Chocolate Filled Everythings Exist

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Katharina

Hello hello there! I’m going to start this post off the best way I know how.

Yeah I'm going to say it... this was a bomb ass breakfast!

Cold oatmeal and in the morning I mixed in a few big spoonfuls of pecan butter, cinnamon, NuNaturals liquid vanilla , and a sliced banana and pear. Holy yum every bite of this was delicious.

Hummus with a special ingredient...

Horseradish cream!

This gave it a nice kick!

Some Belgian beer to go with my dinner!

Fruitful hehehe

Roasted and seasoned sweet potatoes go well with salads, don't you think?

Then I was headed to a show!

We wanted more from the Screaming Females!

A bowl of Udi's granola, Greek yogurt, frozen strawberries and peaches, and blobs of almond butter

I also think I spy banana slices in there as well…

Noteworthy snack: Dr. Kracker's Apple Crisps + goat cheese + honey

And a noteworthy night...

Friday nights are pretty much dubbed Girls’ Night Out for me! I was wearing some of my favorite things and I was feeling on top of the world. Later that night, I guess when I had taken my blazer off in the car it somehow managed to escape because I lost it. I was so upset! I kept reminding myself that it was just a material thing, then the voice “but it’s one of your favorite things!” would creep up. What’s a girl to do? Have a friend that gets a funny feeling and finds it on the road in front of her apartment the following night… unharmed! Yay!

My Sunday was spent at the river with a good friend of mine and talking about freedom.

Matilda came too and she actually went swimming around for a bit.

I've also been hunting and gathering material for my final project for my sculpture class.

I also attended an award ceremony the sculpture department hosts annually.

Walked into the holy land...

That expression sums it up!

As soon as you walk into this chocolate shop… the tantalizing smell finds its way to your nose!

Huge jars upon huge jars of goodies lined up along the entire store!

YEAH!!!

There were even drawers with even more chocolate-covered goodies.

Katie! Where were you?!

I really wonder how much chocolate is covering each square foot of this place.

I really wonder how much chocolate covers each square foot of this place.

Look at how cute these are.

Every kind of truffle to feed the imagination...

And giant bars of chocolate... to make your own!

Eventually we made our way out of the store and also tried on some cute outfits at different boutiques. We also made a pit stop at this place I’d never seen before.

A new Greek place!

Opa! Now here’s another thing to celebrate ladies and gentlemen… it’s Friday!!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

It’s Pudding Time

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Katharina

Hello everybody! As promised, this post is a recap of the shenanigans me and Liz were up to during my visit. As many of you know, her birthday was earlier this week! So if you haven’t wished her a happy birthday yet, don’t forget heheh. So let the celebration begin!

Liz and her family picked me up at the airport and we were off to dinner!

Two stylish peas in a pod!

We went to this chic restaurant called Red, The Steakhouse.

The olive oil and parmesan cheese dip for the bread.

So good!

Four cheese baked mac-n-cheese, potatoes au gratin, sautéed broccoli and garlic, sautéed spinach, and seared killbuck valley mushrooms. Um… yum?!

Strike a pose!

So let me just say that Liz’s mom has serious decorating skills, and their home truly feels like a home. There’s so much character in everything and I could spend days just looking at all the little treasures.

I stayed in the "Bates Motel"

AHHH!!!

Liz had some of my favorites ready for me for breakfast!

The Udi’s granola was basically a sunken island in the sea of almond milk. I sliced in a banana and scooped in some chocolate almond butter. This was so yummy! I also tried Futters‘ chocolate hazelnut butter and their chocolate pecan butter. Holy crap these were awesome!!! Not just the flavor, but there was a distinct texture to these nut butters that I loved.

Both in our zones hahaha.

Then we took Chooey for a walk on an unusually warm morning.

Liz's mom taking care of the pretty flower arrangement.

And before you know it, it was lunchtime!

Look! She's simply glowing!

Amazing fresh pita bread and a yummy dip with olive oil, sesame seeds, thyme, and marjoram.

Let me just note that I loved that every place we went to had a dip that was different from the norm.

The baba

Yum!

Falafels with a tahini sauce, spicy hummos (best hummos ever), and the garlic spinach which was sautéed spinach with toasted pine nuts and onions. This was such a delicious lunch! Definitely the kind of food I’m in the mood for when the weather starts to warm up.

After lunch we headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Outside in the crazy wind!

Rockin' out!

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we got to see this really cool movie of all the musicians that have been inducted up until 2010. It was especially neat because you got to see all the stars’ outfits, lyrics, and other memorabilia as well.

Then we headed to the previous night's restaurant's neighbor... Moxie!

Her sweet parents!

Delicious veggies!

The best broccolini I’ve ever had, brussel sprouts, and we couldn’t get enough of the killbuck valley mushrooms!

The spread...

Liz’s mom and I ordered some tea because were tea ladies hehe. They also had this seeded bread that I enjoyed with a white bean dip and some herbed butter. After dinner we headed to one of the area’s malls.

We made a stop at the chocolate store.

Look at all of those candied apples!

I picked the biggest and juiciest chocolate-covered strawberry! Which also happened to be deformed.

When we came home it was time to try one of the raw vegan "moon pies" that Liz's friend sent for her birthday.

Deliciously rich!

The birthday girl modeling her birthday present! I'm glad she liked it hehehe.

That morning I got to meet one of Liz’s brothers and his family.

There was an Easter egg hunt for the boys.

Keeping her eyes on the road.

And look who we ended up behind!

We obviously couldn't get enough of Taza!

This girl's got a lightbulb in her because she keeps glowing haha!

Liz got a refreshing Falafel salad and a side of spicy hummos.

That day they garnished the hummos with chickpeas!

My turn!

I ordered a falafel-hummos roll that came with pickled turnips and seasoned fries. Incredible! But what else could I expect?

Then we were off to Whole Foods to pick up some of Liz's staples and some new things to try as well!

When we came home, it was time to open up the Easter baskets her mom had put together for us!

Then it was getting close to the time of my departure. So soon?!

Chooey escorted us to the airport!

