A Way To Start The Day

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Katharina

I reminded Matilda of how lovable she is…

"What else did you expect?"

This is true.. I should also note that Matilda is no ordinary dog. No, I have to lure her with treats to go out for walks, and she doesn’t settle for just any kind of food, toy, or other dog. She can also eat an entire bar of dark chocolate without repercussions. Lucky her, but I don’t want to go through the experience of the latter again.

And definitely not with this pot of chocolate.

When I came across Ashley’s recipe for ‘Chocolate Coconut Fudge Sauce‘, I went to the store to fetch some coconut milk to make it later that day. The coconut milk was incredibly thick, so I knew this was going to be a yummy, decadent affair.

Chocolate-dipped strawberry?

Yes, please. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this jar was nearly empty by the end of the morning.

Since it’s Friday and the weekend is beginning, I thought I’d share some breakfast ideas with you.

Katie’s ‘Deep-Dish Cookie Pie‘

It's very moist on the inside and crusty along the edges.

Some people like their cookies crunchy all the way through, but I like to have a little bit of both worlds. Something that will melt in my mouth, but with a crunch my teeth I have to bite through first.

Topped with goat's milk yogurt and berries, and a cup of green tea.

I'm going to tell you a little secret...

This cookie pie is mostly made with beans! Red bean cakes anyone?

Around the table for a more traditional breakfast

Continue reading →

The Meaningful Ones

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Katharina

Thinking about the warm weather, and coming back to cold weather has been on my mind lately. I try not to let the weather bring me down, but sometimes it’s hard! Something I thought about the other day is that weather is humbling for me. Weather and mother nature are greater than our expectations of it. Wind can make fun of me when it pushes me forward or gets me eating my own hair. The breeze welcomes me to relax into it. When it rains sometimes I imagine that clouds are just giant sprinklers and I can run through them. Whatever it may be like outside, it’s bigger than me and I’m okay with that.

: I loved being able to have the windows open in the morning and breathing in fresh air.

Stepping outside and feeling warmth on my skin.

: Brötchen for breakfast.

My parents frequent the several German bakeries in their area and always bring home things that are nostalgic for me.

: Hopefully soon I’ll be back over in Germany walking to the bakery and bringing home some freshly baked rolls!

: Over the break I also tried some local bee pollen.

This had such a curious taste, and I can’t really explain it but I’m not complaining.

: I had to buy another bar because little Matilda ate the entire bar one night!

By some miracle she did not get sick at all! That whole bar is twice the amount that is toxic for her, and I don’t know how she managed to eat something that is almost as long as her. She’s a supa freak! [Supa freak, supa freakayyy! Ow!]

: Chilled oatmeal, incognito chopped dates, diced apple, Greek yogurt, honey, bee pollen, and…

: Toasted hemp seeds with sea salt-yum.

: We went to a place where you could browse through a long list of beers.

I am all about options, and I chose a pear cider. This was so yummy, and tasted like an “older kid’s” version of pear juice in a box.

: Followed by the one blurry picture before my camera died.

: Threw together a random lunch

Raw red Russian kale with dressing, leftover yellow split pea soup, and…

: During the week I made a batch of refried beans and coconut-sesame seed rice.

The coconut-sesame seed rice recipe is from my “Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners” book, and I’ll give you a brief description so maybe you can give it a try! Cook some basmati rice with ghee and salt. Then when the rice is done cooking, heat up some ghee in a small pan and fry equal amounts of shredded coconut and sesame seeds till they’re lightly browned. Mix in with the cooked rice, salt to taste, and garnish with cilantro. I’ve posted about this recipe before. It’s so simple and incredibly flavorful!

: Guess who joined us halfway through the week!

Emily was staying a few hours away from us for a few days, and then she decided she was ready for girl time!

: Ohh the beach, how I love you!

: One of the days after soaking in some sun I wanted to share, in my humble opinion, one of the best ice creams.

: Mmm vanilla island coconut ice cream

This is going to sound corny, but this really is coconut bliss.

: And they all agreed!

Apparently Coconut Bliss has come out with four new flavors, and one of them is on my radar–ginger cookie caramel!

: During my break I wanted to take on a culinary challenge.

I had bookmarked Marni’s White, Red, and Green Italian Braid recipe awhile ago, and I thought this was a good time to finally make it!

: Mix it well!

: My fillings of choice: homemade pesto, tomato sauce, (all marinated) roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, mozzarella, and goat cheese.

: No parchment paper made this step a bit tricky.

: But the challenge was completed!

: Delicious! You could make this bread on a free night and have slices throughout the week when you’re on-the-go.

: We also spent some time strolling along and people watching.

: Found charming streets

: A hideaway perhaps?

: A special dinner was in order–to celebrate my mother’s recent promotion.

She’s such an intelligent woman and is so dedicated to what she does! Hearing her stories from work and her benevolent attitude towards the people that work for her makes me proud.

: My mom had fun taking pictures of us girls goofing off, and I’m pretty sure she was being silly behind the camera too.

: Coconut curry bursting with tofu, pineapples, and vegetables.

I hadn’t gone out for Thai food in such a long time! I requested that they also add some grated ginger, and much to my delight I saw AND tasted that they actually did. I’m never afraid to make special requests. If you’re polite about it then why not? I was left feeling satisfied and with yummy leftovers.

: There was a special dinner the next night as well.

I steamed a bundle of asparagus and sprinkled on sea salt, drizzling of lemon juice, and a pat of butter. For the mushrooms I sautéed onions and garlic, then I turned down the heat and threw in the mushrooms with some salt and herbes de provence. Once the mushrooms softened I turned the heat down to low and mixed in a splash of balsamic, a few spoonfuls of goat cheese and Greek yogurt, and some cracked peppercorns. Let it simmer for a bit so the flavors blend together. Now the mashed potatoes were just a basic recipe but there was a special ingredient: black truffle salt. I served that with a pat of butter as well.

