“Summer Beauty Foods” Release & Perricone MD Giveaway

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Katharina

Hi everyone!

Today I have something special in mind. I’ve been feeling like I’ve been all over the place, mostly in mind… a lot has been going on which is why I haven’t written a post in awhile. I had actually been wanting to write something around the time when I was traveling around, and had finally settled back into New York. Now that I’ve been back, and being the introvert that I am… along with the start of the fall season I’ve been giving myself some extra TLC. Whether it’s an aromatic foot soak for ten minutes, lighting a candle, or swinging my hair around to some music.

This time of year always reminds me of how we pull out vegetables, and that this is also the time we go back to our roots. During these transition times I like to simplify things so I can hear my body better. What’s it trying to say?

Honey is my candy?

Now let’s hop back to Florida… early August.

Remember back when I was instructing a workshop called “Beauty On A Plate”?

That particular afternoon started off with a lovely bouquet of flowers.

And in the spirit of antioxidants we opened a couple bottles of pomegranate wine… made from pomegranates!

A bit of prep work…

For some of them it was their first time cutting asparagus, and as an instructor it always helps when people share things like that. I love helping people learn how to do things, and have them leave feeling more confident. Now what was on this three-course menu?

Continue reading →

Super from Inside, Out

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Katharina

Hello there again everyone! Remember how I said I would be walking in Richmond’s Fashion Week? Well that took place the week before, and I thought I’d do a little recap of the shenanigans. So let’s jump right in, shall we?

So begin the long days...

Beauties all bundled up in the tent that was put up for the finale show.

Inspiration boards and look books made many appearances.

And so did some tasty meals throughout the week…

Spaghetti squash with roasted brussels and chickpeas.

I had stumbled upon this recipe on Susan’s blog awhile ago, and I thought it was a great way to use spaghetti squash. Susan makes an interesting point about this wondrous squash, “Spaghetti squash tastes like–surprise!–squash, and if you sit down to a plate of it expecting to bite into a forkful of angel hair, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you’re expecting lightly sweet squashy flavor in fun-to-eat strands of gold, you’ll love spaghetti squash in general and this recipe in particular.” Exactly why I wasn’t too crazy about this squash because I had only prepared it the same way I would eat pasta.

I took her suggestion and added some almonds.

This tasted so satisfying, and shed a new light on spaghetti squash. Two things actually in this dish that I’ve had to give a second chance to… brussels sprouts and now spaghetti squash.

Ive also been inspired by my roommate.

She cook a lot with coconut milk, and one day I had to exclaim how wonderful the kitchen smelled! She told me all she did was cook her vegetables in coconut milk with a bit of Bragg’s. So the next time I sautéed some kale and chickpeas, I added those other two simple ingredients and had myself a very tasty meal.

And I when I saw the words "cookies for dinner" I was immediately intrigued.

These Trail Mix Cookies were a bit of an adventure for me. I had never actually cooked with buckwheat groats or tried buckwheat anything for that matter. The wonderful thing about this recipe is that you can really change it up to your liking, and they’re gluten-free for those who have sensitivities. You can make whatever signature trail mix cookies you dream up! The texture of these is really nice too because it’s moist and has crunchy bits as well.

Cooking this reminded me of when my grandma in the kitchen.

There are certain things like butternut squash soups or boiling milk that remind me of her. Green lentils are another thing that bring me back there. I just cooked some lentils with basmati rice, onions, and garlic in water. Then added random seasonings and sea salt to taste. When everything was almost done cooking I added the diced carrots and green beans. One thing that I don’t like is an overcooked vegetable. I actually don’t even really mind if I find a strand of hair in my food. I just take it out and it’s not a big deal. I mean we have hair on our heads and sometimes one may fall out. Now that I got sidetracked on to the topic of hair, we should get back to the fashion week recap.

Hair!

And makeup!

Incredible makeup might I add.

It was also fun to dress up for events.

Little details

Everyone looked especially beautiful the night of the screening of the films for a contest they were holding.

A really special place.

Byrd Theatre was built in 1928 as one of the Nations’s Grand Movie Palaces, and every Saturday night the Mighty Wulitzer Organ gets played before the movie starts!