I love you Liz!

The "never let go" pose!

Now I understand why Theo is one of her favorite brands of chocolate.

And a yummy grawnola bar sample from One Lucky Duck.

Also, check out the video of us that VeggieDad filmed! I can’t help but have a big cheesy smile whenever I watch it. It just makes me really happy to think about the past weekend with Liz and her family. They are such wonderful people, and I’m lucky to have her as one of my best friends!

Oh Happy Day

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Katharina

Before I say anything in this post I just want to give a warm welcome to some new readers! I am so glad that you all have found my blog and may it bring a smile to your face. So if you’re a reader and haven’t said hello, please don’t be shy. I love discovering new blogs and learning more about all the interesting folks out there! So let’s all dive right in, shall we?

: Leftover pasta + manchego

Simply stated, I am a lover of cheese.

: One of my best friends surprised me with a little Valentine gift!

: Crispy, milky, and deliciously sweet.

Now that we’re on the topic of chocolate, and I happen to be sitting on a throne made of decadent chocolate, it’s only natural to share!

: 3400 Phinney Hazelnut Crunch

Wow! Can’t quite recall when the last time was that I bit into a milk chocolate bar with such a great flavor. The crunchy hazelnut, the sweet milky chocolate, and the subtle salty twist won me over with the first bite.

Coconut Curry milk chocolate

Stained wrapper

Wonderfully complex. The curry flavor wasn’t just from the curry powder, but rather a blend of coriander, turmeric, mustard, cumin, fenugreek, paprika, red pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. So you can imagine…

More leftovers!

It’s amazing what one can do with leftovers. I used the rest of the angel hair pasta for this dish. I sauteed some mushrooms with onions and then simmered them in a tomato sauce with balsamic vinegar. Using the rest of the sage and pumpkin seed crust mix I made awhile ago, I dredged some tofu in it and baked it till it was nice and crispy on the outside. I also tossed in some pine nuts and the very very last of the sage and pumpkin seed mix.

Delicious!

Now I ALWAYS pack snacks for on-the-go, because you never know when hunger may strike!

More spicy black bean burger goodness.

I only have one bean burger left! This one I had with roasted red pepper, onions, ketchup, cilantro, pepper jelly, and melted manchego.

I got home from my night class and I just wanted something comforting so I made a cup of hot cocoa with creamy, thick almond milk.

With a warm cranberry Heart Thrive topped with coconut butter.

The last of the manchego put to great use!

I made a sandwich on this delicious bread (has dried cranberries, sprouted grains, and various nuts and seeds). I filled it with melted manchego, pepper jelly, roasted red pepper, onions, and sweet basil. I also decided to sprinkle on some nutritional yeast on the kale.

Close up was in order.

Then it was time to take my dad to airport.

It's not goodbye, just see you later!

I came home, relaxed, and got ready for a date!

We went to his favorite place... a little Vietnamese restaurant.

The woman already knew his order!

A big bowl of vegetarian pho.

I’m usually not a fan of brothy soups, I prefer thick purees. I tried his soup though and I would definitely order it for myself next time I go there. I thought it was really cool that the plate full of herbs, sprouts, and lime wedges were to rip apart and put in the soup; as much or as little as you’d like because not everyone’s tastes are the same.

I ordered fried tofu in a sweet and spicy lemongrass sauce with steamed rice.

The place may seem like a hole in a wall, but lots of times those restaurants have the best food! There’s a place down the street actually that serves Korean food and I swear the owner is a mother to everyone. If you’re sick she’ll give you extra helpings. These places seem so cozy that you could eat there alone and just hang out for hours. As for the date, it went well, but no romantic sparks. However, I’m going to keep hanging out with him because I think he’s a good friend and you never know what could happen!

Tiramisu for breakfast anyone?

I tried to recreate one of my favorite desserts in oatmeal form after seeing all of Katie’s creative recipes on her blog. Seriously, this little lady is endlessly creative and she has so much positive energy I can feel it through her words! I cooked my oatmeal in chocolate protein powder and instant coffee. Since I didn’t have mascarpone I subbed in some cream cheese, and added that while the oats were cooking. I topped it with coconut butter, more coffee granules, and a lady finger. Not quite like tiramisu but definitely reminiscent; delicious nonetheless!

On this sunny and re-energizing day I decided to tackle some recipes I had been eyeing for quite some time.

Those recipes, my dears, come straight from The Conscious Cook. I took a break from this book for awhile because I missed making up my own things.

Tomato bisque--another recipe of Chef Tal's that calls for cashew cream.

And focaccia with caramelized onions.

For the focaccia I opted to do 50/50 unbleached all-purpose flour and whole wheat. The dough ended up being enough for two large loaves. One for me and one for my roommate! Might I also add… I’m just going to say it flat out: this was my favorite meal all week and I don’t think anything can top it. Nope, can’t even try. The tomato soup was thick and full of flavors from the herbs and bay leaf it simmered with. I ripped off another piece of the bread to scoop up the very last drops of my soup. Foodgasm at it’s finest. And a pat on the back for me… on both sides! Seriously, I’ve forgotten how amazing and satisfying homemade bread is. As I was kneading it, I was reminded of how much fun the process is.

Speaking of being proud of myself, I came across a very inspiring post that Maggie wrote about believing. Click here to check it out. Her message really resonated with me and I felt it throughout the whole day as the sun was giving off it’s glorious and comforting rays. Wow, it’s not even Friday and I’m already celebrating! I hope you’re all in the same boat. Where should we sail?

Good Intentions and Spreading Love

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Katharina

Hello hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got to spend it with someone they love one way or another. On Friday night I definitely danced the stress away and made a couple new friends while I was at it. Actually, one of them is a girl that just moved from Miami–we were representing the Miami hotness on the dance floor for sure.

A simple breakfast after a night of dancing: oatmeal cooked the usual way, cinnamon, diced apple, and Sunland's caramel peanut butter.

My dad and I went back to the Urban Farmhouse to grab some lunch.