: Filled with lots of love…

: For my friends and family!

: We were sad to leave and so was Lone Duck.

: But I hope they come down with me again soon!

: I love my friends with all my heart.

Spending the week with them in paradise was wonderful. I live with Emily right now, and we just have such a great understanding and appreciation for each other. I always feel funny just calling her my roommate because she is so much more than that to me. She is someone that I can stand in flamingo stance with while talking about our thoughts on life and the world around us. Sway is also one of the coolest ladies that I’ve ever met. She lives further up north so I don’t get to see her that often, but it’s always really nice when we do. We’ll have the same thoughts or do the same things as each other and it can be really freaky sometimes, but I love it! Actually, there was a week where I was eating lots of roasted beets and grilled goat cheese sandwiches, and when I told her that she told me that she had been making them too! It’s so awesome to be so connected with someone. These ladies are so easy to be around, and I can’t think of a time where we felt like making a fuss towards each other. I bet that the people they encounter in their lives can’t help but feel touched and graced by their presence. Both of them are so special and thinking about them and that they are in my life brings me peace.

I think we all have those special people in ours lives that seem to complete us.

I am Worth It

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Katharina

Here’s a little reminder to all of you from my last post, in case you missed it!

I was contacted by Kroeger Herbs to give you all the opportunity to win a bottle of their Serenity and Healthy Gut herbal combinations. They were kind enough to ask me which of their products I thought you all would benefit from the most. I remembered in one of my past posts that many of you mentioned that unnecessary stress makes its way into your lives, and I also know that many of you also have some tummy issues; so I thought these two products would be great! Now here’s what you have to do to have a chance at winning (yoohoo!):

1. Go to their site and comment on this post telling me something you learned.

Additional entries (don’t forget to comment on this post telling me you did these things):

2. Sign up for their newsletter.

3. Follow them on Facebook.

4. Follow them on Twitter.

Make sure to get your entries in by Friday, August 27. Best of luck everyone!

They also generously offered me some to try for myself!

As a sculpture student and living in an urban area, I think the Energy Food and EnvironmentalX supplements will be very beneficial to me. And who doesn’t have moments of stress? That’s where Serenity comes in. I’ll let you all know what I think of these after I’ve had them for awhile.

Cold oats with warm hot cocoa made with coconut milk

In my eyes coconuts can do no wrong, especially when using their milk to make hot cocoa.

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm on cloud nine.

Bouncing around cloud nine = cooking mojo featuring farmer's market finds!

I cooked some onions and garlic with turmeric, then threw in some beans, tomatoes, and kale. Then when the heat was lowered was when the olive oil, shredded mango chutney, and tamarind chutney decided to join in on the party! Cilantro for garnish, but then I decided to eat it separately since it didn’t go well with this. The real stars of this though are those adorable tomatoes! I got a bowl of them at the market for $1.00.

Lately, I’ve been trying to make a more conscious decision about who my money is going to. This leads me to that realization that I may be spending a little more than usual. When I’m away at school, I feel like I’m on a financial… leash? But you know what? It’s one thing to be mindful of my purchases, but another to incessantly feel like I have to justify everything I get. While I was down in Florida, I didn’t feel this sort of pressure because my parents were there “okaying” everything. For instance, I bought organic things (dirty dozen, anyone?) and there was no second-guessing. This pressure I put on myself comes from me not having a job and being 100% financially dependent on my parents. A friend pointed out though that she’s in the same situation, but it’s not like she doesn’t work hard. She’s right, and I do work hard! Okay, so I’m going to stop rambling and leave it at that. Whatever. I am worth it. Not to mention, when I’m buying something straight from the farmer… well, it’s no longer just about me. It’s about community and helping one another in some shape or form.

Biked down to one of the local farmer's markets with a friend.

Some of the vendors have been doing this for decades (one of them for more than a generation) and they can use their own hands as scales--and I'm pretty sure they're not gipping me.

But back to tomatoes; they are also good for liver health. Tomatoes have a detoxification effect in the body. Probably it is due to the presence of chlorine and sulfur in tomatoes. ”Actually, in the United States, more tomatoes are consumed than any other single fruit or vegetable. Tomatoes far outdistance oranges, potatoes, lettuce, peas, carrots, and bananas!“Although in ayurveda they are generally avoided because they are a nightshade food, meaning they have aggravating qualities. Afterall, tomatoes used to be known as “wolf peaches”. Maybe that’s why the Italian men howl at all of the pretty ladies who walk by! Anyway, I had tried to reduce my tomato consumption, but you know what? I’m not the kind of person who strictly follows one philosophy. These are ideas, some of them make sense, and some of them will just never float my boat. But I also read that not all people in ayurveda are sensitive to the nightshade foods. However, people suffering from these conditions are advised to avoid them: arthritis, eczema, acid reflux disease, cystitis, lupus, and psoriasis. I also wanted to share an interesting article I found written by Junji Takano, a Japanese health researcher: “Tomatoes and Its Medicinal Properties“.

Goodies!

I need more plantains in my life pronto!

It’s funny how much more you appreciate something you haven’t had in awhile. A serious revival and a delicious reunion! I fried some plantains with beans, sea salt, thyme, shredded mango chutney, and coconut oil. Then I served over some romaine, and other veggies. Really simple. I realized that I use onions in practically all of my cooking, and I found out that they reduce kidney and liver damage associated with uncontrolled blood sugar level. I just don’t advise taking a bite out a raw onion bulb.

