweet and had sesame seeds on top. The country white bakery buns didn’t have anything special like that. Maybe they can try adding sesame seeds to the buns as well?

And another bean burger.

Having all these buns in the house, got me looking at bean burger recipes. So I made another variation. These vegan bean burgers caught my eye when they were featured on Kath’s blog. You should definitely give these a try! I loved how some of the beans were kept whole which gave them a great texture. The spices also included cinnamon (which is one of my favorites), coriander, and cumin. I would say that this bean burger recipe is creative, and those are usually the types of recipes I’m drawn to… something with a twist! Also, read the comments on that page for suggestions on adding and substituting ingredients.

These may look pretty...

But I kind of messed up!

I stumbled upon Katie’s Banana Chip Muffin recipe, and changed some things around. I added sesame seeds and used oat flour and brown sugar instead of what was originally called for. Because I over-baked them the white chocolate chips melted into oblivion–oops. I also thought these were mini-muffins, but I only had a regular muffin tin so I tried to spread the batter out more. I knew it looked like too little batter for each muffin, but I went ahead with it anyway. Later on I found out that they were indeed suppose to be regular-sized muffins. Oh well!

When life gives you bad muffins... make toasted crumbs?

In summer, the song sings itself

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Words by American poet, William Carlos Williams. Usually summer for me means lots of relaxing and “me” time. I’ll admit that I’m not totally use to all the me time, and sometimes I find myself trying to push it away. There are things I wish I could be doing… especially when I see a lot of my friends that stay up in Virginia have those get-togethers on perfect summer nights. But you know what? Then I stop for a moment and look around me. During these long breaks I usually set up little projects for myself to keep me occupied. Usually they involve the kitchen, house decorating, spending more time practicing yoga and dancing, and making some art. I also take this time to read, learn about different subjects, and trying to watch television. Yes, I said trying to watch television! Up at school I don’t have a tv (I prefer it this way, plus I think they’re ugly to look at when they’re not on). So whenever I’m down in Florida I get a dose of pop culture and I finally get clued in on what and who everyone else is talking about! Anyway, I really went off on a tangent! This summer I came up with another project: compiling a cookbook! That means I’m actually going to look back on my entries, and from now on I will take notes as I conjure up spells… I mean recipes in the kitchen. Tomorrow I am going to see if I have any extra notebooks lying around the house! Does anyone out there have any advice? I would greatly appreciate it!

Another great thrift store find--a bowl fit for a king cost me only fifty cents!

Irish steel cut oats again.

I let them cool down in the fridge for a bit and mixed in some banana slices + for topping along with crunch peanut butter and chocolate almond butter. My mouth was very very happy.

This time I fried the bananas in ghee with cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.

Then I added some cashew-macadamia butter and sesame seeds to my bowl of oats. Either of these breakfast bowls would be great to get me going and ready for a…

A shopping adventure with my little nugget

Lounging around in my favorite store!

That harness makes her look like she was a gift sent from up above!

We took a food break.

Have you guys ever heard of Maoz?

“Maoz Vegetarian is an international, quick service vegetarian restaurant chain, which brought to the world the delicious Maoz sandwich: FALAFEL.
Our menu is strictly vegetarian and is based on simplicity, freshness and care.”

They only have 12 locations in the United States, but more worldwide. I’m lucky enough to have the only location in the southern United States right in my backyard… in a mall food court of all places! I love their sweet potato fries dipped in their garlic sauce. Yum!

I dressed it with their garlic sauce and cilantro dressing.

Another great thing is that you can choose your fillings!

I opted to fill mine with carrot salad, beet salad, cole slaw, and the falafels automatically come in the pita. After we finished our delicious sandwiches we checked each others teeth to make sure there were no random green things. All good!

And of course I did not leave my favorite store empty-handed.

I fell in love with the vibrant blue and asymmetric cut.

My new shirt is as vibrant as beets.

This was my first time roasting golden beets. I can’t explain how excited I was! Something about beautiful foods just gets to me. I roasted the beets and tossed them in olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Then I whipped up a honey-dijon vinaigrette and sprinkled on some goat cheese. Next time I will make some candied pecans to go with this!

Also a very colorful bowl: sweet potato and butternut squash soup with coconut milk.

I almost always prefer thick soups to broths.

With this post I can see that the artist in me never disappears.

