Traveling in the Kitchen

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Katharina

Oh gosh! There’s so much catching up to do! I’ve been back in Florida for a couple of weeks, but I have some things that I want to share with you from before I even left for Toronto. So get ready!

: And hold on tight

Let’s see… how have I been enjoying the summer’s endless heat?

: By making water a more refreshing beverage.

Slicing up lemons, limes, cucumbers, and a handful of mint leaves, and letting it all sit for a couple hours in a jug of water is all it takes.

: One of my mom’s friends gave us mangoes from her backyard!

You can tell how delicious these were just by looking at them.

: I’ve also been making smoothies.

I made this particular one with Greek yogurt, honey, almond milk, peaches, and cinnamon.

: Taste testing… not quite there yet.

: Passed the test.

: Yowza that was good!

: I’ve also been loving strawberries in the mix.

: Sadly, coconut butter is too shy to mix and mingle.

: Of course I’ve been keeping up with my weekly batch of raw vegan treats.

I’ve recently made Averie’s No-Bake Coconut and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites and Kelsey’s Cocoa Coconut Energy Balls. Both should be under your bookmarks if they aren’t already.

: I’m serious.

: This may not be a typical cool summer meal.

I sautéed some yellow squash, crumbled tofu, and diced sweet potato with Bragg’s flavorful Organic Seasoning. Drizzle some coconut butter, and I sealed the deal. By the way that sprinkle has 24 herbs and spices that add lots of flavor. Even if I don’t know what to cook I just use some of this and I instantly have a tasty dish. Thanks to my old roommate introducing me to this it’s now one of my secret weapons.

: Taken out by the poolside while the weather was hopefully cooling down (not by much).

: With a nice cold glass of refreshing water.

: Ahh yes… the morning is another part of the day I can enjoy outside without melting into a puddle of sweat…

: And drool.

: I’ve also made up a recipe recently.

Can you guess what it is? Himalayan Zucchini Bread! This is an eclectic loaf of zucchini bread inspired by the Eastern world and 101 Cookbook’s Special Zucchini Bread. Check it.

Himalayan Zucchini Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

3/4 cup almonds, chopped

2 1/2 tbl poppy seeds or even chia seeds

2 tsp lemon zest

4 peanut ginger chews, finely chopped

1/4 cup goji berries

3 tbl shredded coconut, unsweetened

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar

1 large egg, or egg replacer

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 zucchinis, grated

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour mix

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tbl curry powder

*Don’t be daunted by the long ingredient list*

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan, and dust it with a bit of flour then set aside.
2. In a bowl combine the almonds, poppy seeds, lemon zest, shredded coconut, goji berries, and ginger. Set aside.

3. In another bowl mix the coconut oil with the honey, and then add the coconut sugar. Add the egg and mix well. Stir in the vanilla and then the zucchini.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and curry powder.

5. Add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

6. Fold in the almonds, poppy seed, lemon zest, goji berries, shredded coconut, and crystalized ginger mixture by hand. Set a bit aside so you can sprinkle on the the zucchini loaf before baking to add a little crunch. Avoid over mixing the batter, it should be thick and moist.

7. Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Don’t over bake it though to keep it moist. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for about ten minutes. Then let it finish cooling on wire rack. It’ll get moist and sweaty if you leave them in the pan.

: Each ingredient is special in this recipe

: That’s not all.

: Wolfberries, also known as goji berries.

: And somehow by the time this loaf was done baking I had flown to Asia and back.

So now that I’ve shared this recipe with you, here are some tips to go along with it. I soaked the almonds beforehand to add to the bread’s dense bite. I also thought of the recipes I’ve made where zucchini and almonds held hands in the most delicious way. I love coming up with kitchen experiments, being inspired by places I want to travel to and let my mind go.

: Check it out!

Now take a bite into a slice of this and you’ve got a spiced and moist bread, with some crunch and the most unique flavor.

: Enjoy it for breakfast with coconut butter.

Recently, I’ve been letting a bag of green tea steep in a glass of cold water overnight.

: And beautiful fresh mission figs, medjool dates, bee pollen, and honey over some Greek yogurt.

: I hope you all have a relaxing weekend…

Or one packed with adventures!