Recently, I decided to use my secret oat bar recipe and make something fun like muffins instead!

Proof that we eat with our eyes first, because these just magically seem to taste better!

I’ve already made a couple batches so I can just grab-n-go-go-go. My classes finally start up tomorrow and I am so excited! I have a Human Spirituality class in the early morning and a Contact Improv dance class right after. Wish me luck!

Let Me Count the Ways I Love Thee

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Katharina

Thank you so much for the kind words everyone! I read the comments to my mom, and it definitely made her day. Actually, I think it made her week. Also I had mentioned that I wasn’t wearing foundation. Then I realized that I don’t ever wear foundation. I used to use a popular mineral one, but I looked it up and found out that sometimes it may irritate the skin further. With that, I decided to let my skin breathe and it ended up helping clear it up a bit. Anyway, enough talk about that…

I tried a new kind of kale.

Red kale is also known as Russian red kale. It has a sweeter taste compared to other types, and it even smelled like roses! “Green is associated with Spring – a time of renewal and refreshing vital energy. In oriental medicine green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity.“

First, I enjoyed it raw, massaged with flax oil and another dressing.

Alongside, came a sweet potato exploding with beans cooked in shredded mango chutney and thyme.

I love adding thyme to sweet recipes now–especially that one.

I usually prefer purées over brothy soups.

I followed this recipe for pea and watercress purée, except I used ghee instead of butter. It was deliciously fresh tasting, but comforting at the same time. I have fond memories of pea soups and peas in general. When I was younger, one of the daycares I went to always served them. As you can see I love stuffing my sweet potatoes with beans. My dad asked me where I got this great idea from, and where exactly I don’t know–but it’s one of the great things I’ve stumbled across on blogs!

Sweet potatoes another way!

Here I cubed a sweet potato and mixed it with onions, beans, and zucchini cooked with mango chutney. I topped it off with ghee, flax oil, and toasted coconut shreds!

A delicious way to satisfy sweet and savoury flavors.

This sweet potato went to funky town!

Then to salad town with some ghee, beans, and hummus!

The other day I was running some errands to prepare for my move back up to school.

Look at what I spotted when I went to Target!

I thought of you Holly! I wanted to send her a picture text message but then I realized I didn’t have her number hahaha. So instead I whipped out my big DSLR camera to take this picture. I had some onlookers–what? I’m fascinated by peanut butter! If they tried it on top of their oats, sweet potatoes, carrots, or anything for that matter besides just bread… well they’d understand.

Some of my supply to take up to school with me!

I would have a hard time if I were living in the dorms, wouldn’t I? I’m bringing things that are convenient for student-life, and of course to help keep strengthening my liver!

Since I've been adding the pulp from juicing to my oats I've had to move to bigger bowls...

Exhibit A

Beet pulp!

I had leftover spiced cobbler "crust" and served it with peaches and apricots instead of blueberries.

Which I enjoyed poolside!

Tutti-fruitti!

When I watched the movie “Eat. Pray. Love” I learned that tutti in Italian means “everything” or “all”. Now the name of the flavor makes sense! Anyway, I wanted to give you guys a tidbit on a fruit in this breakfast that I haven’t featured much on my blog. Enter the fuzzy kiwi! They are full of vitamin C, which is one of the most beneficial antioxidants for liver health. It provides protection from free radicals and reduces damage to liver cells from harmful chemical toxins. other sources are citrus fruits, berries, broccoli, cucumber, and spinach. Kiwis are also a good source of beta-carotene and vitamin E. A little interesting scientific factoid I found out about vitamin E actually that actually makes sense: “Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant. It protects fats from becoming rancid due to free radical attacks. The cell membranes that protect the liver are fat based. So vitamin E helps protect the cells that protect the liver! A study has also shown that vitamin E can reduce the scar tissue in liver – which can lead to cirrhosis.” Now I just imagine vitamin E as a nice comfy cushion that can protect me! Almonds are also a good source of vitamin E, so your comfy cushion can even be a nice, big spoonful of almond butter.

More kiwis--served with Ani Phyo's coconut ice kream.

Also in this bowl is a fruit I mentioned in my last post. A lot of you had something to say about apricots. I’ve been eating them often, but I realized that I like dried apricots more than fresh. I think it’s because they’re sweeter hehe.

Many of you have been asking which Ayurvedic book I’m using “Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners” by Amadea Morningstar

Anyway, I'm back up at school!

It’s funny how between Florida and Virginia, the background for my food pictures changes. In Florida you may recognize the place-mats and glass table. However, while I’m up at school I use my desk’s stationary pull-out as the background. My actual kitchen gets no natural light, and you know how I feel about that as far as photography goes!

And now that I'm near a Trader Joe's again I can re-stock this, but nothing beats McCutcheon's pumpkin butter.

Here’s a little hint for my next post…

I went to Sur la Table...

To get a brioche mold; but what for?

And that is what you will find out later! Till then…

I hope everyone gets to relax some.

Eat the Rainbow

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Katharina

I’m very glad that you all enjoyed the video I made! I definitely want to make more in the very near future. Remember how I had talked about how I was doing things to relieve stress? Well, one of the greatest ways for me is through yoga.

I try to set aside atleast 20-30 minutes a day for my practice.

I’ve also been relieving tension through scent. Let me set the relaxing mood for you all…

By lighting a sandalwood incense

Ahh, much better.

The rippling fruit effect

Looks like I didn’t grind my flaxseeds enough! Oh well. Anyway, this bowl has peaches, apple slices, and banana slices. Gosh, I really love peaches so much right now, and I’m always reminded of Lauren when I eat one. So I think of you often my dear! What are some things that remind you of someone?

A mushy bowl with lots of color!