I am just naturally drawn to colors! I cooked some rotini, and simmered zucchini, red onion, cannellini beans, red bell pepper in a tomato sauce with balsamic vinegar. Then I garnished it with fresh basil, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, goat cheese, and a drizzle of white truffle oil. Later on I also threw in some parmesan and the taste just made sense. Don’t forget the ground black pepper!

Very very appetizing.

How appetizing?

Buon appetito! Ne voglio ancora?

“Are there any seconds?”

For dinner I wanted to do something special...

Matilda was of course included!

This was the star of the show that night.

I cracked open a book of mine that I have unintentionally been neglecting, The Conscious Cook by Chef Tal Ronnen!

Very Green Salad with Cucumber, Kohlrabi, Sweet Onion and Herb Vinaigrette

This salad was perfect for eating outside and cooling down our bodies. Making the herb vinaigrette was so pleasant, and I couldn’t help but breathe in the sweet aroma of all the herbs and other ingredients. Eating the raw kohlrabi brought back memories of having it so many times when I was still living in Germany. Do any of you have any familiar tastes that make you nostalgic?

After eating our dinner we just sat around in the backyard and listened to the soothing sounds of bossa nova and a rain storm. It was incredibly relaxing and perfect for unwinding on a Friday evening. I believe summer is here and this oh-so chic little lady explained the feelings of this sweltering season perfectly: “I love those days when you actually prefer to ask for frapuccinos or something that has to do with ice or ice cream, and when the only “hot” thing allowed… is YOU. (all of you, not just me).”

And one more thing I’d like to share to mark the days of more sun

Deconstructed

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To make my bowls of oatmeal interesting I like to deconstruct dessert recipes.

And the way I remember that dessert is spelled with two s’s is because I’d like two scoops of ice cream. What flavor? Cherry amaretto ice cream, please. I whipped up some banana soft-serve, pitted a handful of cherries, drizzled it with amaretto syrup, and topped it off with Cacao Bliss. The amaretto syrup gave this bowl of oats a zing.

Hello delicious wake up call!

Remember how I mentioned that I realized that I didn’t have a birthday cake this year? Well look what I found! Chocolate cherry amaretto ice cream cake. And it just so happens that it won a raw ice cream cake contest.

On the topic of ice cream... what else is there to talk about?

I stumbled upon my soul sister and her dad’s favorite ice cream! This little lady’s recommendations never disappoint, so of course I put the pint of Mocha Almond Fudge coconut milk ice cream in my basket. Verdict? Oh my gosh. There are just enough almonds, each bite has that yummy fluffy mocha ice cream, and the swirls of fudge seal the deal. Pint start with a ‘p’ so I can make alliterations like… personal pint.

Something else deconstructed?

I was browsing the Veganomicon cookbook when my eyes wandered on to these words “samosa stuffed baked potato.” You all know how much I love Indian food! I’m so use to making deconstructed recipes for breakfast that I don’t usually think of making them for lunch… or dinner for that matter.

I took away the potato's vegan status and spread on some ghee.

Oh and I can’t leave out my mom’s dish! The night before she made a curried coconut milk vegetable dish that had me eating spoonfuls from the pan she had just cooked it in. I decided to mix in some cooked lentils the next day.

I don't go to the movies often so this was a nice change.

My mom’s friend had special tickets to watch a movie before it would be released in this theatre and she asked if we wanted to go. We gladly accepted her invitation and watched ‘The Solitary Man’. It was a pretty good movie, but I didn’t like the ending. The theatre I went to is one of my favorites because of the interior and comfy seats. If you don’t feel like finding your own parking spot you can always opt for the valet parking. What can I say? This is the state where people go to retire!

Inside the movie theatre--check out the ceiling!

On another night me and my mom went to support some friends that were dancing in a show.

She never ceases to amaze.

And neither does he!

Complete with samba dancing as well.

Making dinner milk rolls from one of my favorite cookbooks.

I love making bread! My favorite part is kneading it, and after that I love the smell that wafts through the house when it’s baking. Then of course there’s the satisfaction of biting into the fresh bread you made.

They remind me of the Brötchen we would pick up daily from the bakery in Germany.

My mom said they tasted even better! She’s such a mom hehehe.

Yum! This is just asking for some butter.

Speaking of Germany…

Yours truly got ready for a day that would be filled with many German things.

Note: I straightened my hair for the first time in years!

What did that day behold?

We went to a German restaurant to see their first game in the World Cup 2010!

Deutschland is my motherland and where my heart belongs, so when they beat the Aussies 4-0 I felt very proud!