This time we talked to the woman who opened Urban Farmhouse. You could tell she was passionate about what she was doing and just wants to offer the best. It was interesting to hear her plans for the place and we gave her some constructive criticism as well. That’s the great thing about places that just opened–they’re more than willing to hear what the customers have to say. I ordered the Candied Walnut Gorgonzola Salad and the Farmer’s Grilled Cheese with Black Winter Truffle Oil (Gruyere cheese). Both were delicious and I loved the candied walnuts in the salad. Biting into the sandwich and tasting the earthy black truffle oil was so satisfying. Who doesn’t love things that are full of flavor?! They also have a big jar of complimentary animal crackers that I happily helped myself to.

My dad ordered the Tangy Curry Tuna Salad sandwich

Candied Walnut Gorgonzola Salad and the Farmer’s Grilled Cheese with Black Winter Truffle Oil

My dad has been reading up a lot on spirituality, energy, levels of things we can’t see, guides, etc. Anyway, most of what he’s been reading has led him to the idea of putting good intentions out there and accepting the ways of the universe. I really think this is the most fulfilling way to live life. Oftentimes people forget that we are only in control of ourselves and nothing else. If things go our way then it’s something that was supposed to happen and falls under determinism—it wasn’t really up to us. We were just a part of the cause. Okay so before I go off on a tangent I want to share a few things that happened.

I took my dad to the store to get his phone fixed and on the way back someone one lane over all of a sudden started to drive in reverse very quickly. Then they rolled their window down and told me I had a complete flat. Oh great. Then on Broad someone else notified us. Side note to everyone: these potholes are killer so beware! Anyway we pulled over to a tire store around 4:17 and they closed at 4:00. The owner was incredibly helpful and offered a spare to get us over to someone who would take us in for service. Unfortunately no one could but he decided to take the job. Then my dad and I were debating on walking to Trader Joe’s from the tire shop. The owner pulled out a key and said, “go outside and this is for a Toyota Tundra. Trader Joe’s is a little ways up there to your right.” Wow. I believe that my dad’s good intentions and realignment of his guides is doing something greater for him than ever expected. I honestly don’t think this was a coincidence. The whole day I was riding on these incredibly positive vibes coming from everyone. Do you know what it’s like to have people throw genuine smiles at you everywhere you look? It was that kind of day!

While running some errands I picked up some very special things!

I spotted a jar of Artisana’s Coconut Butter and a pint of Almond Pecan “ice cream”. Both are incredibly delicious. I have been putting the coconut butter on almost everything!

The sandwich obviously left an impression on me because I also got some truffle oil; and I'm always on the lookout for a good pasta sauce.

Last time I got the Almond Breeze milk the machine printed out a coupon for a FREE half gallon of Silk's almond milk.

Free? You know I was on that. It was way creamier than Almond Breeze but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact this probably would work as a better creamer than thinner milk alternatives. The taste was still yummy too!

Something else new to my tastebuds.

Now I can officially say that I’ve tried all the Sunshine Burger flavors. This time I tried the Garden Herb veggie burger. This has the same ingredients as the Original veggie burger, but the Garden Herb is organic and probably has more herbs and carrots because it did taste different.

In a bun with ketchup, vegan mayo, red onions, and a last minute decision: red bell pepper slices.

Also tried the Vanilla 3400 Phinney milk chocolate bar.

Yummy but I didn't really taste the vanilla flavor.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t just have to be for those who have that someone special. It can be fun for everyone if you let it.

Started off Valentine's Day with a bowl of love.

Chocolate oatmeal + a medley of berries + sliced banana + coconut butter. The coconut butter looks like icing!

Had Dad over for lunch--excuse my crowded table!

I made a recipe sent Liz sent to me.

Here’s the recipe folks! This recipe has all the components of things I love–especially kale. I have been on such a kale kick lately. However, since I didn’t have ricotta on hand I just made the cashew ricotta recipe from the Veganomicon. This meal was such a cinch to make!

My roommate gave me a dark chocolate heart... Matilda obviously doesn't know that's poison for her!

Another kiss I took from the auto shop the day before hehehe! But that one is for you all!

Shoes on the left for my dinner date with Dad and shoes on the right were for the day.

And I finally wore the skirt I got months ago!

Perfect for a fun, young, and single lady on Valentine's Day!

Throw on a scarf and a coat, and I'm good to go!

We decided to go to a restaurant that we'd both been curious about for years!

Bistro 27 features Italian and French cuisine.

Best date, my dad!

I promise if you go on a date with me you won't have to have your friend call with a fake emergency!

I loved the high ceilings and open-air environment.

Our waiter offered to take a picture of us!

To start off my dad got the Capesante with Bacon--Jumbo scallops wrapped in smoked bacon and served over red lentils.

And I started off with the Twenty Seven Bistro Salad--Baby lettuces, candied walnuts, sliced Bosc pears, gorgonzola cheese, red onions, and tomatoes tossed in honey vinaigrette

The salad was delicious! Can you tell I’m loving gorgonzola and candied walnuts? A seriously delicious and classic salad.

Complimentary focaccia bread with their housemade tomato-basil sauce.

My dad ordered one of their specials: the beef tenderloin topped with strawberries and a strawberry reduction + garlic mashed potatoes + veggies.

And I ordered Capellini con Vegetali e Pomodoro--Angel hair pasta with julienne vegetables and 27’s tomato sauce

Pasta twirlinggg action!

With parmesan please!

And on the day of love I decided to give a lonely brussel sprout another chance.

I was in elementary school the last time I tried brussel sprouts and I just remembered thinking they tasted like a fart. Yes, a fart! But this time around I actually liked it, but I decided that I would like it better seasoned and roasted with balsamic vinegar. The pasta was okay, I did love the chunks of tomato though. But the salad definitely outshone the pasta. We skipped dessert because “someone special” said he had a treat for me. Well turns out that he wanted to postpone and frankly I was upset at that point. Why make plans with someone if you can’t actually follow through? After I said “no” he proceeded to tell me what he had gotten me. I’m sorry but I am not the kind of person to simply be won over by gifts. I’d much rather have my feelings and thoughts be considered, and know that someone actually wants to spend their time with me. Overall though my Valentine’s Day was great and spent with some of the people that I truly care about. It was also nice to just spread the positive energy on a beautiful day.