Not Counting Down the Days

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Katharina

Hello everyone! As I mentioned in my last post, I am back up at school. Although my classes haven’t started yet, I’ve been getting ready for this coming semester. I’ve been having so much fun since being back here. Reconnecting with my friends, and making new ones everyday! Seriously, every day has brought me a new adventure. Anyway, I wanted to talk about how I’ve been doing on my journey to strengthen my liver. I haven’t been doing this for a month quite, but almost! I thought a month sounded like a good amount of time to let my body adjust and do a lot of healing. Does this mean I’m just going to stop after the month has gone by? No, I will continue this, but not so focused on certain foods. While browsing Foodbuzz I stumbled across an interesting article written by RD and writer of the blog Practical Nutrition, Nour. There was one sentence that really resonated with me: ”Enjoy them for the color, taste, aroma, and the whole meal experience, and think less of how they could physiologically affect your body from the inside” I know that recently I’ve been including little tidbits about the various foods I’ve been eating. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, but when I’m eating my meal I don’t actually think about those tidbits. When I eat I usually just think of how colorful the food is and the flavors! Everything I’ve been eating has tasted delicious, and that’s something that will never change. After all, isn’t that why people really love food? I’m a creature of introspection–constantly reflecting and observing the world around me and realizing that I’m in it… a part of it. So I choose to live my life as nobly and as compassionately as possible. I care about myself as much as I care about others–and that’s a lot. And isn’t it wonderful that one of the ways I can take care of myself is through food?

Moreover, I’ve got some exciting news to share with you all (more exciting news at the end of the post as well)! I’m sure some of you have heard of Foodbuzz’s Project Food Blog. Since I’m participating, I will be completing the various challenges the judges have come up with. This is going to be so much fun! I hope that you will support me and vote for the entries I submit! I’ll definitely keep you all updated on how it goes down. It would be a dream come true if I became the next food blog star.

The last meal I cooked in Florida.

Sounds dramatic! I decided to cook the red kale loosely using the same recipe that I like to use for other greens. I also made a delicious and aromatic batch of red lentil and date dhal inspired by this recipe, served it over a slighty spicy and spiced sweet potato and butternut squash purée. Once it was served I took a bit of ghee and just let it melt on top.

Rich in flavor and undeniably satisfying.

On my last day in Florida I got to hang out with a good friend of mine that was visiting from Virginia!

We soaked up the South Beach sun and time was of little importance to us. Living in the moment.

Literally overflowing bowl of oats

Overflowing with coconut milk!

First actual night back in Richmond means...

Great food (chili con corn with veggies, provolone, tortilla strips, served over lentils and rice)

And even greater friends!

Even though most of us lead separate lives now, we never forget our friendship.

A feeble attempt at making coconut butter--just wasn't the same.

My meals have been consisting of a lot of green and yellow colors lately--also a failed attempt at molding the rice and lentils.

The yellowness comes from cooking the onions and garlic in turmeric. Remember the wonderful benefits of turmeric? “In both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is considered a digestive bitter and a carminative. It can be incorporated into foods, including rice and bean dishes, to improve digestion and reduce gas and bloating. It is a cholagogue, stimulating bile production in the liver and encouraging excretion of bile via the gallbladder.” I’ve even heard that it’s good for alleviating arthritic conditions and menstrual cramps!

Yellow green... green yellow!

Garlic, onions, turmeric, artichoke hearts, kale beans, quinoa, shredded mango chutney and sweet mango pickle, flax oil, and cilantro. Ah yes, I cooked a grain besides rice! You know me, I like to keep things different or else I get bored. I’m a gemini, what can I say?

And can you believe that I found a 2 lb. tub of dates at the Indian store for $4.99?

Talk about a great deal! I’ve been loving them dipped in the “coconut butter” I attempted to make, with other nut butters, in cooking, and just plain! Actually, the other day when I had a friend over I asked if he had ever tried dates before. That night he was introduced to nature’s candy, and it brought a smile to my face when he asked if it was okay if he could have another one. Of course! Who am I to be a hog when I’ve got 2 pounds of dates?

Okay so I wanted to keep this post from bursting at the seams with what I’ve been up to–mission… kind of accomplished. But I have been bursting at the seams! I’ve been very eager to share with you all that I’m hosting a giveaway!!! I haven’t had one on my blog in such a long time. I was contacted by Kroeger Herbs to give you all the opportunity to win a bottle of their Serenity and Healthy Gut herbal combinations. They were kind enough to ask me which of their products I thought you all would benefit from the most. I remembered in one of my past posts that many of you mentioned that unnecessary stress makes its way into your lives, and I also know that many of you also have some tummy issues; so I thought these two products would be great! Now here’s what you have to do to have a chance at winning (yoohoo!):