I'm not a big beer person but I tried their heferweisen and I liked it!

Another goal? More beers on the house!

They still make the best potato pancakes I've ever had--three or four rounds of these were ordered!

Ever since I was little, it just has always gone without saying that I get the most potato pancakes or latkes.

I'm not typically a cake person, but I do think they're beautiful and there are the exceptions of tiramisu and carrot cake.

However, this berry black forest cake was amazingly incredible! Our table ordered this cake to go, and about five more slices to have at the table, plus a chocolate mousse cake for the super chocolate lover (my mom’s friend’s husband). Victory was ours and we ate like champions as well!

In honor of the World Cup 2010 being held in Africa I decided to make use of a box I found in my parent’s pantry. So what does a box have to do with the World Cup?

This box!

Fufu flour! It’s a fun word to say and it’s even more fun to eat. What is fufu exactly? “Fufu is a staple food of West and Central Africa. It is a thick paste usually made by boiling starchy root vegetables in water and pounding with a mortar and pestle until the desired consistency is reached.”

It's traditionally served with a soup... or rather in a soup.

It came out lumpy--oops! But still safe to eat.

I made a peanut soup to go with it, and mark my words when I say… TRY THIS! Here’s the recipe for the peanut soup, but I made some changes. Instead of a green bell pepper I used a red. Also make sure to use real peanut butter to get the most flavor. I used my favorite kind and the crunchy peanut bits actually added a smokiness to it.

Did I mention that you eat this with your hands?

Are any of you keeping up with the games? Favorite teams?

Also, what are some of your favorite deconstructed recipes?

Eating Under the Sun

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Many of you asked about my opinion on the chia seeds. I have no idea how much they normally cost, but my parents are fortunate to live close to a discount healthfood store. Actually, I just checked and you can order things online, check it out here: Tunie’s. As for taste? I’m not sure if they have a distinct flavor or not, but I do like the bit of crunch they offer. I like having different textures in my meals though. As for what their benefits are, I honestly didn’t know until I saw the package. Did you know that the Aztecs ate them for strength? They’re also an excellent source of omega fatty acids and dietary fiber.

Lots of hummus has been consumed--my parents had a couple tubs of Sabra in the fridge!

Hummus in sandwiches, hummus as a dip, hummus straight up! I love using sautéed veggies in sandwiches, but cool cucumbers and tomatoes are wonderfully refreshing as well. With a bit of freshly ground black peppercorns and I’m a happy camper.

So moist and scrumptious from the coconut milk.

I had bookmarked this Tropical Applesauce Muffin ages ago and I stumbled upon it again. However, I forgot that I left my muffin pan at my friend’s house so I just made them into squares. They sure don’t look like muffins but they definitely tasted great! I also recommend using brown sugar instead of regular–that’s just my personal taste.

Drinking out of silly straws is also my taste.

I’ve been having delicious smoothies practically everyday. What goes into the blender?

-3/4 cup almond milk (whatever milk you desire)

-1/2 frozen banana

-1/2 cup frozen blueberries (or frozen fruit of choice)

-2 spoonfuls of coconut milk (I suggest using the regular kind)

-protein powder or Greek yogurt

-lots of ice!

1. Mix it together and voila! I’m addicted! I’ve also tried it with just a 1/2 a cup of almond milk and it comes out more like a soft-serve. No complaints here!

Peach and banana variation with a lady finger to boot!

Or in smoothie form as well--whatever floats your boat that day.

What do these treasures from my parents' garden behold?

Vibrantly colored heirloom tomatoes!

Try these with fried capers, chopped basil, and toss it all in olive oil. Then season with sea salt and black pepper. So simple, refreshing, and delicious. I’m telling you that fried capers are delicious and have this wonderful saltiness.

Thai basil as well

I saw a helpless yucca root sitting on my parents counter.

I took matters into my own hands and made yucca fries! A warning though: boil these first because they can be poisonous if you don’t cook them properly beforehand. I tossed them in coconut oil, a citrus marinade, some sea salt, and the yucca fries were served!

Sorry if you don't like feet (I don't) and you just lost your appetite, but I got my first pedicure ever!

The nail salon had my favorite kind of crackers on hand so I took some extra home with me!

More tropical inspired food--plantains!

I’ve been sprinkling them with cinnamon and sea salt, frying them, and then tossing them in coconut oil.

I also took a trip down memory lane because I haven't had French lentils in ages.