And look who flew up here to support her one and only!

Silly moments...

Mixed in with vogue ones as well.

Ah yes there was a lot of vogueing.

And pose!

I was so happy to see that my other lovely lady came to the finale!

And of course this lovely lady too! She played such a key role in putting this whole special week together.

At the end of the night of the finale I was ready to come home to my little munchkin.

And get my fresh face on...

Super fresh!

Luckily, this package came in the mail just in time.

What goodies awaited me?

I know many of you have heard the term “super foods” to describe some foods that have natural properties that work wonders for the body. Maybe some of you have also heard of the renowned Dr. Perricone. He recently launched a new skincare line called Super that’s geared towards prevention, and combines the principles of food + science. I know I have mentioned ayurveda on my blog frequently, and I full-heartedly believe that we can find incredible medicinal properties in food. Remember when I was eating very liver-friendly foods over the summer to help my skin? Well, Super takes the foods that are known to have properties that help the skin, and uses them to inspire these wonderful products. Not to mention, the packaging is so vibrant (and eco-friendly!)! Kind of like the food I make, don’t you think?

Yes, please.

The day after the finale show my eyes felt so heavy.

And suddenly they felt more awake!

The first cream I decided to try out was their Bright-Eyed cream, and my eyes felt so refreshed afterwards. Usually they feel puffy and dim in the morning, but now that I’ve been using this cream they really do feel bright. So I can greet people not just with a bright smile, but also with eyes just as bright!

Then I went out and sported the cute tote I was also sent.

Oh and that big green apple? Did you guys know the green apples actually help fight blemishes? “Quercetin is a fortifying flavonoid that helps prevent eruptions and helps calm red, irritated and sensitive skin.“ Since I have problems with my skin every once in awhile I thought I’d incorporate green apples into my diet.

So far so good!

Especially with hemp seeds toasted with sea salt.

You can find their products at Sephora, or one of their two flagship stores. Also, they will be going live with their site very soon so definitely keep an eye out for it, and I’ll be letting you guys know how the products are working for me. So far I feel like I’m nourishing my skin like never before without following a stressful regimen. Not to mention, they smell delicious, which is a very special treat for a food lover like me hehe. I’m just so excited to see the philosophy of food + science making its mark in the beauty world. Actually, I have a feeling that Super is going to be a part of a lot of people’s best beauty secrets. Secrets that, of course, you can share!

What nourishing foods have helped you with your outer-radiance?

Simplicity in Nature

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Katharina

I noticed that a lot of new people have been leaving comments, so I just wanted to say hello and thank you for stopping by! You know one of the things that I really enjoy about blogging? Is that we each get to read about all of the things we appreciate, and how beautiful it is to see how others views the world.

Don’t forget to vote for the RVA Internet Awards. I was actually nominated for the Best Blog category, so exciting! Check out some of the comment threads while you’re over there.

: What could this be?

Earlier this week I made Root Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie. When I first stumbled upon this recipe I marveled at all of the wonderful rustic ingredients, and how comforting this sounded. This is a vegetarian version, and the “crust” is made out of a sweet and russet potato mash. However, instead of using flour for the vegetable mix I used cornmeal. I thought it would give the recipe a more “down-home” taste.

: I love recipes with delicious hidden surprises!

Stuffed pastas, pies, dumplings, you name it.

: So flavorful that it had me scooping up every last bit.

: Breakfast… on-the-go

Awhile back I bookmarked some recipes from Martha Stewart’s quick and easy breakfast ideas. The banana-oat smoothie is basically like a bowl of oats, but in smoothie form. I also added almond butter and chia seeds to the mix.

: Sliced almonds for the final touch.

: My breakfast sometimes likes to smile back at me.

This was also another recipe I bookmarked from the quick and easy breakfast ideas: whole-grain ~~toast~~ bagel with yogurt and pistachios.

: My lovely roommate read my mind and gave me a jar of honey from the area where she’s from!

: While I was having this dainty breakfast, lavender honey crossed my mind.

Lavender honey on toast with pistachios would’ve been a breakfast fit for the Greek gods.

: Aren’t pistachios beautiful?

They have the same vibrant green of a perfect avocado, then some painter must’ve dabbed pinks on their skins.