A Dose of R & R

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Katharina

In my last post I forgot to include some more pictures from Art Basel. So before I forget again, I will start this post out with something to wrap your minds around!

A whip cracking and look there's even dirt on the ground!

This seems to last forever.

Suspended in air?

These Evan Penny silicone sculptures were so perplexing to the mind and the eye!

Every single person's mind was boggled.

These two pieces were hyper-realistic yet had an illusional twist. Definitely the buzz at this year’s Art Basel in Miami.

I spy a winning fruit combination.

That morning I tried Udi’s Banaberry flavor – for kids! Overall I really liked the granola except the freeze-dried strawberries threw me off. The banana chips were so good though because added a natural sweetness. I had the granola with a sliced banana, and Sunland’s caramel peanut butter.

After my mom and I got our groove on we came home, got ready, and I prepared something to bring to my mom’s friend’s birthday get-together.

My first time trying fava beans.

Mondo-sized beans!

Did you guys know that in Portugal a Christmas Cake called Bolo Rei (“King Cake”) is baked with a “Fava” bean inside. Whoever eats the slice containing it, is supposed to buy next year’s cake.

Favetta

I got this very simple recipe from The Accidental Vegetarian. Then when I was done I just poured in a small pool of olive oil and freshly cracked black peppercorns. Simon Rimmer recommends serving it with coriander seed flatbread but anything dippable will do.

Look at how nicely my mom's friend set the table up!

And someone was proud of the gingerbread house they put together!

Brie!

Mom & Daughter

Then someone kindly offered to take a picture for us so I didn’t have to bust out the stretch armstrong camera move.

A bit blurry but that's okay - my mom looks adorable!

I love this shot! Laughing is such a wonderful thing.

One of the ladies made a very pretty seafood pate decorated with roasted red pepper!

Everyone exclaimed how delicious it was and asked her to share the recipe. Since I don’t eat fish, however, I just took their word for it!

Latinas could talk forever, and I love it.

A group of gorgeous women!

I want a pretty birthday cake like that.

Did I mention that twins were celebrating their birthdays?

They haven’t celebrated together in 10 years! The one in the blue shirt lives in Colombia so it’s not often that they’re together on their special day.

Slicing the cake wedding style!

Of course Colombian coffee was a must.

I loved being around these women. They were so full of life and just enjoyed each other’s company. I’m pretty sure my tummy was sore from laughing at the hilarious stories they shared – lots of funny confessions too!

Greek yogurt!

The kind folks at Oikos offered some freebie coupons to me to try out some of their products. My first choice was the plain 0% tub of Greek yogurt goodness! I really enjoyed the texture of this yogurt because it was thick but still creamy. Sometimes I find that certain ones can have this strange fluffiness to them. Not to mention, this yogurt is organic meaning it’s authentic and just how Greek shepherds made their yogurt. They have other flavors like strawberry, blueberry, vanilla, and honey that I’m looking forward to trying out.

What a bright breakfast!

Yesterday morning I tried Udi’s original flavor made with “Thick-Cut Rolled Oats, Wildflower Honey, Canola Oil, Raisins, Banana Chips, Walnuts, Cashews, Almonds, and Pistachios.” I had it with a sliced banana, papaya and pineapple bites, and Oikos yogurt. Yuuuuum! I loved the variety of nuts and the dried fruits have this sweetness that I love. Oh, did you perhaps notice my little army?

Chocolate-covered gummi bears

I usually munch on these while I make my breakfast but this time I thought I would be polite and invite them to my favorite meal of the day.

I made a quick sandwich since I was going to be on-the-go!

Slice No. 1 = Sunland’s dark chocolate peanut butter. Slice No. 2 = Cherry preserves. Chocolate-covered cherries in sandwich form! I think I’m becoming a chocolate lover too! Actually, I think I already am!!! I just noticed that I have chocolate every single day. And I must say, life is good. My friend picked me up and we were off to some thriftstores!

We found some little treasures.

For the mysterious Elizabeth. Hmm... who could she be?

I tried on someone's old wedding dress.

And I had a reunion with zany little Madeline!

She turned into a Swedish girl and I shared some of my mood-changing lip gloss with her!

Later on I went to the bookstore to flip through magazines for ideas. Cookie ideas! Three-course meal ideas! By the way, I haven’t mentioned this but some time soon I will be hosting my first cooking clinic! It was going to take place this Wednesday but I think that may be too stressful. Anywho, I’m so excited! My mom has also been bugging me about making a Christmas list so I browsed through fashion magazines and fell in love with so many things. I have a feeling my list won’t be so hard to make! I don’t usually ask for presents though because I like to see the thought behind the gift. At some point my mom met up with me at the bookstore and we exchanged magazines and shared some cheesecake and a cappuccino. She always orders a cappuccino and I always steal some sips. But I love that she never minds. We lost track of time and before you know it my belly was telling me “I want dinner!” I was going to prepare something last night but I looked at the recipe and it called for two hours! So I just saved it for another day.

Instead I quickly put this together.

Have any of you tried Mestemacher bread? It’s a brand from Germany that makes all-natural, whole grain bread. Some don’t like it, but my family does! It’s especially delicious with cream cheese and raspberry preserves. Last night I had it with gouda, leftover vegan Caesar dressing, heirloom tomato slices, capers, and small bell peppers. These bell peppers were bursting with flavor!!! Gosh this just made me remember the fresh broetchen that was had every morning when I lived in Germany. German bread is so good! After my dinner I decided to relax and take a bubble bath.

Candles were lit.

The bubbles kept rising!

I poured so much of the bubble bath liquid in before I turned on the jets. So once those were turned on the bubbles went above my head. Santa Claus beard! Sometimes I think we forget about little things like bubble baths, cozy spots, or anything else. A friend of mine takes bubble baths almost everyday, and I think that’s a wonderful idea. Maybe for you it’s not specifically a bubble bath, it could be picking out a delicious recipe, or a morning stretch. Whatever it may be, may it bring you joy!

