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 →

Who Would’ve Thought

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Katharina

Hello everybody! I wanted to update you all, and let you know that I won’t be posting as frequently. I won’t be getting a laptop until the end of November or December, so I’m taking a deep breath until then. It seems like recently my life has involved practicing letting go of modern conveniences like cars and computers. It’s been very refreshing actually to live life at a more human pace. Of course these things are useful, but when do we start becoming dependent on them. Take cell phones for instance. You send a text message or make a phone call, and it expresses this notion that this person should always be available. I guess in a sense I’m claiming my time back and becoming more creative with it. Even just sitting there and doing nothing is absolutely fine by me.

When modern conveniences leave your side for a bit, do those moments seem like a blessing in disguise for you?

Playing hide-and-seek...

Or pretending I'm a wild animal on the loose!

Oh my gosh! Ants have attacked my breakfast!

Oops, those are just chocolate sprinkles.

A delicious bowl of lentil curry with aromatic basmati rice.

Sitting down and eating with no distractions...

Enjoying some of the best bread ever from a German bakery.

Spread on a thick layer of mascarpone and pumpkin butter, and you're in for a treat!

And top some yogurt off with homemade granola.

I made this batch using a simple recipe I found in , but made it special by also adding in puffed millet and chia seeds.

Making it feel more like October by making a batch of pumpkin pie hummus.

I haven’t made pumpkin pie hummus in ages! I had a friend try it, and he said that it tasted like pumpkin pie filling. Perfect! This morning I served it over a warming bowl of oatmeal, along with medjool dates, walnuts, granola, and cinnamon. I like thinking of all of the different kinds of hummus flavors I can make, and who knew that a sweet hummus would be a success! Try it out and let me know what you think.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I’m hoping to go apple picking with some of my best friends up in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. I’m going to make sure to take in all of that fresh air and beautiful scenery while I’m there.

Oh wait! Here’s a random question before you go! Name an item of food, i.e. pasta, squash, lentils, apple… you get the picture!

p.s. I ended up not advancing to the next round of the Project Food Blog challenge, but I wanted to thank you all for your support! It was really wonderful to see that people had faith in me and were excited about it like I was. Also, I ended up getting to do my favorite challenge anyway (the dinner party)!

Who Does Your Future Belong To?

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Katharina

Hello hello! Greetings with another post–a much anticipated one at that. I haven’t been on the computer much lately, but you know what means. I’m brimming with things to share!

: Lately I’ve been feeling like my pumpkin kabocha has turned into a carriage.

I’ll explain what I mean later…

: Because a steamed carriage just doesn’t make sense, but it definitely tastes good!

I steamed it with thyme, and ground all-spice. I didn’t know that you could steam herbs! I guess in reality, you can really steam anything, even nuts.

This may explain why my palms and the bottoms of my feet are rosy.

I was inspired by Averie’s sweet-and-sour honey lemon tofu. However, instead of baking the tofu I fried it, but I followed her cue and used mango chutney and lemon. I sprinkled on some sesame seeds and cilantro for the final touch.

A great idea!

I took Mel’s advice on spreading Nutella on the brötchen. Although this wasn’t Nutella per se, it was close enough as it was, after-all, chocolate hazelnut butter. This was so delicious and went perfectly together! I decided to simply spread a date on one of the halves.

Alongside came a bowl of Greek yogurt with chia seeds and a medley of fruits.

Getting ready to go out for Wednesday ladies' night!

The dress...

The shoes...

And a picture courtesy of my iPhone hehehe

I think I may be one of the few people who drinks a glass of wine and doesn’t get sleepy, but instead dances their butts off long enough to get some blisters. Anyone care to join me? I guess you don’t have to get blisters though!

A delicious breakfast to revive me sounded really nice at the time.

Actually, when does that not?

In the mix: overnight oats with dried cranberries and chia seeds, a diced pear, cinnamon, chocolate almond butter, and puffed millet

Another bar variation!

I can't believe that this bar tasted like a delicious, fruity wine!

I used a mix of oats, puffed millet, and puffed corn for the grains in this bar. I also added some grated chocolate, dried fruits, pecans, and more mixed nuts to the continuously evolving secret recipe.

And a pick-me up lunch!