This time I mixed the usual oats with some leftover pulp from one of my dad’s juices (mostly carrots, beets, with bits of kale and ginger). Then I added the fruits and ground golden flaxseed!

And sometimes I like neutrality in my color palette.

Frozen bananas are excellent for adding that cooling factor for oats. Although I do make mine the night prior, but it’s just that much more refreshing. Not to mention, the slices kind of melt in your mouth.

Got to give poopy brown some love too!

I made this bar loosely based on… anything that’s baked with chocolate and bananas! For the ratio of banana chips to dates it was 2/3 cup to 1/3 cup. This was so delicious! In fact, my mom took one of these bars to go when we were at the movies, and as she was unwrapping it I kind of got jealous as the smell was making it’s way over to my nose. Ugh, why didn’t I bring one with me?

Sure, none of this really makes sense together, but who cares?

“Much research has focused on the beneficial phytonutrients in cabbage, particularly its indole-3-carbinole (I3C), sulforaphane, and indoles. These two compounds help activate and stabilize the body’s antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms that dismantle and eliminate cancer-producing substances. I3C has been shown to improve estrogen detoxification and to reduce the incidence of breast cancer. In one small human study, researchers found that after I3C was given for 7 days, the rate at which estrogen was broken down through the liver’s detoxification pathway increased nearly 50%.“

Click here for more info on the benefits of cabbage.

Sweet-and-sour green cabbage

You know what’s been great? Since I’ve been taking extra care of my liver, I’ve noticed that I can use a lot of recipes I’ve made in the past. The only difference is making a few changes like using ghee for frying instead of another cooking oil. By the way, it’s important to make sure that the oil you’re cooking with is refined to handle high-heat or else it could be releasing carcinogens once it goes over a certain temperature. Labels should disclose that kind of information. For instance, I know that Spectrum’s labels include that information. I’ve also learned to avoid cooking with olive oil at hot temperatures. Ideally, you just want to put it on your food once it’s done cooking. Now where’s the crusty loaf of bread so I can dip it into some olive oil with cracked pepper?

A recipe from my Ayurvedic cook book...

The recipe was baked pinquito beans, but I didn’t have pinquito beans so I just used navy beans as was suggested. This recipe was so delicious–subtly sweet from the apples and honey with a hint of spiciness from the red chile. The garlic and onions have always been a staple in my cooking, but now I’ve been adding fresh ginger as well.

Baked "pinquito beans" covered with butternut squash and pear soup with a side cheetah rounds please!

I haven’t made these cheetah rounds in forever! I’ve gotten so use to simply baking whole ones. Oh, I just love sweet potatoes no matter what way I make them… mashed, baked, grilled, or sliced!

More sweet potato love with... what is that green stuff?

It kind of looks like seaweed! But it’s not. I roasted some kale, but not just any old kale.

I found this wonder at our local Italian market the other day--lacinto kale aka dino kale!

I’m eager to try more recipes with this new type of kale I got! When I first ventured into my liver strengthening journey I said that I still wanted to go on food adventures. The last thing I want is to end up being bored eating the same thing all of the time. I actually used to loathe leftovers because of this. I always want to try something new! But now I see how convenient leftovers can be when I barely have time to breathe.

Not sweet potato... but butternut squash!

I was inspired by Lauren’s butternut squash nut butter encrusted fries recipe, and I definitely knew I wanted to give them a go! I used peanut butter instead of almond butter for this recipe though.

These were way more magically delicious than a whole box of Lucky Charms!

Butternut squash will always be one of my favorite foods. As long as my mom’s around there will be atleast something with butternut squash during the week–she loves this squash too! “Oh, and save the seeds and toast them – they’re a wonderful source of nutrition as well as being a delightful and healthy snack! Studies have revealed that they support liver functions and fight various types of cancer.” Also, the vitamin A in butternut squash helps with acne and other important things like the immune system, hormone production, and so many other things. Other foods with vitamin A include fish liver oil, animal liver, apricots, asparagus, beet greens, carrots, pumpkins, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, mangoes, and green leafy vegetables.

Did someone say beets?

I roasted these beautiful beets in the oven and just drizzled them with olive oil afterwards. Then of course came the sea salt and pepper. What are those greens on the side? Why they’re dandelion greens from our garden! Did you know? “Dandelion has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a powerful liver tonic. Dandelion is said to enhance the flow of bile in your body, improving the function of your liver, and remedy liver conditions such as hepatitis, gallstones, and jaundice. A daily cup of dandelion tea is recommended for anyone who feels run-down, sluggish, and over-stressed. Dandelion greens are also an incredibly healthy food — chock full of vitamin C, higher in beta-carotene than carrots and richer in iron and calcium content than spinach.” Whoa! And they actually have a very mild taste. Not like the mustard greens I tried! I now know that I can only handle a small bit at a time or else my nose starts to burn like crazy–kind of like wasabi.

In other news, Matilda has been telling me that she's ready for a new look.

Chic chic! Stylish like her mother.

p.s. this is how near of a future I meant!

From My Heart to Your Belly

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Katharina

It was so interesting reading about some of your doshas! Laury had mentioned that one of her clients sees an Ayurvedic doctor who can tell what their patient ate simply by touching them. Wow! Imagine being that in-tune! I thought I’d share a link that you may find interesting, and who knows… it may help fill in some blanks: Ayurveda Info-center.

“The whole person-and the whole field of interpersonal behavior-can be spontaneously enhanced by the process of self-referral, or looking within to experience the Self. This is analogous to the natural process by which all the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit of a tree can be simultaneously nourished and enlivened by watering the root.“

I had some prepping to do last Friday, as we were having guests all the way from Germany. I didn’t want to stress out about it because first off, I didn’t have to! As I was cooking I made sure to have a clear mind, and good intentions. I just wanted everyone to be able to relax and enjoy when they ate. Not to mention, the whole house smelled divine!