: Delicate candies

: Pistachios were still on my mind.

: And so was lavender.

Awhile back I was browsing through recipes, wondering how I could use my package of coconut cream. I found a recipe for Vanilla Coconut Cream Cand y on Tropical Traditions‘ abundant recipe site. You can make it vegan by using agave or maple syrup instead of honey. Actually, when I make this again I want to use pecans and maple syrup. Perhaps, I’ll add a splash of bourbon as well. This recipe was quite simple. The only ingredients I used were coconut cream, pistachios, honey, vanilla extract, and lavender. I added the lavender as an aromatic and delightful touch. Now I have lavender and honey in one beautiful candy. Perhaps these could’ve been enjoyed by Aphrodite herself.

: Not as sophisticated as a Greek goddess, but something that can make anyone smile nonetheless–marshmallows!

I remember when I was younger I’d sleep over at a friend’s house and we had a wide selection of cereals to have at breakfast.

: These are Marshmallow Oaties!

I was recently sent Three Sisters Cereal, which some of you may have heard of, to try and review. Did you know that their cereal is made using renewable wind energy? That’s pretty awesome if you ask me! Their motto is: natural, sensible, and sustainable cereals. They don’t include unnecessary additives in their cereals to get colors or taste. There are some ingredients in some packaged foods that are questionable, and I know they don’t need to be on the ingredient list so I like how Three Sisters Cereal doesn’t do that. A company with a conscience… I like that. Anyway, their flavors remind me of cereals that any kid, or big kid for that matter, would love! Flavors like Honey Oaties, Cinnamon Sweets, and Graham Crackerz. I got to try the Marshmallow Oaties, Sweet Wheats, and Honey Oaties. These were all so tasty and I felt like a little kid again.

Honey Oaties: These reminded me so much of Honey Nut Cheerios, but had a more wholesome aftertaste . Honey covered O’s are a classic. Crunch, crunch, munch. In fact, I brought a jar of Honey Oaties with me to munch on as I went about town. Whose baby am I? My mom will answer that for us.

Marshmallow Oaties: I went after Lucky’s charms! “Hearts, Stars, and Horseshoes, Clovers, and Blue Moons, Pots of Gold, and Rainbows, and me Red Balloons.” Well, this wasn’t a bowl of Lucky Charms, but it brought me back to when I’d eat bowls filled with colorful marshmallows. It’s got these neat shapes, and those little marshmallows we all love.

Sweet Wheat: Letting them soak in a bowl of milk is what I like to do with shredded wheat cereals. The frosting for the Sweet Wheats wasn’t as thick and sugary as other similar cereals I’ve tried. I enjoyed this since too much sugar, especially in the morning, can give me a headache. If you like denser and grainier tasting cereals then this is a good bet.

“Donation of $1.00 for every cereal package sold in April will support emergency relief work by Minneapolis-based American Refugee Committee; Whole Foods Market to support with in-store effort.” to support relief efforts in Haiti.

: Would you like a chance to be a big kid too?

You can win a month-supply of Three Sister’s Cereal in the form of four freebie coupons! Please note that you can only find their cereals at Whole Foods Markets. Here’s what you can do to enter:

1. Visit the Three Sisters Cereal website and let me know the name of a product you’d like to try.

2. Link back to this giveaway on your next post, and please make sure to comment letting me know you did so.

The giveaway ends Friday February 11, 2011 at midnight EST.

Sometimes Things Can Look Like More Than What They Are…

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Katharina

And there can be beauty in that. In a way that’s what makes the seemingly simple and little things stand out. Recently, I’ve been noticing that the food I’ve been putting together has some sort of rustic or “very much like the land” look to it.

: Pumpkin pie spice roasted chickpeas, Greek yogurt, banana, dried dates and pineapple.

: Dates, hazelnut butter, banana, dates, pumpkin pie space, and raw cacao nibs

: A mountainous landscape or just a new combination for my secret oat-bar/muffin recipe: dried apples, dates, dried cranberries, walnuts, cashews, chocolate chips, and a blend of tea masala and pumpkin pie spices.

: Notice anything by now?