I made a sun-dried tomato cauliflower mash, since my mom has never tried this vegetable in that form. Eating anything mashed is such a comfort food for me. Maybe because it’s like baby food… but tastes way better!

I highly recommend this recipe!

I recently received a newsletter from the Vegetarian Times and saw they had a recipe for smoke baby portobello sliders. The picture looked appetizing alone, and I happen to get some portobellos on sale at the market. This was sweet, smoky, juicy, savoury, and just wonderful to bite into. The herbes de Provence gave it a great sweet, flowery, and Italian flavor. I love how portobellos really suck up the flavors of the rubs and marinades because otherwise they would be too earthy for me on it’s own. I actually prefer my mushrooms cooked unless I’m dipping raw ones into hummus or my favorite BBQ sauce. I also suggest that if you try this recipe, use a bread that isn’t whole wheat. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t imagine these flavors going well with a grainy bread.

I also thought that maybe a smoothie with some leftover pulp from juicing + the usual ingredients would make my lethargy go away.

Unfortunately, I was feeling under the weather pretty much the whole day, until I took an afternoon cat-nap.

Another portobello recipe!

I found a great recipe in the Veganomicon, Portobello Salad with a Spicy Mustard Dressing. This was delicious, and I don’t think I can ever get over how great the texture of this mushroom is.

So this is how my Friday started out...

A nice but very wavey day at the beach--perfect for the surfers!

The waves here are just good for simply riding… unless there’s a hurricane. That’s another story! A lot of people get arrested because they’re not suppose to be out there when the weather is that bad. Their dangerous, but their probably the best that Florida can get!

Then it was time to continue the dancing from the other night!

We went to go see a new talent signed to one my favorite DJ’s (Steve Aoki) label, Dim-Mak records. It was so much fun and so many things went our way that night.

While trying to find parking in South Beach and as soon as I said "someone please pull out just for me".. reverse lights came on and we had a spot!

That’s when I knew that things would go my way. We headed over to this place…

Got there, got through the ropes no problem

We payed, but then somehow one of the doormen knew we payed called us back and had the cashier give us our money back because “we were with Norman”. Whoever Norman is…(?) thanks! After dancing our feet off we headed back to the car and met a friendly stranger. Actually, at that late hour… almost everyone is friendly. I can’t tell you how many people I walked by that put their hands out for a high-five. I loved it! Anyway, friendly stranger encounter brings me to the next day.

First I had to get refreshed with this perfect summer breakfast.

Somehow I managed to wake up in time for my favorite yoga class.

Overnight oats topped with Cacao Bliss banana "soft-serve", macadamia nut butter, coconut shreds, and sprinkles of course.

I love the crunch those little sprinkles add!

After yoga class and lunch, I got ready and dressed!

It’s about time I made a debut with this blouse! Oh my goodness, this top is insanely vibrant and a new favorite. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many ooh’s and ahh’s from a single item of clothing. It was funny because at one point when we were heading up to the W Hotel, I saw these women looking at me, and making the motion around the shoulder and literally gasping with a smile. Which makes sense because guess what was going on this past week? Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week! I headed to the W Hotel to catch some of the action.

Of course I brought one of my partners in crime!

A glorious hallway filled with beautiful swimwear.

A suite with a great view is the perfect environment to get work done, right?

As soon as we got there, they generously offered to make us some drinks.

I’m not the biggest fan of tequila, but one of the guys promised that it would be the best tequila I had ever tasted. He was actually right! No foul face was made, and I was happy with my slice of sweet orange dipped in cinnamon to have afterwards. Then a very handsome (that’s an understatement people) gentleman offered to make me another drink. Uh… you had me before hello!

The view from the balcony was so nice.

See you soon!

It was a really nice evening, and I got to meet a lot of new people! I think the best part was that it encouraged me even more to pursue my dreams. Whatever it is, whatever I want… I can make it happen! Oh gosh I’m biting my tongue right now because I still have lots to share! Until next post, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Yes, I think Henry David Thoreau had the right idea!

Feeling Nostalgic

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Katharina

I loved reading everyone’s world-class titles! It seems we have a few world-class worriers in the house. Don’t worry I won’t make you fight for first place! But I do have a little challenge for you. The other day I was reading Joy’s blog and I came across a wonderful list to help you stress a little less and smile more: “25 Instant Pick-Me Ups to Get Happy Now!“

Visiting my mom's side of the family in Colombia.