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

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

2. Sign up for their newsletter.

3. Follow them on Facebook.

4. Follow them on Twitter.

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

From Yours Truly

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Katharina

Happy middle of the week everybody! Isn’t it funny how time just seems to fly by once Wednesday rolls around? You know what else has been rolling around besides the days? I noticed on some blogs that there has been this incredible message being spread. Recently, I’ve come across some incredible posts that just really resonated with me. Rebekah gave us a piece of her mind last week, Jessica is stepping a foot forward towards some wonderful changes, and Jenny has been posting a great series of LIFT posts. I find most blogs to be really inspiring and I love how they are glimpses of how wonderful some people in this world can be! I’m definitely a person who sees the goodness in everyone. What can I say? Anyway, a lot of posts that have been floating around recently have provoked my thoughts–in a good way. Recently, I’ve been thinking about acceptance, willpower, and rooting for yourself. I’ve had my fair share of of Chicken Soup for Whatever Soul moments in my life, but I’m still standing… with both feet on the ground. There were times when I did fall. In fact there were times I hit rock bottom. But who hasn’t? During those times it was hard to see or even fathom the idea that things would get better. I was blind to the fact that things could get better, but it was up to me. Of course, the love from friends and family helps, but at the end of the day… it’s only you that sees the world through your set of eyes. For the most part, we know what things are best for us. So why is it that sometimes we don’t do those things? Sometimes we do the complete opposite! Looking back on the times I hit the pavement hard, I am astounded by the wasted energy I put into not doing what I knew would help me. It was almost as if I wanted to stay in the black hole because at the time it just seemed like “too much” to deal with. Well guess what? One miserable day I was sitting down and I looked at the people around me. I thought to myself, “I want that. I want to be free like they are and not worry about these things anymore. I deserve to be happy!” I was right! We all deserve that. Eventually, I started taking steps towards getting my spirit back. I knew I was not the empty shell I decided to make my home a couple years back. At first, everything felt so scary and foreign to me, but overtime I saw that the more I did these things that were actually good for me, the easier they became. And eventually, it felt natural. I didn’t even think twice about it! I was starting to see that I should have more compassion towards myself, which led to self-acceptance. By working through the storm, I am now able to appreciate so many aspects of life, this world, and beyond. Maybe the child inside of me will never die. I really don’t mind seeing the world through the same set of wide eyes for the rest of my life. I believe people can still keep that innocence and simultaneously learn from their “mistakes”. Just live and let go. Anyway, you see, after you’ve picked yourself up, brushed off your knees… that’s when you realize that scrapes and bruises are only temporary, and that aching hearts do heal. But it’s up to you! And you’re wonderful.

And so are these granola bars!

Breakfast on the go!

I finally used the forgotten tempeh that was sitting in my freezer for months!

I made some maple-ginger grilled tempeh with coconut oil and tarragon.

Perfect for sandwiches as well!

Inside an olive roll + mayo + creme of dates and almonds + onions + romaine

Pumpkin seed butter + maple syrup sandwich

Remember how I said that I wasn’t too keen on the taste of pumpkin seed butter? Well that was the case until I tried the Futter’s pumpkin seed butter that Liz sent me. Whoa! Second chances can be a good thing. I also love the color–it makes me feel like a kid again. Remember when they came out with green ketchup? Green eggs and ham? But of course there are foods that are normally green… like beautiful artichokes!

Filming a video for my final piece.

Guess what this is!

When the lovely Katie posted a recipe for a breakfast pizzert (pizza + dessert), I bookmarked it right away! Since I didn’t have pastry flour I opted for a mix of corn meal and whole wheat flour. I wanted to make something reminiscent of a shortcake, so strawberries were obvious. I plan on making another one soon and I know the perfect fruit to use for the corn meal and whole wheat flour combo. You’ll just have to wait and see!

What a lovely breakfast, don't you think?

Topped it with a sliced banana, more strawberries, coconut oil, and chocolate hazelnut butter + a side of Greek yogurt

I've also recently whipped up my own batch of refried beans!

I spiced mine up with some freshly ground up dried chipotle peppers. Also since I didn’t have any avocados on hand I opted for something I did have: avocado oil! I “borrowed” this from my parents’ kitchen, and have just decided that I’m never giving it back! Sorry guys, but atleast you’re always loaded with actual avocados (avocados are so cheap in Florida).

We now interrupt this post with some fashion!

My friend taught me that in the fashion department they call this "naked clothes". I love it!

My what long handle you have!