Ever since my family has gotten into Indian food we’d been giving red lentils a lot of attention. So it’s been years and I think it was nice to have some other lentils for a change.

My mom suggested we cook butter beans.

So I caramelized some onions and cooked them with dried thyme, shredded mango chutney, butter beans, and sweet potato. I added coconut oil afterwards and let’s just say that ever since my mom fried tofu with shredded mango chutney and thyme, she’s had me hooked! I asked her how she came up with the combination and she simply said, “I don’t know.” That’s good enough for me because sometimes the best things don’t have a reason. They just sort of… happen!

What are some your rhymes with no reason?

I also tried the shredded mango chutney with dried thyme combo with chickpeas!

Still amazing! And you know what else are amazing? Baked sweet potatoes! Especially with coconut oil, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Even better? Add some goat cheese and you’re in for a treat.

A treat even a vampire would enjoy!

Ve vant to suck your blood... er I mean ve vant to eat your sweet potatoes!

We threw a surprise birthday party for a friend of ours--complete with grilling!

Make a wish!

Beautiful birthday cake? Check!

I just realized that I didn’t get a birthday cake for my past birthday. Maybe I should get on that. Better late than never, right?

Look what this vampire found!

The other day I went to the local Italian market and you know I checked the chocolate aisle! I spotted this incredible bar and you know what’s funny? I actually stumbled upon a review of this bar earlier that day! I think everyone around me could tell how excited I was about this because everyone was smiling along with me. Dark chocolate with banana? Yes, please.

Made with actual banana pulp!

Consensus? Excuse me while I break off another piece to refresh my memory… okay back! Ah yes, I’m actually going to write a live review! Well the taste is fabulous no doubt about that. The level is sweetness is right on point and the banana is not overwhelming. My only wish is that it would melt a little more smoothly in my mouth, but I can deal!

What do you think?

My bad! I forgot that puppies can't have chocolate.

I didn't mean to rub it in your face, Matilda.

Speaking of faces, my mom and I did some at-home spa treatment complete with monster masks and gooey hair!

Kind of resembles the cilantro dressing I made the other day, don't you think?

This dressing is deliciously refreshing, tangy, and goes well with goat cheese! I vaguely followed a recipe in my tapas cookbook, so I’ll share with you what I remember since I basically just eyeballed everything.

Cilantro Dressing

-2 garlic cloves

-ground cumin, not too much!

-a lot of chopped cilantro leaves

-a bit less than 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

-2 tbl apple cider vinegar

-salt and pepper

1. Put the garlic, cumin, and cilantro in a food processor, and pulse until well mixed.

2. Add 1 tbl at a time of the extra virgin olive oil. Throughout this process, using a spatula, scrape down the side of the bowl. Keep adding the oil until it has all been incorporated and the dressing has slightly thickened.

3. Add the vinegar to the dressing and process for a minute, or until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Oh my goodness what a mouthful of a post! I still have more things to share with you all. But until then have a fabulous Wednesday, and treat yourself to something that may have inspired you today.

It’s a Beautiful Morning

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Wow so I can’t believe that it’s already mid-June and I’m catching you all up on what I’ve been up to since the end of May aka since I’ve been in Florida. Before soaking up the sun, my mornings have consisted of eats like these

Papaya from our very own backyard and something else local...

A mix from a local bakery that has actual bird seeds in it!

Hey Brittany, I’m eating bird food too! Okay so that was corny, but I couldn’t help it! Anyway, this mix has scraps of their bread, oats, sunflower seeds, bird seeds, and who knows what else! I’ve enjoyed it with cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, fresh fruits. And the above picture has cottage cheese with honey mixed in, a lot of cinnamon, and a nice big spoonful of the cashew-macadamia nut butter I made for my mom awhile ago.

Strawberries drizzled with coconut milk, dark chocolate hazelnut butter, and the last brownie crumbs!

And you can't go wrong with cinnamon, banana, peanut butter, honey, and the creamy addition of coconut milk!

I love my coconut milk.

You also can’t go wrong with cinnamon, pear, and hazelnuts.

Look at what I found in my parents' pantry!

This should look familiar to some of you. I was so eager to try them since I had never had them before. Actually, I had just the recipe in mind! I’ve always had my eye on Jessica’s chia-icing.

First attempt didn't go so well... I think it's because I used Kefir.

I also tried Irish steel-cut oats as well and I love the texture and nutiness!