On a random note, the other day I saw this movie with my mom called “A Talking Picture” directed by the legendary, Manoel de Oliveira. It was about a mother and a daughter taking a cruise from Lisbon through Mediterranean ports, and the Indian Ocean. The little girl’s mother was a professor and she shared the history of those places, while actually experiencing them for the first time herself as well. There were some parts in the movie where there was a table of people each speaking their native language, yet the managed to understand each other. Their conversations were reflections on civilization. Anyway, the movie really reminded me of my adventures with my mom across Europe when I was little, and how I would question everything. It was just us two, until my mom met my step-dad of course!

The two of us in Bavaria!

Speaking of Germany…

Brötchen for breakfast

One half has melted butter, the other has the homemade macadamia nut butter I made with marmalade. Looking at the picture above I noticed that the strawberries look like obscenely large nostrils belonging to a happy bug-eyed somebody. On the side I had a bowl of Greek yogurt with chia seeds, sesame seeds, and strawberries.

My favorite half!

Homemade macadamia nut butter

When I was making this I blended the nuts till they got to a creamy consistency. Then I threw in some more for crunch–I’m a crunchy kind of girl!

More delicious bread from the Germany bakery.

My dad had also picked up a nutty, honey loaf. This bread is dense, slightly sweet, and just so tasty! One slice has macadamia nut butter with pumpkin butter (great combination take note), and the other slice has coconut oil + cinnamon. I haven’t had that combination on toast in such a long time! And I use to have it all of the time. In the glass I made a parfait of sorts with my favorite Greek yogurt combo lately but this time with apricots and blueberries. And who can forget the baby mango!

Then my sweet tooth politely reminded me that I really confectioner's sugar with coconut oil and cinnamon.

I was bursting at the seams with stuff I wanted to talk about, so I called my girl!

A lot can happen in a few days, and we hadn’t seen each other since Friday so that means we had to catch up on our thoughts on the World Cup. Our plan is to save up money to go see the next World Cup in Brasil. We already came up with a plan and I’m going to start learning Brazilian Portuguese seriously after I graduate in a year. We are also hoping that our easiest plan will work: date a soccer player. Oh, I have some in mind!!!

Kick that ball!

After a few hours of talking and making our appearance in our swim-suits and cover-ups, we headed back to my place for some popcorn and Sex and the City. Funny story. As soon as I got home and got out of my car, my over-up fell down to the ground. Imagine if that happened when I was getting up from my seat at Starbucks…

The next morning I remembered that I had something chilling in the fridge...

My friend also made key-lime pie out of scratch! I love that I’ve been able to feature some culinary delights by some of my favorite people in the world. Anyway, she said she was inspired by me and attempted to bake this dessert. I was so proud of her and seriously touched. She admits that she barely goes into the kitchen, so cooking or baking is a big step for her. She wanted my approval, and oh my goodness was it given! Key-lime pie is my dad’s favorite so she packed an extra slice for him. Uh oh! I hope he’s not reading this post because that would mean that I just spoiled his surprise for when he gets back from his business trip.

Dessert was followed by breakfast!

I made a bowl of oats that had some comforting things like apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and peanut butter. Of course, this bowl was enjoyed chilled! My mom has the week off so we dropped Matilda off at the groomers and ran some errands. We came home just in time to answer to our grumbling tummies.

Hey! It's me with my brötchen!

Step 1: cut your brötchen in half.

The assembly "line"

Step 2: get your fillings.

Alles auf Deutsch!

Step 3: assemble!

What a colorful meal!

I am very ready to eat my sandwich.

The winning combination: sun-dried tomatoes, muenster käse, fresh basil, avocado, yellow onion, and some freshly ground black pepper.

And try to remember to leave at least one brötchen in the basket. I’ll leave one for you, Neela!

And I can't leave out my vibrant salad--I haven't had kale in ages!

After our lunch, the princess was ready to be picked up from the groomers.

Everyone knows her at the store and she gets extra treats just for being so cute!

Cutie patootie with her updated summer-do

Hi evewybody!

These puppy paws are waving good-bye till the next post!

I just got an idea! Going back to the delicious key-line pie my friend made… what if me and her have a weekly dessert night. Then we alternate who makes the goodies every week. What traditions do you have with your friends?