It’s a State of Mind

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Katharina

It’s been far too long since my vivacious mother has graced the pages of my blog! When I think of my mom I think of what someone who has a passion for life. She has this youthfulness about her and I believe it can be a state of mind. How you carry and perceive yourself really reflects a lot on how people see you. This brings me to my number one fashion tip: wear it with confidence! When you’ve finally decided what outfit you want to wear, or if you just threw something on, don’t forget to walk out your door with a good amount of self-esteem and work it!

First off I started my Thanksgiving day with some homemade granola!

I used the soybean pulp, coconut oil, honey, shredded coconut, vanilla extract

I used the soybean pulp, coconut oil, honey, shredded coconut, and vanilla extract

Granola + vanilla Greek yogurt/pumpkin puree + raisins

After straightening the apartment up and running some errands, I picked up my mother at the airport and gave her a tour of the place. It didn’t take too long though since it’s quite small. She came bearing gifts from her recent trip to Germany!

German goodies!

Neela definitely understands that Germans have mastered the art of baking bread and Kuchen! Oh and making chocolate too!

Choco Gummibaerchen

Then we started cooking up a storm for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Mom also helped!

Then we set my coffee table and sat on pillows.

Looking cute!

Shall we eat?

This was on the menu:

First time trying Swiss chard!

Swiss chard with toasted pine nuts and raisins

Indian-spiced Kabocha mash

Stollen my mom brought back from her trip to Germany

Sage and pumpkin seed encrusted "chick'n" with cranberry cabernet sauce

I used Gardein scallopinis for the “chick’n”. I also baked some maple cornbread and mushroom gravy.

All together and what have you got?

Afterwards we went on a walk with Matilda.

Then we watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I had never seen that movie, and now I see why so many people love it!

Next morning, mom and daughter breakfast

My mom had some of the gourmet cashew toffee Holly sent me, a Fig Newman, banana, toast with sunflower seed butter (her first time trying it), and an arepa con choclo. Her and I actually split the delicious arepa. For myself I tried the chocolate Heart Thrive over some vanilla Greek yogurt, cashew butter, some Newman’s Own Organic dark chocolate, and a sliced banana. I think the Heart Thrives are getting better and better with each new flavor I try. I heated this one up and I loved the melted chocolate. This one in particular tastes like a cookie. Can you guess which kind? Then we got ready for some shopping!

Dressing room photoshoots - commence!

I tried on this incredible black dress!

So awesome!

Since I’m going to Art Basel this coming weekend, I need to come up with an extravagant outfit!

I'm thinking something along the lines of what I wore to my "End of the World" party.

Also tried on an incredible top.

A dress like in Breakfast at Tiffany's!

My mom likes playing with my camera!

Matilda went shopping with us too!

We were being goofy in the store!

On to the next store – my favorite!

Of course Anthropologie has adorable ceramic egg trays! (far right)

Now it's Mom's turn to model!

I think she wanted to go to the dog bakery!

She makes me smile

Now both of us!

Awesome overalls!

A shame they were too small.

A gypsy shawl!

Then we went to Sur la Table

The cooking class that day was entirely based around chocolate. Katie, I thought of you!

Minus my feet being cut-off, my mom took a cool picture!

We were done shopping and decided to head home for some lunch. Well the day before my mom flew in I had decided to bake something for us.

The ingredients!

I used French Meadow Bakery’s gluten-free pizza crust! Pizza 1: basil pesto pizza sauce, goat cheese, caramelized onions (in brown sugar), portobello, roasted eggplant. Pizza 2: basil pesto pizza sauce, goat cheese, caramelized onions (in brown sugar), portobello, roasted red pepper and artichokes.

Pizza No. 1

I must say that I was surprised at how normal the crust tasted. In fact, it didn’t occur to me till later that, “Oh yeah! This is gluten-free crust. Wow!” After lunch we were headed out again and I had forgotten something so I went back. Then I realized I had locked us out of the apartment and my roommate was out of town. Oops! Thank goodness through some guardian angels were watching out for me and my neighbors walked into the building at the right moment. They had a way of getting me into my apartment. Imagine poor Matilda waiting for us!

Dinnertime!

We each had Sunshine Burgers topped with diced tomato, seasoned avocado, and ketchup. I also sauteed some kale in balsamic vinegar and honey + grated parmesan. Lastly, we split a beautiful persimmon! I asked my mom what she thought of the Sunshine Burger. Her response: “DELICIOUS!” After dinner we got ready to go to the movies.

And I packed some movie snacks for us.

We went to go see Julie & Julia.

The movie made me smile so much because I totally feel the same way!

The movie theater itself is so beautiful!

After the movie we wanted to go get some drinks.

We went to this French brasserie called Can Can

My friend was working so she took some pictures of me and my mom.

They brought out the bread - They ended up giving us a free baguette and another loaf!

A toast to us!

With a blackberry Bellini for me and an Indian Summer for my mom.

We also ordered a dessert.

A sweet potato tart with cranberry ice cream and a ginger creme anglaise.

A sweet potato tart with ginger creme anglaise and cranberry ice cream.

After a couple of hours of talking we headed home and laid our little heads to rest.

You are all so sweet and I’m incredibly thankful for each and every single one of you. I can’t remember exactly what sparked me to start a blog, but whatever that reason is – it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that it brought me here, with a bunch of wonderful friends. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying all the delicious leftovers. Cooking shouldn’t be a problem for the next few days!

Busy as a Bee

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Katharina

Hello everyone! This week turned out to be a good week to not have a computer aka distraction. I have spent the past few days literally being on the go from the moment I wake up till I pass out at night reading my books for school. However, there were some quick breaks where I could quickly read some posts on my iPhone. I always feel weird using my iPhone for internet purposes though… it’s a tiny computer!

Anyway, moving on.

Busy Tuesdays!