: Pain D’Epice or French honey-spice bread

: This involved egg whisking.

: Anise!

: and other delicious spices and citrus zest.

: I also made a well for the whisked eggs and soy milk.

: Finger licking

: Oh that’s right! This has to go in the oven.

: Et Voila!

A deliciously sweet and aromatic bread–a bit burned around the edges but tasty nonetheless. I don’t think that many of you know that I’m quite the honey afficianado. I have honeys ranging in flavors from lavender to almond, as dark as molasses, local variations, and even artisanal raw honeycomb squares from Savannah Bee Company. It’s funny because most of these were gifts from friends.

: Then a mysterious package came in the mail.

: I have been eyeing these shoes all summer!

: I saw this as a sign to dress up and play hostess.

The guests would be arriving soon!

: And a goofy one for the heck of it!

: Our guests!

: Ivy’s sesame-coconut rice, yellow split pea dhal, and a spinach salad with avocado, blueberries, and lemon-balsamic vinaigrette.

This meal was so flavorful! My mom also made a coconut chicken curry with pineapple. The rice was my favorite though. I cooked some basmati rice with ghee and salt. Afterwards I fried the dried coconut and sesame seeds in more ghee. Once that was golden I mixed it in with the cooked rice. Wow! The ghee did so much for this dish. One of the guests said it was one of the best meals he’s ever had. Perhaps my good intentions really did work!

Yellow Split Pea Dhal

Spinach Salad with Avocado, Blueberries, Feta and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette (I omitted the feta since I’m avoiding cheese for the time being)

: I made mango lassi for dessert!

: Cheers to a great meal m’lady.

: The next morning involved the French honey-spice bread topped with ghee + a bowl of Greek yogurt, fruits, and ground golden flaxseeds.

The bread reminded me of one of the Christmas cakes in Germany. Deliciously nostalgic.

: We also bought pan de bono, which is a delicious Colombian cheese bread.

: And one of my other favorites: arepa de choclo

Our guests fully enjoyed the breakfast! Actually, everyone did.

: Beans, beans…

“Soaking reduces excess dryness, calming the air element in foods and enhancing the water element. The added moisture supports the action of agni, digestive fire, on food, making foods easier for the body to break down. This beneficial Ayurvedic practice of soaking is used with beans, peas, nuts, some seeds, and dried fruits. Soaking is most often done overnight by simply covering the food with pure water and letting it sit, covered, until the morning.”

After soaking the beans for many hours, I cooked them with bay leaves. Once they were cooked I fried some onions, garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. Then added the beans and some sea salt. Simple, delicious, and very helpful for my liver.

: More legumes

I steamed some edamame, then sprinkled on some sea salt. I love eating them out of their shells.

: A bowl beaming with green!

This was a mix of kale and mustard greens. I massaged the greens with flaxseed oil, as Neela had suggested. This was very tasty and helped lessen the bitterness of raw kale. Speaking of kale, I found a really great recipe for kale and chard salad with blue cheese. Check it out!

“Kale contains sulphorane…which only becomes apparent when cruciferous veggies such as kale, cabbage and broccoli are chewed or chopped. But it’s what sulphorane does that’s important. It encourages the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer causing chemicals, especially those connected to chemically-induced breast cancer and colon cancer.“

: I also massaged watercress and green cabbage shreds in flaxseed oil as well.

Watercress is in the same family as kale and mustard greens, so they have similar health benefits.

“Watercress juice is so concentrated with so much cleansing goodness that it activates the detoxifying enzymes in the liver for detoxifying a hangover.”

Watercress juice could be a party girl’s best friend!

Another interesting tid-bit I found from an article I read by Brendan Brazier about stress-reducing foods:

“Alkaline forming – leafy green vegetables, chlorella

Enzyme rich – raw fruits and vegetables

Hormone balancing – maca (Peruvian root vegetable)

High quality, complementary protein – hemp, yellow pea, brown rice

Rich in essential fatty acids – flax seeds”

Check, check, and check! I’ve actually been adding maca powder to my oats once they cool down due to my hormone imbalance; I struggle with too much testosterone. Right now, for me, I’m trying to eat most of my vegetables steamed or lightly (3-5 minutes) pan-fried with ghee to keep the nutrients. If I eat them raw, however, I massage them in oil so it’s easier for my dosha to handle. And it looks like I’ll be enjoying more yellow split pea dhal in my future!

Without further ado, here’s my video!

Joy of Baking

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Katharina

I forgot to mention that Mitri’s mom’s baked ziti recipe, the one I feared would send my tummy ailments over the top, actually left me feeling 100% better the next day. This would be my cure; Who would’ve thought?

Ah my tummy finally started to not act all funky on me.

I tried some Artisana Walnut Butter on cranberry cinnamon swirl toast. I don’t thing there’s a single Artisana nut butter that I’ve tried that I haven’t absolutely loved. And I love cinnamon-anything toast for breakfast; especially the smell when it’s toasting! I also smeared on some of my favorite pumpkin butter and cream cheese on two slices. Oh! That’s also a bowl of European style yogurt with Crofter’s superfruit spread.

Thank goodness for leftovers! I enjoyed Mitri’s mother’s baked ziti recipe for lunch, and I gave my dad the other half to have at work the next day. SO GOOD!

I visited the islands the other day... kind of!

I visited the Caribbean the other day... kind of!