It tasted good and I was excited about trying the chia seeds so the consistency didn't matter to me!

But I wasn’t going to give up either. I bought some Greek yogurt at the store and I attempted to make the chia-icing yet again.

And this time with peaches, cashew-macadamia butter, almonds, and amaretto syrup.

Much better!

Look at the treasure I found at the thrift store!

Everything in the store was 50% off that day so I got this whole set for $10–there’re four of each in the set.

This makes me want to have people over for a nice breakfast.

I looked this up online and found out that these are actually collector's items!

I also got this little tea cup.

Have you guys had any amazing finds recently?

And of course I made a special breakfast soon after getting the set!

I made crêpes stuffed with sweetened ricotta cottage cheese (only thing on hand) and cinnamon. I topped them with fresh strawberries, chocolate hazelnut butter, more cinnamon, and a drizzle of amaretto syrup. I think this is a true example of eating with the eyes first. Then my mouth got a taste and it was strange because I’d never heard fireworks go off in the morning.

Can you tell that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day? If my mornings have been starting out like this then you can imagine what I’ve been feasting on throughout the day. Let’s just say that I’ve been taking advantage of the kitchen, my mom’s cooking, and being so close to the tropics.

Feels Like Summertime in New York: Finale

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Thank you all for your tips on flirting, although it seems a lot of us are in the same boat. One thing I though about is how using our eyes and radiant smiles can do a lot more than we maybe realize.

So here it is ladies and gentlemen… the last recap of my trip to New York.

This is how our next day started!
And this…
On my trip I had tons of PB & J’s with banana slices

We walked around the city and I picked up a birthday gift from Sephora–woohoo freebies!

We also spotted these creepy statues on top of some buildings.
They look like they might come to life one day and take over the city!
There goes my imagination.
Then we went to the Whole Foods in Union Square
And of course I had packed a PB & J!

My other friend met up with us and then we headed over to check out the Whitney Biennial.

It was pay-as-you-wish night at the Whitney
I don’t think a lot of the stuff there was really my taste, but there was a really riveting piece by Kerry Tribe

“H.M. is a two-channel presentation of a single film based on the true story of an anonymous, memory-impaired man, the famous amnesiac known in scientific literature only as “Patient H.M.” In 1953, when he was 27 years old, H.M. underwent experimental brain surgery intended to alleviate his epilepsy. The unintended result was a radical and persistent amnesia. Though he was no longer able to make lasting memories, his short-term recall, lasting about 20 seconds, remained intact. He lived anonymously in this condition for more than half a century until his death on December 2, 2008, in a Connecticut nursing home. His case is widely credited with revolutionizing our understanding of the organization of human memory.”

Next morning started out by taking Albus to the dog park.

Afterwards we went on another bike adventure around Brooklyn. My friend ended up trading her bike for a really awesome road bike–no more matching bikes though. All of a sudden the urge to go shopping hit us so we did what any normal person would do; head on over to where the clothes and shoes shops are!

We also stopped by a little well-known donut shop.

Tina Fey likes this place A LOT. These are her words, ”The best doughnut? That’s Peter Pan doughnuts in Brooklyn. It’s a Polish bakery. We shot nearby once for 30 Rock. It’s a white-cream-filled powdered doughnut. And I really believe, when I first tried it, if I had a penis, I would put it in this doughnut. I finally understand what you guys are thinking about and what motivates you guys.”

And a late-night snack before heading out (that's butter and garlic in the cup for dipping).

So this marks my last day in New York.

We walked over to Bedford and sat around at Ella Cafe for a bit.

This was before we ended up getting kind of lost and ended up just aimlessly wandering around.

It was so nice to not really have a plan, and just get lost without freaking out. Eventually we found our way back to some place familiar. But by then I had to quickly pick up my suitcases and take the train to the airport. I did start to freak out as some unexpected changes were made to the route since I was traveling on a Sunday. Luckily, I made it and with some time to spare! I was relieved once I was seated in the airplane with some A/C. I also snagged some cookies and plantain chips on the plane–score. Only a couple of hours till I would be reunited with my family. I couldn’t wait!

The reunion included Matilda, of course!

I can’t explain how good it felt to sleep in my own bed. I loved my week at the beach and my week in New York, but the charm of living out of a suitcase can only last so long. Not to mention, there are only a few things in life that are better than the love from your family along with home-cooked meals, and sun.

Some really amazing memories from this trip--in a nutshell!