Last week I received a package from 18 Rabbits for me to review their granola bars. Perfect for my Tuesdays because I don’t have time to make breakfast. I didn’t realize how red everything was! So let’s get to the review shall we? This is how a granola bar is suppose to taste. It seemed there was no skimping on anything when making this bar, and it was just sweet enough. I tried the Cheeky Cherry Chocolate bar. I loved the plump dried cherries, but I couldn’t really taste the chocolate. Nonetheless, this was the best granola bar I’ve had in maybe ever? I could easily crumble this over some yogurt and enjoy every bite.

Then I got dressed and excited about my outfit!

You ever have those days where your outfit is just perfect and you want to run a billion errands because the world needs to know how cool you are? I wore these shoes I found, they’re actually Timberland boys’ shoes. So they’re not as clunky as the popular ones.

They look a bit like these except more muted.

Then I had a two hour break in between my class and got some groceries. Sometimes I go to the salad bar when I want produce but not too much of it. Afterall, I’m only grocery shopping for one.

Feta cheese, roasted red peppers, and artichoke hearts.

I had to gather materials for my sculpture, and that involved looking for big branches. I knew the perfect place.

The great outdoors.

I thought I'd share some of my coolness with Matilda.

She's so elegant!

My baby is growing up.

I brought a little snack with me.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the vegan energy bars, Heart Thrive. I had packed the apricot flavor and I was eager to try it! Especially after hearing all the rave reviews. What’d I think? I loved the texture and how it wasn’t sticky at all, but it was a bit dry. It was also nice to bite into bits of dried fruit which made it extra chewy. Oh and if you guys are interested in ordering them don’t forget to mention my blog! I can’t wait to try the other flavors.

Since they're vegan I felt safe sharing some with Matilda.

Dinner time!

I sautéed the rest of my kale in sesame oil and sprinkled on some toasted sesame seeds afterwards. I’m loving the sautéed kale! I also made an award-winning sandwich that night. A Veggie Stuffed Hummus Sandwich; This is Brittany’s, a fellow Richmond blogger and sweetheart, creation. This is the recipe that got her spot in the last Foodbuzz Festival in San Francisco!

And I got to taste why it was a winner!

Wednesday's breakfast...

I made a vanilla protein shake and sprinkled some cinnamon on top. I also added in a sliced banana and an apricot Heart Thrive. I decided to spread some coconut oil on the Heart Thrive this time and it made it deliciously moist.

A little something special. I decided to wear a vintage brooch that day.

I met up with one of my best friends for lunch that day.

I’d been at the European Market once to eat, and many time to just browse their gourmet market. I’m going to give you all a link to their menu because I have a feeling you will be inspired by their sandwiches. Here you go! Yeah they’ve got sandwiches with combinations like turkey, apple, fig jam & Teleggio cheese with aioli on baguette (can easily be adapted for vegetarians).

Check out the chocolates!

Neela they have Milka und Kinderschokoladen! They also had Rittersport and Marzipan for my favorite twins. I know Katie would love this too! Actually, who wouldn’t? Germans make the best chocolate in my opinion.

They also have many wines and beers.

She also had a cute little vintage strawberry brooch!

I ordered the Spanish Garden Sandwich and a house salad.

The sandwich had zucchini, eggplant, tomato, fresh basil, greens & idiazabal cheese on ciabatta. I never had idiazabal cheese before but it reminded me of manchego and the man at the market said it comes from the same area.

And she ordered the Arc de Triumph with a side of Butternut Squash & Apple Curry.

That sandwich consisted of roasted turkey, brie & bacon on baguette with aioli. I’m glad she’s one of my best friends because I did not hesitate to ask if I could try the curry. Yum!!! What a great lunch to have before I headed to my Literature class.

Then my day got even better!

The incredible Holly sent me a package full of Wisconsin goodness! She also wrote me an incredibly sweet letter. Thank you so much Holly. You have no idea how excited I was when I saw this package sitting in all it’s glory on my kitchen counter… just waiting for me! The goods? Apple grahams, a medley jam, cashew Christmas gourmet toffee, and homemade vegan pumpkin molasses cookies. This little lady rules!

Oo a new bar to try out.

Someone at ProBar had contacted me asking if I wanted to try out their new line of bars called Fruition. Of course! I love ProBars, so why not? Can you believe each bar packs in 2 servings of fruit? Here’s a little more info on the bars from their site.

“fruition™ is the latest addition to the PROBAR family. This fruit-based, superfood snack bar is designed to be satisfying on-the-go without the extra fat and calories. fruition is the marriage of dates, oats, chia seeds and cashews in 4 mouth-watering real fruit flavors. With superb fruit flavors, robust texture and blend of organic ingredients, fruition is Simply Real.”

So this was the Strawberry flavor. I really enjoyed the taste. It reminded me of a NutriGrain bar but not as dry and a bit denser in flavor.

Well ladies and gentlemen, that’s it for this post! I’ve got something fun in store for you all in the next one. Let’s just say there’s going to be a bit more life to it. I hope you all had a great week. Do any of you have anything planned for the weekend??

Basil Green with Envy

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Katharina

I wrote to Maggie earlier that I took a break from looking at food blogs for a bit. It’s silly really, but it made me crave all those wonderful veggies and fruits you guys all put together… EVEN MORE! I’m not into the idea of chewing my arm off ; how would I write these posts?! Anyway, I was very interested by the feedback I got from you all in my last post. Eliza had made a very great point! She said, “but we all deserve to eat the way we enjoy.” This is so true. Although this past week and a half really made me realize that my situation wasn’t that bad, I know that when I can then why not? When I have money to get groceries I make a list, but if something interesting catches my eye then into the cart it goes! Thank goodness I do this because when I thought I had nothing, I had plenty! But in general, I do a really good job of saving money and not spending mindlessly.

A few nights ago, my friend invited me over to watch a crazy BBC documentary called “America’s Most Hated Family”. It was about the people of Westboro Baptist Church. They’re the ones that picket outside of soldier’s funerals with very distasteful slogans. It was mind-boggling and interesting to watch. Afterwards, we turned on Julie & Julia. We didn’t get to finish it, but I really want to!

: This little set-up was waiting for me when I got there!