Within Yourself

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Katharina

I’m going to start off this post with a little piece of my mind. Lately, I’ve been thinking about where my life is going, and where I want it to go. Sometimes I let my ideas sit in my head, but I’ve been getting them outside of my head by discussing them with others and taking action. It’s very rare that the things you want just magically appear in your lap, so what are you waiting for? Rather than just sulking around, wishing for anything but now, do yourself a favor and look around you. Then look inside of yourself. Most likely, you have what it takes to make your dreams come true. Think of your qualities as bridges. Bridges that will help you on your journey, of course! And if you find yourself sounding like a broken record, well isn’t it time that you flip the side? The side that plays the beautiful tune called “believing in myself”.

A bowl of peculiar colors for breakfast.

I made my regular bowl of oats and let it get cold in the fridge overnight. In the morning I whipped up some banana soft-serve, and threw in some diced mango. While making the banana soft-serve I also blended in some Cacao Bliss since it hardens on contact. I topped this all off with some pumpkin seed butter, crunchy peanut butter, and sprinkles. I loved biting into the chia seeds, crunchy peanut bits, and sprinkles. This breakfast bowl kind of reminds of a desert scene with its colors.

Something else frozen and delicious to cool off on hot summer days.

Kiley generously sent me a couple of vouchers to try out Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream. I’ve heard so many great things about this ice cream, and I was so excited to see what all of the fuss is about. I went to the store and chose the cherry amaretto flavor–one of my favorite flavor combinations.

I also received a vibrant storybook of sorts!

This was such a fun way to read about the beginnings of this ice cream and health benefits of my beloved coconut! The booklet made my desire to get an ice cream maker even stronger. I want to have ice cream taste-testing parties with my friends and family as well!

So it was time to taste and test...

Oh my goodness! The first things that popped into my head when I tasted this, “creamy, coconut, flavor, delicious, rich, yum yum yum, bliss!” Next spoonful!

And I found the cherries!

Now I know why people can easily finish a pint of these ice creams in one sitting. I’ve had ice creams made with coconut milk before, but none have been as rich as Coconut Bliss. And it’s not short on flavor by any means. I can imagine how satisfyingly delicious the other flavors must be.

Fashion tip: dressing up simple things is easy with colorful statement accessories.

I tend to have atleast one thing in my outfit that stands out, and often gets comments from strangers. In fact, when I wore this outfit the other day the woman at the store marveled at my necklace and then said to me, “Oh wow what a beautiful necklace, actually, everything is cute! The whole thing!” Thank you! It makes me smile when people can’t help but comment on how much they like something. There’s enough stress going on in the world, why not make it a bit more pleasant by saying some kind words, you know?

I stopped by the library the other day and picked up some books and a movie.

I love that I can leave the library with two arm-loads. I picked up Ani Phyo’s book on raw food desserts since I had seen it on so many blogs–curiosity was sparked! There are definitely some recipes I really want to make, like a raw version of tiramisu. I am so picky when it comes to what I consider a good tiramisu, so I’m eager to see how it will turn out. I also got “Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life” to get some ideas for me and my dad. None of us are intentional vegans, but we’ve found that most of what we eat is vegan-friendly. I also got some bread recipe books, and I can’t wait to make some loaves using rye flour. I’ve mentioned Ayurveda a few times on my blog, and whenever I come across anything related I like to read about it. This book explains a lot about this concept and includes some recipes as well. The ideas behind Ayurvedic cooking are so fascinating. I also picked up “The Single Girl’s Manifesta”!

Here's a recipe I've been eyeing on Averie's blog.

She has so many incredible recipes on her blog, and it’s about time that I recreate one of them! So what recipes is this? Her “Spicy Doritos” Cheezy Dip. It definitely doesn’t look as smooth as hers, but it’s the taste that matters!

And I could definitely eat this by itself, but having something to dip is fun!

Do fingers count?

I organized a little basket with some of the things I use to make my oat bars.

I was going to buy chocolate chips at the store, but then I thought about just grating my own chips by using a chocolate bar. A chocolate bar with a love poem, that is.

While we're on the topic of bars...