Perfect for OIBAJ (oats in a BIG ASS jar)

The other day when I was putting some burnt coconut butter on my sweet potato I realized that it was that time again! This time I did things differently. I made my bowl of oatmeal the night before so they would cool down–as I’ve shared before I tend to start sweating like a mad man when the weather gets hot and I have warm oatmeal–and I mixed in the protein powder after I cooked the oatmeal. Anyway, in the morning I mixed in the oats with the coconut butter little by little. I also sliced a banana and mango in there, and then topped it all with some shredded coconut. This was the perhaps the creamiest oatmeal breakfast I’ve ever had! No lie! On that note, I’ll leave you all with my last piece of this semester for my advanced sculpture class.

I loved that I made something that was larger than me!

Much larger! I made a “raft” and sewed a patchwork sheet to project my short film up on to it.

Detail shot of the mica flakes + paint on the raft

I think knots in wood are beautiful.

Here’s a question for you: when you find it hard to believe in yourself, what do you do?

Living In a Daze, Part I

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Katharina

Hi everyone! As the title suggests, I’m going to break up the recent days in to more than one post. I still feel like my two feet have yet to hit the ground. Yes, I am feeling overwhelmed, but that isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. Why am I overwhelmed is the question. Over these past couple of days I’ve had many triumphs, adjustments, and realizations. I just feel like I’m about to start walking on new territory, but at the same time branching my roots out into familiar ones as well. It might sound confusing, and I admit it feels that way for me too! But whatever may be in store, I’m ready! And on that note, let’s jump in!

: Spiced cottage cheese oats with coconut oil and peanut butter.

: Ayurvedic recipe

This chili smelled divine while cooking it. The thing I love about ayurvedic recipes is that they include an array of spices that awaken different tastebuds. Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle, but I also added some diced sweet potato and coconut oil to my liking. Check out the description on the site for the chili: “smooth molasses with pungent cinnamon and smoked licorice black bean chili feels like a campfire in northern New Mexico under a new moon.” Imagine that…

: Can you spy the Chinese star anise?

: Operation Sneaky “Snack” cont’d included dried cranberries, butternut squash, Greek yogurt, and…

: Betty Lou’s Cranberry Crave Harmony Bar; Success!

I wanted to show you all what this Betty Lou’s bar looked like. Check it out! Every time I open the wrapper I can’t help but think that it smells homemade. You know when you’re baking muffins and the sweet smell just puts you at ease? M’mm good.

: Anyone ready for Florida?

That morning I had the juiciest, sweetest mango ever! Oh my gosh, just thinking about it is making me want go back to this. I had it with Greek yogurt, Udi’s Hawaiian granola (ginger-toasted macadamias, dried pineapple, and coconut flakes), and drizzled with coconut butter. Okay, so the mango alone was delicious, but all of this together… where do I begin? Ah yes, sitting on a hammock basking in the sun. But before we continue, let me put my ice cold pina colada down.

: My re-worked sculpture.

: Pressed mesh wire into thinner wire to make these.

: This one is my favorite; it’s just so sturdy.

This looks like I'm in prison!

Alas, I’m just stylin’ the pajamas my grandma gave me, and about to enjoy OIAJ!!! Now that doesn’t sound like prison to me. Sunland’s banana peanut butter… you were so good to me!

Mixed in with a melted banana, last of the "best mango ever", crumbled honey graham, and shredded coconut.

Glorious spoonfuls of banana peanut butter with my oats.

However, OIAJ wasn’t the only exciting thing happening that morning. No, I had to get ready to pick up my mom!

The look: slouchy button-up leg warmers with boots and tights

And not your grandmother's black turtleneck dress.

For a splash of color, I pinned on a vintage flower brooch to my coat.

We came home and I quickly put together our lunches

For myself I had a Garden Herb Sunshine Burger on a bun + ketchup + pepper jelly + onion + tomato, with butternut squash and sliced pear with cinnamon and coconut butter as well.

Nom nom

And for my mom...

This almost looks like a face! She had Ezekiel toast with fried egg whites and green “stuff” on top. The green “stuff” is a quick thing I whipped up: 1 avocado + nutritional yeast + soy sauce + turmeric + a bit of water for consistency. She also had some butternut squash on the side.

My dad picked up some goodies from a nearby local Jordanian restaurant.

Everything is made fresh, and they even grind their own spices and herbs weekly. In fact, they also make a Lebanese pita bread which involves garbanzo, barley, and other flours. My dad got a vegetarian sampler for all of us, and a spiced chicken gyro for them. The sampler included hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and dolmades.

I also got to take my mom to her first First Friday Artwalk!

It was very cold for her, but she loved all the life going on. She also got to meet some friends I’ve made in college, which is really nice! Now she has a better idea of who I’m talking about when I tell her things that are going on in my life. Anyway, this is it for Part I! Stay tuned for Part II (THE FASHION SHOW!!!) I hope you all have had a wonderful past couple of days. The sun is shining so brightly–I’m ready for the warm weather to stay!