Don’t you just love how hanging out with friends can make problems magically disappear? I never tried Sake before and I learned that heating it up is actually an insult to the artisan. Basically, heating Sake up is like adding salt to a dish that’s been served.

: Breakfast!

For breakfast I had something different! I toasted a Rudi’s Organic English muffin, one of the samples sent to me by the company. My roommate’s boyfriend asked what I had made in the oven. It was just an English muffin! Well, not just an English muffin. This one happened to be incredibly yummy! Especially with cashew butter and some raspberry preserves. I also had a ZenSoy Vanilla Soy on the Go and a hemp brownie bite. A what?! Okay first let me say that these soy milk-to-go packets are genius and make me feel like a school kid again. Now back to the hemp brownie. I was sent some samples of French Meadow Bakery products and those were one of the goodies sent to me.

: The motherload! Please pass on some sandwich recipes.

The hemp brownie bite was awesome! Brownies are something I’m picky about, but the texture of this one was just right. And the taste? As funky as a hemp brownie sounds, there was nothing off-putting about it!

: More bread and a chocolate protein shake with some coffee mixed in.

I tried another slice of Rudi’s bread, but this time I chose the Cinnamon Raisin bread. I spread on some coconut oil. Well I do love the thick slices each load seems to have, but I think the cinnamon flavor could’ve been stronger.

: Creme of Almond and Date spread made this just right.

: I’ve also been sampling some sweets.

Since the incredible package of Newman’s Own Organics came in at the right time, I thought what better way to munch my way through the days with some cookies!

First up are the Champion Chip Cookies! The flavors I got were Double Chocolate Mint Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and Espresso Chocolate Chip. I’m not a big fan of the Chocolate Chocolate variation, but the rest are right up my alley! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Double Chocolate Mint Chip cookies!

Second batch? Hmm… let’s go with the Hermits. I tried the Original and Cinnamon flavor. Both are good, but I personally preferred the Original ones. Not sure why though. I bet the Ginger Hermits are delicious – I love ginger!

Now on to the Fig Newmans! The only difference between the two I got is that one is fat-free and the other is low-fat. There’s was no apparent difference to me as far as taste goes. So I guess it’s just what you prefer as far as fat-content goes.

Last but certainly not least are the Alphabet Cookies. Maybe I’m boring when it comes to cookies, but these were my favorite! They’re so simple but so good. I want to spell my full name out, including my middle name, and then eat it. Thank goodness I’ve got a really long name.

: Breakfast this morning…

This time I tried a slice of Rudi’s 100% Whole Wheat bread. I love love love the thick slices. I usually buy artisan bread, but I really think Rudi’s makes great bread for morning toast. And we can’t ignore that indulgent looking cup in the back! That, my dears, is a ZenSoy Chocolate/Vanilla Swirl pudding cup. I’m turning into a kid again and if eating these pudding cups are a sign, then I don’t mind one bit. More please!

Aside from it being a glorious day because it’s Friday, I was able to get groceries today!

: I didn’t cook at all, but I fully enjoyed!

I chose the crunchiest and crispiest things to munch on as far as fresh foods go. I love carrots and apples with peanut butter. I also had a delicious Southwestern Sunshine Burger and munched on some Newman’s Own Organics pretzel sticks. Nom nom nom!

Later on…

: More apples!

I sliced up 2 apples and crumbled on a Cinnamon Hermit, and into the microwave it went.

I try not to dwell on things, so I just went about my rainy days looking at fashion magazines and going to my classes (of course). Aside from the dreadful weather the tropical storm has caused over here, I’ve been trying to remain positive. This brings me to my truth of this post.

The weather deeply affects my mood. During the winter I embellish the idea of this season by reminding myself of all the cute clothes I get to wear and this is season of giving. I’ll snuggle with Matilda even more, but the truth is that deep down inside I just don’t feel the same. It’s like I allow some part of my spirit to escape me. I just can’t help but feel like it’s me against nature when I walk out the door – not a good feeling. What do you all do to keep a positive outlook during the bittercold months? Or does it even bother you at all?

Betty Who?

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Katharina

Betty Lou’s!

Sampler Package

Awhile ago I got the opportunity to sample a variety of Betty Lou’s snacks. I’m sure some of you have seen some their all-natural snacks at your local grocery store. I can tell you as a college student, pre-packaged snacks are a must for me. I have time to make meals, but what I eat in between is usually something I don’t whip up in the kitchen. Moreover, I usually opt for foods that will keep my energy levels up and going. Which is where these snacks come in the picture.

If you go to their site and see what they have available, you’ll notice they cater to plenty of specialty-diets (wheat corn and dairy-free, no cholesterol, organic, vegan, etc.). On top of that they’ve got a wide array of snacks to choose from. Another interesting thing to note: nothing is made with refined sugar; Perhaps why energy levels don’t crash. I guarantee you’ll find something that’ll spark your interest.

Krispy Bites

First thought? It resembled a Rice Krispy bar, but it’s gluten-free and vegan. Wow! I could taste the peanut butter right off the bat. As a peanut butter lover there are no complaints here. This was an unexpected surprise. Then I read the ingredients and saw that peanut butter was on the list. I actually did a double take at how short the list was. I also love how flavor is bold and delicious and definitely lingers – just makes the goodness last longer once you’re done enjoying this little treat. I just wish it were a bit bigger.

Cranberry Crave Chewy Granola Cookie

Hippy Happy Apple Granola Bar

Aside from the awesome packaging, the whiff I got upon opening the wrapper was so comforting – I think it comes from the maple sugar. I knew I was in for a treat. You could eat this on it’s own, but I can also imagine it would be great crumbled on some yogurt. The cranberry’s tartness helped keep this bar from verging on too sweet. It really did taste like I was eating some kind of dessert. The apple one didn’t have too strong of an apple flavor, just a hint of it. It tasted good nonetheless, and it was bit chewier than the other one. And to make everyone happy, both are vegan!

Jumbo Apricot Fruit Bar

Crumbled over some yogurt, almonds, and tropical fruits.