I don’t know if you noticed it, but I realized that lots of my foods have been resembling landscapes. Perhaps it’s been coming from the time I’ve been spending outside recently. Observing the seasons in their transition phases is always something interesting, and beautiful to witness. And now that my time with technology isn’t as readily-available (laptop situation still up in the air, but thank you to a dear friend of mine for letting me borrow his!), more time has magically appeared for me to enjoy these things.

The other day in my sculpture class, my professor took us on a field-trip (haven’t been on one of those in awhile) to a foundry and an art collectors’ private collection.

: I was transported to another era and sometimes what looked like a destroyed city.

: Things that look like they’ve just taken in a lot…

Afterwards, we went to the private collection of a very dynamic husband and wife. It was such a refreshing and reminding visit to see people enjoying art on their own time. There are people who support and find beauty in what artists make. Oftentimes, some get caught up in the “joke” of being an artist, and don’t see that it can be a reality. This is sort of random, but as an artist I believe; I have faith that a person can make it. Of course, I also understand that a person can very many different routes. Some sculptors sometimes make those molds you see at dentist’s office. Who knows! Anyway, the thing going on in my life have really gotten me to reflect on the idea of beauty, and what it can bring out in us. I recently went over Confucianism. One of the points brought up was that the human spirit can feel uplifted if surrounded by beautiful things. This can nature, the arts, whatever you may find beautiful. Off the top of my head I find this in nature, fashion, food, art, parallels in our universe, and people. What do you find beauty in?

There's some to be found in the smile that leaves a dinner party with a sweet reminder.

Or in the beautiful friend that greets you with a thoughtful bouquet of flowers!

Finding beauty in nature that led me to finding a beauty in food.

Toasted hemp seeds with sea salt, pumpkin pie spice, and shredded coconut

And the nice thing is that you don’t have to look too far.

There Are Many Things to Admire

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Katharina

Good day to you and Autumn!

: My friend (also happens to be my roommate) and I went exploring the other day.

We went to a museum that had been undergoing renovations for many years. Both of us were taken away by the beauty of the Art Noveau pieces. Imagine being completely surrounded in a world where everything around you is breathtaking.

: Like these stained glass windows that were built for someone’s home.

On the topic of being surrounded by beautiful things. I’m sure many of you know about Project Food Blog by now. Well, you know what? It didn’t occur to me how many connections I would making with new people! It’s really wonderful. I love that I’ve been able to check out so many other posts, and nod my head in understanding throughout. It always amazes how much people are alike, but sometimes we feel alone or like “no one understands.” Of course there are differences that make us unique, but there are certain things that I like to call “universal truths.” Here are some posts that really struck a chord with me:

Liv is further pursuing her passion for cooking.

Heather has known about her calling in the kitchen since she was a wee one!

I often find myself thinking that me and Lauren share a brain.

Amanda has got these incredible recipes that make me swear that I can taste them already!

Who wouldn’t fall in love with Kelsey?

Liren makes a great point about proudly being an emotional eater.

Gillian’s charm will never fade.

I’m always wishing I could hang out with Lynn when I read her blog.

Sophia has got this gift with words and coming up with awesome recipes!

If you’re a food blogger you’ll definitely relate to Sabrina’s post.

I love Maggie’s embracing vibe.

There are so many more wonderful entries out there, and can click here to check them out.

: Let’s continue admiring beautiful things, shall we?

The other day I was in the store, and I bought the rest of the peaches that were left. I felt like I was stealing them! Here I sliced one over some spiced oatmeal, with banana slices, walnuts, chocolate almond butter, and sunflower seed butter. I’ve been missing the crunch of whole nuts! I love nut butters, but sometimes I want some crunch.

: Roasted chickpeas for breakfast?

I was inspired by Brittany’s cinnamon roasted chickpea recipe and this roasted chickpea recipe as well. I basically used the spices that Brittany used, tahini, honey, and sea salt. The smell was so wonderful when roasting, and just hard to ignore! I love the coating the tahini gave these chickpeas after roasting. Chickpeas are so versatile; I thought I’d share a link with you that has a bunch of recipes on how to make them in different ways… sweet or savoury! “15 More Ways To Flavor Roasted Chickpeas“

: Coincidence! I made pumpkin pie inspired bowl of oats on the first day of autumn.