My dad created his own! He remembered that I told him how easy it was to make your own Larabars, and with that he attempted to make his own! I was sitting at the table reading, and next thing you know he comes to the table with a beautiful, homemade bar. Am I rubbing off on my parents? Although, they were the ones to introduce me to Larabars! He told me he just crushed a mixture of nuts and basically “glued” them together using medjool dates. Then he grated in some ginger root as well. It’s that easy folks! And you can get creative with flavors too. Go ahead, try it, and recreate some of your favorites!

I realized I hadn't had plantains in awhile, and I missed them.

I mashed one plantain and tried to make… pancakes? Inspired by tostadas which are twice-fried plantains. I fried these then drizzled on some coconut oil, coconut shreds, sesame seeds, and hemp seeds.

And look at what we have here!

I made something else inspired by another blogger. Sweet Potato-IAJ a la Katie! I used up the last of the homemade cashew-macadamia nut butter. I guess this means I’ve got to make another jar!

Well, this chica is off to straighten up a bit because I’ve got a friend coming over for dinner. I’m so excited because we are both going to be taste-testers, and you’ll see what I’m talking about in my next post! What does Friday mean to you? Whatever it means, I hope you enjoy it!

Magic in the Kitchen

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Katharina

Hello everybody! Yesterday was a pretty upsetting day for the German team and everyone rooting for them. I was sulking around for awhile, but I decided to bake and my friend came over–Sex and the City marathon! I don’t know what it is about the World Cup, but my heart goes into it. I’m going to be sad once the games are over. Every four years this tournament becomes a big part of my life, and I find that my conversations are about the games or somehow find their way to that topic. Moreover, I loved reading all of your answers on my last post about style. And thank you so much for the compliments! I can tell that one of those shirts is “my new favorite thing”. I also saw that many of you commented on how nice the pictures look. Well, one thing I’ve been taking more into consideration is lighting and composition. The third eye never closes! It’s funny though how these little changes are noticeable. Anyway, here’s some candy for your eyes!

Vanilla Macaroon Granola... you are so good to me!

When I was at the bulk bins the other day I went over the granola selection to see if I spied anything new and interesting. Then I saw the words “vanilla macaroon” and I nibbled on a bit to see if I approved. Yes, very much so! Oh! And those little raspberries came from our garden. It was so exciting to see that our plant was finally producing fruit.

Sleeping baby got a new bed.

This is something I definitely have to make again!

This was a spicy curried sweet potato and tofu dish. I sautéed some onions, then fried the baked sweet potato and tofu in coconut oil with some freshly ground spices and curry leaves. Next, I added the spicy coconut milk mixture I made and let everything absorb it. Towards the end was when I added the spinach till it wilted, salted to my liking, and sprinkled some toasted coconut shreds on top. Voila!

Something else orange in my life, recently!

When I was at the market the other day I spotted a kabocha! I haven’t seen one or had one in months. Maybe even since last year? Anyway, I was so excited that I practically hugged it in my arms instead of simply putting it in the my basket.

I wanted to make something special.

I was inspired by Amanda’s Pumpkin Chili Mexican Scramble recipe. I grinded up some spices often used to make garam masala (as far as flavor goes, grinding spices yourself is the best). I fried the spices first, then I sautéed the onions and garlic. After that I threw in the kabocha with some water and let that cook. Once I could stick a fork in the cubes and the water was absorbed, I threw in diced red and yellow bell peppers.

What could this be?

On the side I mixed together a “scramble” concoction with: tofu, garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, turmeric, and black beans. That mix went into the pan as well with some coconut oil. I had almost forgotten the two ingredients I definitely wanted to use for this dish–hickory smoke and vegan worcestershire sauce. The deal was pretty much sealed by then and I knew I was going to be serving a delicious Friday night dinner to my family.

Bon appetit!

For the finishing touches I threw in a diced tomato, cilantro, crumbled corn chips, avocado, and cottage cheese (you could use sour cream, but I didn’t have any on hand). Magic in the kitchen! And now for some more magic…

I used the banana bread recipe from the "Veganomicon" to make muffins instead.

I changed the recipe a bit by using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil, and using half rye flour and half whole wheat. I love the flavor coconut oil lends, and I wanted to see how baking muffins with it would turn out. Scrumptious, delicious, and it reminded me a bit of Lebkuchen because of the rye. I have some more recipes in mind using rye. They taste so yummy plain, with coconut oil, peanut butter, ghee, and…

Crumbled over my breakfast.

