Mother Nature: Providing & Humbling

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Katharina

Some of you may know or be experiencing the storm along the Atlantic, and I hope those of you being affected are staying safe but not feeling too cooped up… dance parties are good for that. Speaking of dance parties, I’ve been going to lots of great music shows and satisfying my soul by dancing and jumping high to fun music.

Last weekend I was wandering around Brooklyn and came across “granola made with greens, not grains” the latest addition to the Kale Factory line. The “greenola” is made from fresh kale, and comes in two flavors: cranberry nut and spirulina crunch. It was the first time (and only time, thus far) that I’ve come across this variation. Maybe that’s because that’s where they’re produced. I thought it was such an interesting idea, and not to mention they were so tasty! I had to pace myself not to eat the whole container at once. I was very intrigued, made note of the ingredients list, and attempted to recreate them.

Grain-free granola using kale as the base

… with my own little spin.

Continue reading →

A Birthday Fest

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Katharina

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! These past couple of weeks have felt like a non-stop celebration. It’s strange to me, but I’m definitely enjoying it while it lasts. Or maybe it will just last forever? That’s how my mother lives life, and it’s contagious when you’re around her.

: For my birthday my friend treated me to lunch… to any place I’d like “the sky’s the limit.”

Hmm… there were so many options, but I decided on Millie’s Diner. This place is one of those restaurants around Richmond that you HAVE to try. It’s got a stellar reputation, and I’ve always wanted to go. After a grueling and sweaty bike ride we finally made it to our destination.

The menu was written on a chalkboard hanging right above our heads, so we literally looked up to it which was an interesting experience in itself.

: I got the Spicy Black Bean Burrito with Cheddar Cheese.

It also came with fresh salsa and sour cream, and every plate comes with their home fries.

: My friend ordered the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger on a Kaiser Bun and Red Onion Marmalade.

They sure do like their sriracha.

: Love pat before you take a big bite.

: We split our entrees.

Everything was so tasty. Basic recipes but done right!

: Birthday cake time for the birthday girl–this year I got a candle!

: I got the Apple Spice Walnut Cake.

This tastes as good as it looks… dare I say it was better?

: My friend ordered the Chocolate Pudding Peanut Butter dessert.

: The delicious and incredibly rich abyss.

After my belly was satisfied I knew why Millie’s is so famous!

: Later on I met up with some of friends at one of my favorite hangout spots.

There was a cool band playing while they had 1970′s Italian flicks projected over them.

: I was treated with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and tasty drinks.

It was funny because when I arrived at the place I was the first one to get there. I decided to sit outside and enjoy the weather, and then I overheard someone saying happy birthday to someone else. I asked if it was their birthday, and I told them it was mine too. Then she asked me what I was doing out there, and I told her I was waiting. Next thing you know she invited me to sit with her friends at the biggest table. They looked like they were definitely having a lot of fun. Her slice of birthday cake came out and we sang happy birthday to each other, and she got me a glass of the wine she was having. A toast to Geminis and their lively ways!

: This drink was called Light Kisses–and it was as lovely as it sounds.

: The bunch!

: Getting down to some funky music.

: Good morning!

Then Saturday rolled around it was time to get to work for my Birthday/Going Away party. I woke up, had breakfast, and made some pizza dough.

: My first pizza made completely out of scratch–I crossed my fingers and into the oven it went!

The pizza had basil pesto, tomato sauce, yellow squash, mushrooms sautéed with balsamic vinegar and thyme, mozzarella, and goat cheese.

: This may look like a quiche, but it was actually a vegan baked spinach artichoke dip.

: Orange and Almond Florentines

: So delicate–held together by egg whites.

: Also baked soft ginger cookies.

: Oddly-shaped pizzas may now be my forte.

: I had a feeling that my friends would love this!

: Also made bruschetta.

: This is the ultimate party snack for those hot weather days.

: My friend graciously offered his place for my party–it was like an old world museum.

: The spread on an old table saw–classic.

I also made a cannellini dip, and served Trader Joe’s Everything crackers (if you haven’t tried them you must) to go with the dips. Here’s a list of the recipe links, except for the pizza and the cannellini dip since I made those up.

Bruschetta

Orange and Almond Florentines

Soft Ginger Cookies

Vegan Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

Pizza Dough

: My friend also made a salad using things from his garden–a mulberry salad.

Fresh mulberries are awesome, and I kept munching on them throughout the night. The house itself was hot, but it’s especially hot when you’re dancing up a storm.

He also made fresh spring rolls filled with his garden's bounty.

: Let the birthday fun begin!

: Our “serious” family portrait.

: Think fast!