I cooked the usual oats with pumpkin puree, in the morning I cut up some dates and crystallized ginger cubes. Then I topped it off with the pumpkin pie spiced roasted chickpeas, more almond milk and spices, brown sugar, walnut nut butter, and tahini. Oof this bowl was delicious! I love starting off a new day with yummy things like this.

: I made another great recipe from “The Veganomicon”

It’s been awhile since I last cooked a recipe from this book. I had gotten a head of cauliflower at the store with intentions of making a curry, so I went through my cookbooks in search of one. I decided on the Red Lentil Cauliflower Curry, but de-veganized it by using ghee. I just can’t get over how wonderful ghee is! This recipe called for a surprising ingredient: parsnips! Cooking curries is such a great experience since they are so aromatic. So far I’ve served this with basmati rice, sweet potatoes with curry-ketchup (pictured above), and now I’m wanting to try it with naan bread.

: The other day I made the best burrito I’ve had in awhile… make that ever!

I prepared some black beans with rice, onions, sweet pickled mango, garlic, sweet pepper jelly, cumin, cinnamon, and ketchup (hey I had no tomatoes on hand!). Topped it with diced avocado, corn, cilantro, and Greek yogurt (or sour cream if you have that).

: Got to wrapping.

: And with that, I was off to class!

Who knew I could spice up a burrito’s flavor so much? Thank goodness for curiosity because this was indeed the best bean burrito I’ve ever had. What’s something that recently made you wonder and try something new?

p.s. the last day for voting for the first Project Food Blog challenge is tomorrow so make sure to get your votes in! Fingers crossed!

p.s.s. I just had my first critique of the semester for the video I made. You can watch it by clicking this link, and let me know what you think! Thank you.

Boast about your Toast

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Katharina

Go in this direction when cleaning your eyes.

The summer I was fifteen years old I decided to go to beauty school rather than the usual summer camp. My mom actually came up with this idea! She was like, “would you rather go to beauty school or summer camp… again?” So of course I wanted to be like Frenchie from Grease, minus the drop out part. I learned many divine secrets of the ya-ya sisterhood, and once in a blue moon I decide to share these tidbits. Well, readers, tonight is one of those nights! I know some people are concerned with the wrinkles emerging around their expressive eyes. Here’s a little secret that was passed on to me: when cleaning around your eyes, go outward for the upper lid area and inward (towards the nose) for underneath. Basically, in a counter clockwise motion. Also, it’s best to use your ring finger since it puts the least amount of pressure. Makes sense, huh?

What are your beauty secrets?

A basket full of goodies.

These are some of my favorite beauty products that I use. I started using pond’s cold cream when I found out that is one of my grandma’s secrets. So many secrets in this post! I won’t divulge her other one though. The round thing you see is actually a solid shampoo by this company called LUSH. All of their products are handmade and they use fresh, organic fruit and vegetables. And whenever I’m down in Florida I use some of my mom’s stuff too, like her Kérastase products. Neela knows what’s up and also uses this brand!

The big kahuna!

Coconut oil can be used for so many things! Sometimes I even use it to remove my eye makeup. For the most part I leave it on my hair overnight and wash it out in the morning. It leaves my hair feeling and looking incredibly soft! Umm did I mention that it tastes delicious too?

However, I think the best beauty secret is a glass that’s half full… half full of what? Positivity! I find that looking at the bright side of things and keeping stress at bay is a big contributor to aging well. There’s this look of calm, grace, and innocence that I can see in people’s faces when they have this attitude. Being around people like this bring my heart level down, not out of boredom, but because they’re exuding all these good vibes. Less tension equals a less tense face!

What is beauty? Not the show
Of shapely limbs and features. No.
These are but flowers
That have their dated hours
To breathe their momentary sweets, then go.
‘Tis the stainless soul within
That outshines the fairest skin.
–Sir A. Hunt.