I’ve been putting chia seeds in my breakfasts every morning now, and I also got a new protein powder: Jay Robb’s vanilla rice protein. I just wish it weren’t so pricey! I tried a few to see which one I liked the most. I’ve come to realize that there’s no escaping the slight texture change that a lot of plant-based protein powders give. Also, notice the different colors? When you can’t choose, just choose them all! I went ahead with pumpkin seed butter, peanut butter, and Cacao Bliss to top the melting banana soft-serve.

I cant tell that these muffins will be frequenting my breakfasts.

Another batch of bars!

This time I used a variety of nuts: pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds. For the dried fruits I used banana chips, dates, and dried cranberries. Of course the usual coconut shreds went in the mix. I also added some honey. Other than that I kept the recipe the same pretty much since I liked how my second batch turned out. I plan on going to the store and getting some chocolate chips and who knows what else!

Oops these got a bit burned, but they taste good anyway.

Perfect for snacking on-the-go

My mom has been loving the weekly batches I’ve been baking.

The other day when me and my dad went shopping we stopped by the Lindt store.

It’s great because it’s basically like a buffet of chocolates. You can choose from all of their Lindor truffles and European specialities, then just pay by the weight. Not to mention they were having a sale going on–10 bars for $15! I chose their Tiramisu petits desserts, and the dark chocolate Mozartkugel. On the topic of sweetness, how about I leave you off with this one… tomorrow is Friday!!!

Eating Under the Sun

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Katharina

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

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Katharina

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.

Dog Days of Summer

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Katharina

First and foremost, I’d like to thank you all for the encouragement and insight on my interest in studying abroad. As some of you may know, I am originally from Germany, so studying there would not be a problem. However, I might choose somewhere other than my motherland since I love traveling and getting to know other cultures. What’s more exciting is getting the opportunity to adapt to them! But, Neela, we can still take a train and find an awesome city to conquer together! We’ll have all the men at our feet while we shop, right?

On another note, since I haven’t been posting that often, let’s get down to business folks. Right now I’m sitting at a new coffeeshop that opened up where I live. They’re concept is really neat -

“…offers the best in delicious, organic, fair trade coffee, served up by our excellent baristas, using state-of-the-art equipment. To go with it, we’ve got a fantastic menu, packed with both sweet and savory fare and using the freshest organic ingredients. And while you’re savoring the coffee and the food, we invite you to jump on our free wireless, and to enjoy entertainment, classes and activities.“

The coffeeshop is actually an extension of a local healthfood store that really pushes the idea of supporting local farmers and making less of an imprint on our environment, while taking our health into consideration.

Let’s see… where to begin? Oh I know! The first and most important meal of the day. It also happens to be my favorite!

: Toast for breakfast!

I was always jealous of my roommates toast always smelling so good. How come mine didn’t smell so good? I think it’s because I usually have the super grainy kind of bread. The other day when I went to the store, I knew I was running really low on cereal, and I knew yogurt was on sale for $1.88 for 32 oz. Then I spotted the one. Meet my new love, cinnamon raisin swirl toast. Well, not really a new love, just a forgotten one. This morning I smeared some whipped butter on one slice and coconut oil on the other. Then I sprinkled on some extra cinnamon. This time I was the one making the roommates wonder where that heavenly smell was coming from. One of the toasts even got Hello Kitty burnt on it. In the bowl I had plain yogurt, sliced banana, homemade blueberry jam, flaxseed and a crumbled honey graham stick. Thank JB for reminding me of how yummy blueberries and banana are together!

I was also inspired, yet again, by the hilarious Jess! For real girl, keep doing your thang. You’ve got an ability to make people smile and laugh!

: A wrap that I would like to say was muy delicioso!

In the wrap was a random veggieburger, Trader Joe’s corn salsa, mayo, and carrots. On the side I steamed some cauliflower and doused it with nutritional yeast and red pepper flakes. Spicy!

: I also munched on this!

I discovered something wonderful at the bottom of this bag. Besides some of the sugar granules that managed to sprinkle off the nuts, I found raspberry jelly bits! More PB&A goodness right there.

: Mini wraps!