I followed this recipe for a taste of Haiti: Polenta, Beans, and Coconut or Maya Moulen Kole Ak Pwa Ak Kokoye, or Polenta aux Haricots Rouges et a la Noix de Coco. The above picture has the addition of tamarind-date chutney, but my favorite way to eat this was with melted cheese!

Let’s take a break from the food for a New York minute. The other day I went on a bike ride with my friend and Matilda on an unusually beautiful day.

We stumbled upon one of the many secrets parts spread out among the old Victorian neighborhood.

Pretty solid jungle gym!

Uh oh this was a lot bigger than what he thought.

Uh oh this was a lot longer than what he thought.

Is he going to attempt it?

Let go!

He went zooming down.

Yeah!

Matilda and the dog on the balcony were having a conversation.

Cray-cray!

My little warrior.

While we were at the park, the woman who helped keep it from being knocked down came and talked to us. She told us about events that are in the works, then she was summoned by her little son telling her the kitchen was beeping. “That means the rice is done cooking!”

Matilda was in her element running around and exploring.

Then we headed over to Strawberry St.

Might I also add that I bumped into my ex on this street. I was just trying to send brainwaves to my friend hoping he would hurry up!

: Remember this from your childhood?

I had a bowl of Farina creamy hot wheat cereal. I mixed in one of sample packs of rice protein powder, NuNaturals vanilla liquid, and cinnamon. On top I sliced a banana and finished the rest of my Artisana walnut butter sampler. I tried to make something inspired by banana-walnut bread. Eating the Farina was so comforting as I felt the chilly morning through the window pane.

And something to wear on a chilly day.

I forgot I had these!

After I got back from my Taoism class I wanted to bake something!

I decided to bake some pumpkin pie spiced, dried cranberry and ricotta cheese scones.

I decided to bake some pumpkin pie spiced dried cranberries, and ricotta cheese scones.

Mixing!

In to the toaster oven you guys go!

And shortly after these little guys were ready, and smelling better than ever!

I had a friend that I wanted to give some scones to in my English class.

I had a friend in my Literature class that I wanted to give some scones to.

That’s the thing I love about baking – it’s just so easy to share. Maybe it comes from the infectious smells that come from the oven whenever something delicious is baking.

Enjoyed for breakfast the next morning!

I spread on a dollop of ricotta + pumpkin butter on one scone, and the other I tried with coconut oil. I don’t think I could ever go wrong with coconut oil. Afterwards, since it was my free day I decided to walk over to my friend’s place of work. She works downtown in the heart of the medical campus of my school. I had a special delivery to make, so that meant dressing up! This is part of the work criteria when you work for Katharina’s version of FedEx.

This dress is rather large, but I love it anyhow!

One of the problems I encounter as a member of Petite People crew.

The back that had me at hello.

I have busting out the Forgotten Shoes this week.

I have been wearing some of the Forgotten Shoes this week.

I’m so sorry for my absence this week. I have been studying for a mid-term and working like a busy bee in the studio. But I have been trying to keep up with everyone’s blog because I just can’t get enough of you all!

Now here’s something for you all to chew on. The other day as I was browsing for recipes I stumbled upon an Ayurvedic recipe site, and I noticed they use the word pacify when it came to eating. Why not pacify ourselves? Afterall, we deserve it.

p.s. Next post is super special! This is my 100th post, but 101 is so much better. So don’t miss it, okay???

Variety’s the Very Spice of Life

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Katharina

It’s almost the end of the work week!!! What better way to start this post, than with one of my favorite posts this week. One of my favorite bloggers, Nicole (hey girl hey!) wrote a post that brought a smile to my face and reminded me how wonderful family can be; and being with them can bring such happiness. Check it out!

Not enough room to pack in my bag -this is what I wore on my traveling day!

This isn't good-bye, just see you later.

I left Matilda with the only person I would trust besides my family. Actually, I trust her because she is like family! I miss Matilda so much. I keep thinking I hear her little paws clicking on the marble floor.

Twas a rainy day

The first part of my flight was delayed so when we landed I had less than 15 minutes to run across the airport at Detroit to make it to my connecting flight. By the time I got to the gate they were already boarding. But I made it!

I took some pictures of some interesting things my parents have.

Check it out peeps!

Fufu flour aka plaintain flour, Kefir made from goat’s milk, Dr. Kracker crackers, German bread (NEELA!), pomegranate seeds, and tamarind.

They actually have Sabra! So smooth!

My parents have good taste. But I am kind of surprised that the only nuts in the house were macadamias! I think this is because my mom can’t really eat nuts anymore since she got braces. After my dad got back from his long walk, we made breakfast together.

A papaya cut just in time; perfect!

Nino banana!

I made a fruit salad.

I love the variety of fruits my parents have!

The chocolate chips I plan on kidnapping!

On the side is some cottage cheese and fruits.

Cottage cheese in my oats!

I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try a style of oats I see on April’s blog. Afterall, this lady definitely knows what’s up! My mom just followed me as if it was a rule. She’s so cute! I think she thinks I’m Queen of Oats or something. If she saw what all you other talented folks create, her mind would be blown.

For lunch I made a wrap and stir-fry.

I swear my parents have been reading food blogs. These wraps were the Flat-Out ones I see frequently around the blogosphere. Inside my wrap? Sabra hummus of course! Also some organic girl baby spinach, tomato, and the best medium cheddar I’ve ever tasted.

I also made a wrap for my dad.

When I first tasted the medium cheddar I exclaimed how good it was. Then he remarked that he thought it would taste good with apples. I agreed! So I made him a wrap with melted medium cheddar, cooked onion, and apple. I actually ended up taking the first bite. My excuse? I’m the king’s taste tester… you know… just in case someone tries to poison him?

Post Office adventure!