All this talk of beauty led me to thinking about habits I want to change – have been changing. There are certain things that seem unimportant that I really want to develop. Like little things that involve me taking care of my outward appearance. Oh say… putting on lotion, plucking my eyebrows, pampering myself with hair masks. It’s these silly little things that I know will slowly help me regain my confidence and just feel better about myself overall. I think it’s more the idea behind these activities: self-love. I can’t help but feel good inside. Why don’t I deserve to take some time out of my day to indulge in a little princess treatment?

On the topic of self-love, there’s been a wonderful message going around the blog community. Caitlin’s Operation Beautiful has been spreading like wildfire! I love seeing everyone’s notes. The other day I left some of my own around town. They don’t necessarily have to do with loving yourself per se, but it’s the thought that counts!

"Hey! It's Friday "

I love touching rosemary bushes then sniffing my fingers.

The veggies were a delicious mix of yellow peppers, tomatoes, and onions. The top and bottom parts of the pepper were used as bowls for some roasted red-pepper hummus.

They were grilled with this incredible sauce!

Later on I went over to my best friend’s house to celebrate a special one year old’s birthday! I also found out one of my good friends is two months pregnant! I’m looking forward to going on our girl’s nights with the baby! Oh my gosh I should get back into crocheting and make something really cute. She doesn’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet, so maybe I’ll wait.

Birthday boy was looking cute in his car pajamas!

We had pizza, cake (duh!), and other goodies.

For Saturday I wanted to make something special. I figured this would make up for not having been able to really celebrate Father’s Day. I decided to make French Toast with a couple of twists. Let’s just say I was inspired by Indian sweets and colonization gone semi-vegan! For the bread I decided to use Trader Joe’s crumpets and I followed a vegan recipe for the mixture.

The ingredients!

I love experimenting with different extract flavors.

I think I'm going to save the rest for some afternoon tea

Cardamom seeds were the Indian inspired ingredient.

The mixture called for nutritional yeast and flour instead of eggs.

Err good morning! Hard at work.

Who am I kidding? French toast is so easy to make! But I love how it’s so special anyway.

So far so good!

I also decided to use my other Sun Warrior sample.

I also felt like making a smoothie with strawberries, banana, and a peach!

I also decided to use my vanilla Sun Warrior sample.

Breakfast is served!

Yet again, Sun Warrior was a tasty addition to my morning smoothie topped with cinnamon clusters. I also had some blueberry green tea in my cheery yellow mug!

A close up of my creation.

Man, this French toast has been dog piled! I sliced some strawberries, chopped some macadamias, sprinkled fresh ground cardamom seeds and sugar, and drizzled a bit of maple syrup on everything. Cinnamon sticks can make anything look fancy, but my favorite part is the gooseberry I’d like like to call a little edible beach ball.

Once I started eating it I thought of something else I could add to this! As if there isn’t enough?

I put a modest spoonful of fig preserves on top.

Mmm now that's more like it!

My mom joined me mid way through my breakfast. She was running late because she had a session with her personal trainer. Mom is super fit, so don't mess!

After this delicious breakfast I got ready to go to my favorite yoga class. The instructor is incredible and I feel like every time I go to his classes I learn something new, even if he repeats the routine. By the time me and my mom got home we were hungry and ready for lunch! So we whipped up something as quick as we could. Her and I are a dream team in the kitchen. I took care of the veggies, while she handled the rest.

A stir-fry of yellow peppers, onions, tomato, and banana.

Bananas in stir-fries are so yummy! I also used the Key Lime Honey Ginger sauce for a bit more flavor and topped the veggies with paneer.

Mom made some mung beans in the pressure cooker.

We also heated up a methi paratha and a horseradish and herb one as well.

Looking worn out after the yoga class, I was ready to eat!

Dad is reppin' South Florida with his shirt.

Guess who else wanted in on all the action?

For dinner we used up the leftover mung beans to go along with some spinach, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette.

I was feeling pretty simple so I opted for some slices of toast with butter, apple butter, and my forgotten favorite – honey!

I just updated my MacBook Pro and it is so cool! I almost feel like a got a new laptop. Insert holy music!!!

I’m so excited about my next post! I’ve tried so many things over this past weekend and I have a few special shout-outs to some of our beloved bloggers. I hope you’re all relaxing on this sunday evening and wake up on the right side of bed tomorrow morning.

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: beauty