Feels Like Summertime in New York: Part 3

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Finally we get to the part of my recap when it was my birthday!

I met up with my friend at a park near where she works.

There was a charming farmer’s market right outside of the park as well.

Yum!

I brought the same dish I had made the previous day--still delicious!

A little birdie wanted to taste some too.

She painted me these beautiful birthday cards! It was such an enjoyable lunch in the Tribeca neighborhood of the city. After enduring enough heat we sadly had to part ways. I was on my way to meet up with another special friend though! My phone had died and luckily I vaguely remembered what stops were along the way to where I wanted to go. I got off at a stop, found a Starbucks, and asked if they knew where Lula’s Sweet Apothecary was. They didn’t know what I was talking about so I decided to ask them where the nearest AT&T store was so I could hopefully charge my phone. So I walked two blocks down and found the store and charged my phone for about five minutes. Who knew how long it would last! I looked up directions to Lula’s on a computer. I was in luck because it wasn’t too far away. I was excited to meet up with Marina and enjoy some delicious vegan ice cream on a hot day. Ice cream that won’t upset my stomach–hooray!

I finally arrived, and look who I found!

Marina, there’s no way you can escape my camera mwahaha! This place was tiny but had tons of charm. I felt like I was transported to another decade. A decade where men wore suspenders, groomed their mustaches, and everything was served on a real spoon! They have everything from sundaes to shakes, sodas to malts, egg cremes, and even banana splits! Can I remind you that everything is vegan? I’m not vegan but I can’t really handle dairy ice creams, milkshakes, things of that sort. So it was nice to go to a place where I had choices and I didn’t have to worry about getting sick.

SO GOOD!!!

They make all of their ice cream on site and they use a base of either cashews, soy, or coconut. What to choose, what to choose? Want to sample some? Not a problem! The caramel ginger cookie flavor caught my eye, but they hadn’t finished making the batch yet. I waited around for a bit, but I could wait no longer. I got the cake-batter soft-serve with crumbled ginger creme cookies, coconut whipped cream, and a happy birthday to me with a cherry on top. I ended up not feeling like I settled for less, this was the best vegan ice cream ever–so thick and rich!!! ! I also couldn’t have asked for better company as well. Although it was my first time meeting Marina we hit it off right away and I felt like we’d known each other for ages!

A happy birthday girl, indeed.

On my way home my phone died again, but by then I knew where I was going. Funny story though–on the way home I was approached by a hottie, but as usual I am brilliant only once the chance has passed… when it comes to guys anyway. Anyone else have this problem? I need some tips!

Later on I met up with my friend and some other ladies to watch the opening of Sex and the City 2!

So much estrogen.

I thought the fashion was great, but where was the story? They seemed to just skim on the surface, and not really get into any of the stories. I definitely liked the first one better. After the movie we took the cab home and I just about passed out in my clothes. It was a long day!

The next day was a day of wandering around Williamsburg.

And perfect for riding around with the top down.

Then I headed over to my other girlfriend’s place for a girlie night!

A sleepover isn't complete without a sauna!

I love this part of her room.

And there's Theo again in all of his glory!

A cat that likes to snuggle? I love!

It was so nice to just wind down and be super lazy. I don’t get to see my friend very often, but it never feels like we’ve lost touch.

I have one more recap before the New York adventure is over. There’s much to catch up on while I’ve been back in Florida! You better believe that I’ve gone on many food adventures while I’ve been down here.

Feels Like Summertime in New York: Part 2

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Last Monday started out the same as usual. Scratch that! I went out to one of many parks in Brooklyn and went exploring. That’s one thing that I love whenever I go to New York. I get a lot of chances to just walk around and discover new things. I plan on moving there after I graduate so it’s better if I feel comfortable getting around before I move. Anywho! Eventually I made my way into the city to meet up with one of my best girlfriends.

At a Free People store with a really awesome store display.
I miss her already!

After just shopping around we made our way to Whole Foods and sampled some goods and my friend got her groceries. Oh wow I got to try things like my favorite Greek yogurt (I just pretended to be amazed for the first time), dark chocolate-covered coconut bits, and this amazing cookie that I can’t even remember what it was but I know it was in the raw foods section.

We came back to Brooklyn for a hot second and I reunited with my other friend and her doggie.

Meet Theo
Then I went to my other friend’s place and we started working on the special surprise!
We were invited to a girls’ night so we wanted to make something yummy that would not fail!