Afterwards we headed to the dry cleaners, then on to more important matters. I finally got to submitting two of my videos to a film festival up in Seattle. Fingers crossed!!! Then we went to the mall and I got some new sneakers. My mom also took me to this new lingerie boutique she went to the other day. They had so many pretty things! It reminded me of this Japanese intimacy boutique I went to the last time I was in New York. They had cute Betsey Johnson sets and Chantelle bralettes.

Dinner time rolled around…

Variety = lots of color!

Mexican!

I am totally taking advantage of the .79 cent avocados while I’m down here! I just cooked the vegetables in olive oil, salt, and squirts of lime juice. The beans were cooked with cumin and turmeric. All together? Tortilla, veggies, beans, Queso Fresco, corn and bean salsa + AVOCADO!

And two beautiful and inspiring young women gave me, along with some other wonderful ladies, an amazing award! Thank you Karina and Mitri.

I have to fill out this survey using only one word answers now….

1.Where is your cell phone? Bag

2.Your hair? Dirty

3. Your mother? Super-sweet

4. Your father? Mr. Logical

5. Your favorite food? Indian

6. Your dream last night? RANDOM

7. Your favorite drink? WhiteRussian (I made it one word!)

8. Your dream/goal? PREVAIL!

9. What room are you in? Bedroom

10. Your hobby? Dance

11. Your fear? Toothless

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Traveling

13. Where were you last night? Airport

14. Something you aren’t? Bitter

15. Muffins? Breakfast!

16. Wish list item? Projector

17. Where did you grow up? Germany/Florida

18. Last thing you did? Ate

19. What are you wearing? Pj’s

20. Your TV? AltonBrown

21. Your pets? Matildaaa

22. Your friends? RULE

23. Your life? Fortunate

24. Your mood? Content

25. Missing someone? Matilda!

26. Vehicle? GANGSTAAA’

27. Something you’re not wearing? Bra!

28. Your favorite store? Anthropologie

29. Your favorite color? Green

30. When was the last time you laughed? NOW

31. Last time you cried? Wednesday

32. Your best friend? Mama

33. One place that I go over and over? Studiooo

34. One person who emails me regularly? Mom

35. Favorite place to eat? Indian!

and pass the award on to 5 other amazing bloggers! Oh my gosh do I really have to choose? For real, there are just way too many bright crayons to choose from. So… can I choose… everyone? Okay!

On the way home from the airport last night my mom told me that she shared my blog with some of her friends and co-workers and they were amazed. They told my mom that I should open up some kind of something! One of her friends actually suggested something that I can seriously consider in my near future – hosting “how-to” cooking clinics. Wouldn’t that be fun? Does anybody have any advice on this?

Hope you enjoy your day tomorrow. Heck it's Friday - do I even need to hope?

p.s. I want to make the FAQ video mañana - so keep the questions coming!

The Summer of Salads

Posted on September 7, 2009 by Katharina

The other Saturday I got out of my class (yeah Saturday class!), and biked over to an outdoor market called Antiques on Broad. I was starving so I had Kim meet up with me and bring me some biscotti and Matilda (didn’t eat her though).

: Antiques on Broad

: Awesome suitcases that didn’t open.

: Carrying a fan around is a must!

It was so hot that day we could feel the sweat dripping down our backs.

: DJ Kim in the house

: Hottie alert!

We just browsed around and found some inspiration for our apartment. A couple posts ago I was talking about summer coming to an end, and how that means less cold salads to enjoy.

: A Mexican inspired salad

I just mixed in some rice, romaine, tomato slices, white beans, corn, cauliflower, red onion, cilantro, and sour cream. The only thing that was missing was avocado!

: Failed attempt at making white bean hummus.

: Oh my gosh this salad was incredible!

So this salad had romaine, tomatoes, corn, red onion, black beans, cilantro, sour cream, bulgur, and cilantro dressing! Yum yum yum. I love buying a big head of romaine lettuce from the fresh produce section rather than the bagged kind. It’s a lot cheaper too.

: I haven’t cooked tofu in ages.

For this tofu I just coated it with unsweetened coconut flakes and agave, then fried it on the pan with some chopped red onions. I laid out a nice bed of romaine and tomato chunks, and used a sesame ginger dressing. On the side I made my first tomato sandwich! I added a little something special: Old Bay Seasoning. This meal was so delicious and refreshing. What a summer meal should be, no?

: Putting the rest of my tofu to use.

This is the first time I made stir-fry with noodles – I used egg noodles. I’d say this was Thai inspired. I stir-fried some broccoli, corn, carrots, tofu, garlic and onions in sesame oil. Then I added some lime juice towards the end and garnished it all with cilantro and sesame seeds. My dad brought those chopsticks back when he was opening up an office over in Hong Kong. Jumbo is a floating restaurant that serves Dim Sum. I think it’s a major tourist attraction over there.

In recent news, my mom went to Colombia over the labor day weekend. I wanted to go with her but I have that darned Saturday class! I really miss her. She said that she would visit me this month, and all of my friends up here want to meet her so badly! My friends that already know her want to take her out for drinks. Then my guy friends all have a crush on her. She just radiates a lot of love I guess! It’s funny because when I was in Germany after high school my friends would still hang out with her even though I wasn’t there. I also have some more travel related news! My friend Sway and I are planning a trip to Europe over the winter. I haven’t gone back there in a couple of years, so I’m extremely excited about this!!!

Anyway, I’ll leave you all with a midnight snack.

I heated up the apple with some soy creamer and cinnamon. Then crumbled some graham crackers on top.

Yummy apples from a local orchard.

What do you guys like to snack on?

We Eat What We Like

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Katharina

Remember that from the Apple Jacks commercials? Anyway, I will start off this post the same way I start off my days

: Some green tea!