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?

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!

Feeling Quite Ghoulish

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Katharina

In honor of one of my favorite holidays, Halloween, this is going to be a post full of spooky things and autumnal eats!

: My first bowl of pumpkin oats!

I just mixed in pumpkin puree with oats, vanilla protein powder, dried cranberries, NuNaturals vanilla liquid, and pumpkin pie spice. Once that was done cooking I topped with with pecans, Butterfingers, and ginger syrup. Yum!

: After I was done enjoying my bowl of pumpkin oats, I put on some spooky tights.

: More pumpkin goodness.

So I was roasting some acorn squash while I took Matilda on a walk. When I got back I realized I hadn’t even plugged the toaster oven, so no acorn squash for lunch! I improvised and made a mess out of bulgur, sautéed onions and garlic, chickpeas, pumpkin pie spice, coconut oil, and pumpkin butter. Totally random but still yummy.

: I actually roasted the acorn squash this time!

The only differences in this bulgur mix was the addition of raisins and subtraction of pumpkin. The acorn squash was baked with maple syrup, cinnamon, and butter.

: The black hole!

: Kind of like a cherry crumble.

I had a bowl of Nature’s Path vanilla almond granola with sweet dark cherries in warm soymilk.

: Fall colors!

: I tried a sample packet I got in Florida.

This is an all plant protein made by LifeTime. I tried the vanilla flavor and I was pleasantly surprised. I expected it to have a super “green” taste, but it didn’t at all and it was so yummy and thick. I tried it plain first, then I blended a banana after my taste-testing.

: Lunch!

Lunch was delicious! I had a sweet potato with Artisana’s coconut butter a la Liz. Homegirl knows what’s up! This was incredible. I am going to have to get myself a full-size jar of this stuff. One the side I had a mound of wilted spinach and chickpeas cooked in a spicy tomato and cardamom cooking sauce. I dressed it up with some crushed cashews.

: Dinner

This was incredibly delicious! I got the recipe from Molly Wizenberg’s blog, Orangette. The recipe? Warm Butternut and Chickpea Salad with Tahini! I used the last of the sample of tahini from Artisana. On the side I had a Japanese sweet potato with butter and 1/2 garlic powder (too lazy to saute garlic), the other 1/2 cinnamon. Japanese sweet potatoes are so delicious!

: And here’s what I did with the last of my free white acorn squash…

I adapted my favorite Yummy Mummy, Cate’s white beans and Lebanese cous cous stuffed acorn squash recipe. Since I didn’t have cous cous on hand I just used bulgur. The acorn squash was too small to fit all the stuffing so I just put th rest of it in a bowl and eventually made it an acorn squash delicious-mess.

: Sweet potato and ricotta toasted sandwich.

I roasted some kabocha with cinnamon and maple syrup. Then I put some Artisana coconut butter on each wedge. In the back is some sweet potato with the coconut butter and a sprinkling of cinnamon as well. And my burnt toast? It’s a sweet potato and ricotta toasted sandwich! The original recipe calls for rye bread but I just used whole wheat since I don’t have rye bread. I also realized I forgot the spinach! Oh well! In the mug is a new tea I got: chocolate hazelnut!

Now on for some real Halloween frights! I had a reunion with an old friend of mine and he brought two other friends along. It was my first time meeting them but we had such a bonding experience! We went to a haunted hayride. Actually we visited three different attractions. We were chased by scary creatures with chainsaws, had to go through pitch black mazes while people and other things jumped out and surprised us. At some points we had to get down on our knees and crawl!

: Driving to certain doom…

: Down a dark and winding country road.

: All smiles!

: The place is actually a berry farm.

: Nightmare numero uno

: They took us on a really long hayride out to the woods in the middle of nowhere!

: Oh yes he dared!

: We’re like naive little baby chickens!

: Still naive!

David is such an incredible person! He's just bursting with life!

David is such an incredible person bursting with life!

The woods!

So we decided to take a break from being scared out of our minds and stopped for a photoshoot.

Hilarious!

He's such an actor!

I’m suppose to be the scary one, but I look terrified!

He was good at being creepy.

And Iman got to kiss one of the scary guys!

Moreover, don’t forget to enter my 101st Post Giveaway. You have until tomorrow noon time EST to enter!

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Halloween! I’m hoping to go trick-or-treating. I just have to remember to smile really big! And of course there’s a costume in store.

p.s. Make sure to check out Krissy’s glo-ing giveaway!

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: coconut butter