Any guesses?

We made mini-sandwiches...

But not just any mini-sandwich.

PB&J's, PB&Banana, PB&Chocolate-Banana

Don't they look kind of like macaroons?

These were so much fun to make! There was definitely lots of finger-licking done.

Ready?

Then we headed back into the city.

It was funny because girls’ night was hosted by none other than a guy. We got to the building and we told the man at the front the code phrase “we’re here for girls’ night.” It was so funny because at first we thought it was a joke, but he knew exactly what we were talking about. So then we were headed to the top floor and were greeted by the funniest and witty group of girls + the host! Everybody loved the mini-sandwiches.

The next day we went on a bike adventure.

We rode over to the waterfront and just sat around for awhile.

And jumped around too!

Riding a bike while sitting Indian-style, naturally.

When we came back I fixed myself a perfect hot-weather lunch.

Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cous cous, chickpeas, dried cranberries, feta, cashews, olive oil, and lemon pepper. YUM! I was inspired by this recipe.

I also tried a lychee jelly snack.

Met up with a friend and headed over to Dean & Deluca.

I wanted to find something special. But there were so many things to choose from. From wine-infused marmalades that cost as much as Matilda’s grooming to confections that could make the sourest of hearts melt.

I decided to get a pear hazelnut fruit spread.

After doing some more window-shopping we decided to head back over to Brooklyn.

Then we got ready to celebrate someone's birthday.

And I was excited because my birthday was just in a few hours as well.

Then we headed over to a bar where a lot of people signed to the same record label hang out.

We got down to Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl”. It was such a fun night and it turned out that the other birthday girl’s birthday was the same as mine! So at midnight we were both given a birthday serenade. Next post is a recap of my birthday and then some. Can I say the word birthday one more time? Oh! I just did.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far. I’ve been eating delicious meals put together by the whole family, hanging out with my homegirl before she goes to Peru, and just taking it easy. With the heat we’ve been experiencing down here it seems that things sometimes just get done at the pace of a slug. Let’s just call it… cruising through life.

Feels Like Summertime in New York: Part 1

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Later that day when I got back from the beach, I made it to New York.  I took the AirTran and met up with my friend at the station–finally someone to help me with my luggage! But before anything we gave each other bear hugs. I definitely missed her.

Finally we made it to her place and met her new baby.

Nice to meet you, Albus!

Freshly ground cinnamon

Apple and cinnamon oatmeal with cashews

My friend took Albus out in style with turquoise shoes.

I've also missed this backyard!

A backyard in Brooklyn is definitely a rare treasure.

Too bad he couldn't go to yoga with us!

After getting the morning things out of the way we went into the city to take an incredible class at Yoga to the People, a donation base studio.

Remember when I went last time?

After some shopping and walking around we came back and started making dinner.

And white sangria!

Yum! I love that she also loves Indian food.

She made a delicious lentil curry with veggies over basmati rice, and I added some cashews for good measure.

As Julia would say, "bon appetit!"

Puppy love!

Later that night we stopped by a friend’s place and to my surprise one of my best girl friends lived right across the street! Eventually we made our way back home–bike bound in Brooklyn!

The next day my friend's roommate got back in town!

We stopped by a cheese shop that also happened to have an incredible chocolate selection.

Thanks to this shop I have found a brand of chocolate that my friend believes is worth dying for. She highly recommended Mast Brothers‘ Dark Chocolate with Almonds and Sea Salt.

Then met up with two other friends!

Headed out to Artists and Fleas--a really neat market with all sort of vendors, like mini-pastry vendors!

Then we went into the city and stopped by a quirky pizza shop.

Who could this be?

Cookie monster!

We just shopped around and made our way through a few parks.

It was funny because as we were walking along some random guy blatantly snapped a picture of us with his fancy camera and just kept walking. My friend and I just looked at each other and started laughing.

Stopped by the dairy-free "fro-yo" shop Stogo and fell in love with their toasted coconut almond joy flavor.

A nice old man had us laughing when he took our picture.

And of course we were standing in front of my favorite store!!! It pretty much goes without saying but I’ll just refresh your minds in case you’ve forgotten–Anthropologie!

And here's to looking forward to a great week!

Next recap includes a classic childhood favorite with a twist! I promise you will love it. In fact, I forwarded the idea to my beloved Dean & Deluca in hopes of getting my foot in their door. Okay so I’m going to keep quiet now because the suspense of sharing it with you all is killing me!