I was low on groceries so I checked our freezer and I found some chick’n strips that I think have been forgotten. So here’s what I decided to do… I heated up some wraps on the skillet (notice the burn marks). Then I spread some Triple-Layer hummus, topped it with spinach, chick’n strips cooked in tamarind-date chutney, and smeared some Duke’s mayonnaise all over. I didn’t exactly wrap these babies… I just folded them over and got to work eating. I know mayonnaise makes some people cringe. But there are so many varieties now: cholesterol-free, vegan, light, and even with added omega-3′s! Today I was mulling over a menu and I read “sun-dried tomato mayo”. My food processor and I will soon get to crackin’. Now if I could get my hands on some Delouis.

I found another wonderful item at the local grocery store the other day. I browsed through the bakery items and found just the thing!

: I had them slice it for me.

Once I’m at my new place and I feel more freedom to do things in the kitchen, I’m going to start baking my own bread again. When I first moved into my current place I would bake Irish soda bread weekly. However, I felt like my baking skills were being taken advantage of and I stopped baking things all together. This is why when I go home to Florida you might notice that I take full of advantage of the kitchen and my love for cooking and baking. I’m going to stop thinking of buying good quality items as a splurge. It tastes better and it just makes me feel more content about my meal. Why not make everyday special, you know?

: A big salad with baby spinach, Hanover tomatoes (THE BEST), avocado, roasted chickpeas, and a sweet honey dijon dressing.

I roasted the chickpeas in ground cinnamon, powdered onion, honey, and a bit of soy sauce. This smelled so good! Alongside my salad I had some slices of bread with the Three-Layer hummus and a baby slice with avocado!

: Something similar for lunch the next day.

However I buttered my bread and put some minced garlic on it then grilled it.

: I scooped some of the chickpeas and tomatoes on the toast and it was so yummy.

For dinner I wanted to use the chickpeas for something other than a salad.

: I wanted something a bit more filling, but still refreshing.

I steamed some rice with basil. I dumped the rest of my chickpeas in my bowl of rice and mixed in chopped raw carrots and tomatoes. While the rice was still steaming I stirred in the essential coconut oil. Can’t go a day without it! This was exactly what my tummy was hoping for!

: I also had a cup of Chinese Green Monkey Tea.

I have some exciting plans coming up next week! Besides my move-in date being tragically postponed till Monday, my friend, Liz, will be arriving on Wednesday. Get ready for some serious adventures you guys. This girl has got spunk, sass, and all that jazz. She’s a New Yorker, what can I say? She’s staying till the 9th and I’ll be heading back up with her. I haven’t decided how long I’ll be staying though. So if you guys have any recommendations of places for me to go to (not limited to foodie things) let me know. Oh! And if anyone wants to go on a date that would be nice too! I like to call them dates because it just makes it sound more exciting hehe.

: I want some Lucky Candy! Anyone want a piece?

If you haven’t checked it out yet there’s a very interesting contest going on at the Special K Treatment. Go take a look before it’s too late!

Also, Mia was kind enough to honor me with a blog award. I’ve never received one before so this is definitely something special. And thank you so much! Now I have to fulfill the duty as a lovely blogger and pass it on to other lovely ones.

Oh gosh, do I have to choose? I totally suck at this kind of thing because I love everyone’s blog that I follow, or else why would I be reading it?

Neela, Mitri, Nicole, Kelsey, JB, Cate, Gillian, Katie, Brittany, the Brookes, Jess, K, Janetha, Emily, Jenny, Monica, Lauren, Lynn, and Holly. Okay I went over 15… and I could keep going. You seriously are all so wonderful and I can imagine you guys are just as radiant, if not more, in person as you are in your blogs.

p.s. For all you chia people out there, I stumbled upon this recipe that’s perfect for the summertime.

Chia Fresca

1 glass of lemonade

1 tsp Chia Seeds

1. Combine chia seeds and lemonade. Shake or stir. Allow to sit for 10 minutes until chia seeds swell. Enjoy this delicious and healthy chia fresca.

2. Chia fresca can also be made by soaking the chia seeds for 10 minutes separately in a glass of water. Then combine the chia seed gel with any flavored water or juice for an exciting different flavor of chia fresca.

Bet you didn’t think Chia seeds could be had as a refreshing lemonade, huh?

Take care all and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. I’ve got to refill my iced tea and Matilda’s water bowl because it’s just one of those hot summer days!

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: chia seeds