And another one of my favorite beverages

: A refreshingly thick vanilla, banana, and peanut butter smoothie.

: Oh my, I was a little hesitant to try this simply because of the unappetizing color.

In this smoothie is a packet of Amazing Grass Chocolate Meal Shake with a frozen banana and some vanilla. It actually wasn’t too shabby. I definitely could taste the greenness of it, but the banana helped balance it out.

: Lots of ground flaxseed!

In the background you can see a little bag of Hazelnut Sweet Chips from Kay’s Naturals. These were so yummy! I mixed some in with my yogurt and blueberry puddle. I also enjoyed these with another treat that I’ll be sharing with you in another post. I also tried something new with my yogurt. The people at NuNaturals sent me some items to sample and review. Thanks guys!

: Stevia baking blend, vanilla stevia extract, and plain stevia.

I put a few drops of the vanilla stevia in my yogurt. It was a nice addition to my blueberries, and just the right amount of sweetness. There was no weird aftertaste either. Stevia is such an interesting sweetener. I went to a garden once and I picked off a stevia leaf and I could taste the familiar sweetness. My roommates parents actually have a stevia plant, but we’re not sure how to use that. Does anyone else know?

Okay, I’m not quite sure where to start with my eats… so let me just randomly choose! I hope you’re in the mood for something Mexican.

: Some mini soft tacos + pepper jack with a side of red cabbage + coconut oil + applesauce.

I wish I could eat cabbage raw without suffering the gaseous consequences. I would probably make so many different kinds of slaws.

Now let’s move on to some buns!

: Zucchini with white beans and garlic.

: Snobby joes with cauliflower, corn, and avocado on the side.

: I baked a loaf of Irish soda bread for my roommate.

In my old place when I first moved in, I would bake this bread and it was fun because I could shape it however I pleased. However, I just didn’t feel like baking it anymore. I think it might’ve been because I felt in some weird way… unappreciated. The only person who really showed any appreciation was Kim, and I thought it would seem strange to bake a loaf for only us two when three other people were living in the house. But I promised Kim that once we moved to the new place I would bake her loaf since she loved it.

: A cold bowl of Chinese sweet red bean soup with tapioca pearls and almonds.

I tried my leftovers with toasted coconut, and I loved it! These red beans are so small and adorable!

: A new cereal to try!

Have you guys heard of Erewhon? They’re a part of U.S. Mills (which has so many breakfast grains to choose from). This is the Strawberry Crisp cereal, and for anyone with gluten allergies this is a gluten-free cereal. Usually, I don’t eat cereal because it’s not very filling but sometimes I just want something refreshing. The only thing I have to say about this cereal is that it could be a tad bit sweeter. I am surprised at how many dried strawberries actually come in the box. I find that most cereal with dried fruits shouldn’t even claim to have them! If you like cornflakes, then I think you will enjoy this. I know that I’m enjoying my box!

: Cinnamon Raisin instant oatmeal with soymilk!

I’ve also tried another U.S. Mills product from Uncle Sam. Instant oatmeal is perfect for a college student, and anyone else with a busy lifestyle. But when was the last time you guys saw one with soymilk? That’s right! This was so delicious! They also have a French Vanilla flavor. Yum! Moreover, I got to enjoy this in a most delicious jar of almond butter with crumbled graham crackers.

And what’s the fruit concoction to the right?

: Strawberry-Kiwi Salad with Basil

It doesn’t look too pretty, but don’t judge a book by its cover! I followed this recipe, but I didn’t have white balsamic vinegar on hand. I’m sure it made a difference, definitely in color!

I’ve also noticed a lot of you guys putting pretzels in your wonderful oat creations. I wish I had thought of that before I finished my Kay’s Naturals sample!

: The last of my Kay’s Naturals goodies – and boy was this good!

This is turning into a breakfast post!

: Yogurt with kiwi and strawberries and some ground flaxseed.

I also toasted some cinnamon raisin swirl bread. That slice on the left is topped with… Cacoa Bliss! I had graciously gotten these adorable samples of Artisana nut butters from Tristan awhile ago . I finally busted into some of them. Let me just say now that this is just as amazing as everyone has been exclaiming!

: Army of deliciousness.

So far I’ve tried Cacao Bliss, Cashew Butter, Pecan Butter, and the Macadamia Butter. I really don’t think words can do these nut butters justice. You just have to try them! I’m so grateful to the people who sent me this generous package. Thank you for introducing me to something new and taking me on another food adventure. I think my mom would love the Macadamia Butter since they are her favorite nut.

: The mothership!

Let’s see… what other breakfast goodness to I have to share?

: These had a Manager’s Special price tag on them!

: I just added corn and served them with apple sauce and sour cream.

No one makes latkes better than my dad though. I’ve even tried sweet potato latkes at a restaurant once, but my dad takes the potato on these!

Okay so I’ll show you guys something that’ll help you digest!

: When I went to the James River the other day.

: My friend Clinton sitting on a big rock.

And now for my crazy dog lady picture from when my friend, Sway, visited.

: She’s so freaking cute!

: A close encounter with another kind.

Special Alert!

If any of you are interested in winning samples of the Crofter’s spreads, they do giveaways regularly on Facebook and Twitter.

Twitter: Croftersorganic
Facebook: Crofter’s Organic

p.s. Last post featured an array of yummy creations thanks to Sullivan Street Bakery. I found an article on them that I thought you all might enjoy!

Super Bowl Party Sandwiches

p.s.s. Gorgeous Justine had the brilliant idea of a giveaway. Well, right now I’ve got something in the works. I’m really excited about it because I’ve never hosted a giveaway before, and what’s more wonderful than sharing?

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: beans