This reminded me a of a fig Newton. I could tell there were real chunks of apricot in there as well because it was very chewy, moist, and dense. This bar is also quite tart.

Jumbo Blueberry Fruit Bar

This bar wasn’t too sweet or tart, but it tasted like I was biting into a blueberry slice of deliciousness. I loved how it wasn’t super gooey even after I heated it up.

Spirulina Ginseng Nut Butter Ball

After taking a bite.

Almond Nut Butter Ball

Cashew Pecan Nut Butter Ball

Don’t be thrown off by the green color of the Spirulina Ginseng Nut Butter Ball. This was good but I don’t know what to compare it to as far as flavors go. Oh! And those are bits of almonds coating it. I love how the nut butter ball has bits of almonds around it the delicious glob of almond butter. It’s not messy at all, and if you like almonds, then this is for you. It’s like those candies you get that have goodness on the inside and out! This is how bursts of energy come – wabam! I enjoyed the Cashew Pecan one while I was at the airport waiting for my flight. I absolutely love the texture of these Nut Butter Balls! I think these are the most common Betty Lou’s products I’ve seen in stores. You should check out the other flavors like Coconut Macadamia! There’s even a high-protein Almond Butter Ball!

Organic Almond Patty

Just showing off some yummy snacks!

This was one delicious chocolate almond butter patty! Need I say more?

I’d like to thank the people at Betty Lou’s for sending me such a great sampler package. I thoroughly enjoyed tasting my way through all the snacks, and I wish I could share the goodness with you all. I guess giving my opinion is the best I can do for right now. So next time you’re out and you see one of many Betty Lou’s snacks – try one!

Riding Out the Common Cold

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Katharina

G’day to you! I am currently fighting a cold so I’ve just been trying to get my rest and taking it easy.

: Being sick… not cool.

The other day I busted out this wonderful contraption I so often forget I have…

: Behold the soymilk maker!

My mom’s friend never used the machine so she gave it to my mom – I think she knew there was a vegetarian in my mom’s household. I can make other milks with this machine as well. My next endeavor? Almond milk! I tried making oat milk once, but it was very watered down. Once it’s done working it’s magic, an electronic version of ‘Ode to Joy’ echoes around the apartment. The result is very “soybean-y” in flavor. I personally don’t mind it, but some friends of mine do.

: Excuse me, I had just woken up and was still in my robe! But that’s a huge cup!

: Had to wait for it to cool down completely before putting it into the carafe.

: I also get this leftover stuff called okara.

Okara can be used to make tofu and an assortment of other things.

: M’mmm a bowl of chocolaty goodness.

I added in a packet of hot cocoa to my usual oatmeal mix and a drowning glob of cashew butter.

Speaking of chocolate, Katie, our favorite chocolate-covered friend is hosting a Page View Charity Drive. So hop on over to this site, Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness, to find out more information and how to help out others in need. Afterall it’s the season of giving and reflecting on what we are thankful for.

The other day I was feeling quite lazy and I decided to finally bake the frozen Kashi pizza that’d been sitting in my freezer since I moved into my apartment.

: Sicilian Veggie

It sounded good, but I wasn’t fond of this flavor. I’m always weary of the way frozen pizzas taste and I usually don’t get them because of this. However, I have heard many good things about Amy’s frozen pizza. One thing I do recommend from Kashi’s frozen food selection is the Mayan Harvest Bake. I did have leftovers so I tried to make the best of it by personalizing it.

: Defeats the purpose of it being cheese-less, but it was calling for melted mozzarella, sliced tomato, and some mushrooms.

: This time I crumbled on some goat’s cheese, mushrooms, and threw on kernels of hominy.

In case you’re wondering, that’s the best BBQ sauce on the broccoli.

Here are some things I’ve been enjoying with my batch of homemade soymilk.

: Breakfast was inspired by a pear strudel recipe I stumbled upon.

I used Nature’s Path vanilla almond granola with soymilk, and topped it with a pear, date, and goat cheese crumbles. Then it all went into the microwave, which is why the pear slices look brown.

: I sweetened this steaming cup and sprinkled on some pumpkin pie spice.

: A new bowl!

Another special bowl I found the other day. I mixed in a packet of U.S. Mill’s cinnamon raisin oatmeal with soymilk. Then it was topped with a sliced banana and the last of my sample of Artisana coconut butter. And what’s in the teapot? A few cups worth of replenishing green tea.

: I also prepared a batch of miso soup with dulse flakes, mushrooms, onion, and tofu for a speedier recovery.

What's this?

Well, I finally got around to opening up the box of Aztec Crunchy Corn & Amaranth cereal that the lovely folks over at U.S. Mills sent to me. I tried it alone first to give you guys an honest opinion. My honest opinion? I would prefer it mixed with another cereal. So that’s exactly what I did.

I mixed the cereal with Nature’s Path hemp plus granola, warm soymilk, and wild blueberries. I think corn and blueberries are very yummy together.

Ahem, I will let you all digest for a bit by sharing bits and pieces of my week so far.

Last week's critique had to carry over to this week.

Later followed by going to Richmond's Capitol Square to admire some masterpieces.

A friend of mine asked if I wanted to help him pick out some vegetables. Isn’t that funny? I agreed and we headed over to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. I got some new things for me to try out – I’ll be divulging those in another post!

He says he's not good at baking so he relies on mixes.

Feeling better already I decided to get ready and go to a coffeeshop.

I also went on a bike ride today with my friend through Hollywood Cemetery. It’s such a beautiful place and overlooks the James River. Legend has it that a vampire is buried there. A strange coincidence happened while I was there…

I was unknowingly lying under this!

I don’t believe there is a cure for the common cold, but I do believe there are things to aid in a speedy recovery. Some things I’ve been doing? Getting fresh air and rest, staying hydrated with water and tea, getting enough vitamin C, and eating miso soup. Anything that’s comforting. Another thing that helps is mind over matter and snuggling with this stuffed animal…

Matilda!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Wednesday. And don’t forget to checkout Averie’s amazing chia seed giveaway!

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: chocolate