Wow! I really can’t imagine that there are people who don’t like to celebrate their birthdays. All I can say is that I was really happy, and I felt so special… I just wanted everyone else to be just as happy as I was.

What’s one of your favorite birthday memories?

Super from Inside, Out

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Katharina

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

So begin the long days...

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

Inspiration boards and look books made many appearances.

And so did some tasty meals throughout the week…

Spaghetti squash with roasted brussels and chickpeas.

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

I took her suggestion and added some almonds.

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

Ive also been inspired by my roommate.

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

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

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

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

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

Hair!

And makeup!

Incredible makeup might I add.

It was also fun to dress up for events.

Little details

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

A really special place.

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

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

Silly moments...

Mixed in with vogue ones as well.

Ah yes there was a lot of vogueing.

And pose!

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

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

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

And get my fresh face on...

Super fresh!

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

What goodies awaited me?

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

Yes, please.

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

And suddenly they felt more awake!

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

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

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

So far so good!

Especially with hemp seeds toasted with sea salt.

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

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

Don’t Snow on My Parade

Posted on February 13, 2010 by Katharina

This post may be a bit like the weather I’ve been experiencing over here lately–a whirlwind. There has been consistent snow for the past two weeks and there is more to come! Not only has it been snowing constantly but it’s also been super windy. But I haven’t let the weather stop me from adventuring and atleast there’s been plenty of sun to help keep my mood up. Sophia recently asked what we appreciate from nature. Well, the sun is something I wholeheartedly love. It brings up my spirits and I can’t help but feel better on sunny days.

Starting off a sunny day with some chocolate!

I decided to try out another one of the chocolate bars the folks at Newman’s Own Organics sent me. I had only tried their dark chocolates and I wanted to change it up a bit with some milkiness. Deliciously creamy and made me feel like a kid again. Oftentimes milk chocolates get overwhelmed with all the other ingredients, but I like how you can still taste the chocolate in this bar. I feel like milk chocolate is often forgotten about nowadays. But I think dark, milk, and white chocolates all deserve a little love.

And this is how Matilda started out her snow day.

She dug it!

And came back 10 minutes later to see if there was more.

Leftover chickpeas in coconut milk over rice & roasted butternut squash tossed in coconut oil + cinnamon

Then went on an adventure to visit a friend of ours!

I'll admit the snow sure is beautiful though.

Soul sistas!

Back of the Virginia Center for Architecture

Snacks were had--I found the Coconut Macadamia flavor!

I'd like to think this was a delicious snowball. Soft, chewy, and cocoNUTTY.

Our beautiful friend in her barista zone! She made us yummy Cinnamon Dolce Lattes "with love."

I hadn't had an English muffin in ages!

I spread Sunland’s caramel peanut butter on one slice and the other had butter and the berry jam Holly sent me awhile ago. I also had a bowl of yogurt + a minneola, pomegranate arils, and granola.

Sauteed mushrooms + salsa verde + manchego + Italian bread

Umm YUM!

All together now!

Letfover AMAZING ziti and roasted butternut squash

And my dad came to stop by since he's in town on business.

How sweet

After some hang out time with my dad I went over to a friend’s house. I got to try a most delicious vegetable lasagna recipe she made up + garlic bread (ON HOMEMADE BREAD)! Afterwards we headed to one of the bars around here that reminds me of a tavern.

A supreme peanut butter oatmeal cookie made by one of her roommates, the expert baker!

CranBran Vitatop + coconut oil, Kashi GoLean Crunch, bruleed banana slices, Sunland's caramel peanut butter over Greek yogurt.

Met up with my dad at a new cafe for some afternoon bites.

I loved the openness and natural lighting.

He ordered the carrot + ginger soup.

He let me try some of it with the bread they served it with (SO delicious). I also got a white chocolate chip and cranberry scone + soy cappuccino

The place is called Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe and it’s really neat because you can even go grocery shopping in there. They sell things like organic milk, cake mixes, eggs, quinoa pasta, and granola made by a local Richmonder. We definitely plan on going back for lunch! It also seemed like a really nice place to study and have a nice change of environment.

Snapped a picture before another meet-up!

Look who I got to hang out with!!!

I met up with Brittany at a local cellar for some wine and chocolate sampling. I haven’t seen her in ages and she’s just as radiant even in the winter! We both brought our dogs, but Matilda was being a brat to adorable little Olive, and Isaac had to bring her back home. I hope they get along next time they meet!

Wine!

Crazy Matilda

Yummy chocolate samples, and they even opened up a bar for us chocolate lovers to try.

Look at these two dolls!!!

She also gave me the most delicious Coconut Macaroons she made (recipe from Raw Food/Real World).

Friday turned out to be an up and down and up day. I got really upset at one point but before totally giving into it I knew I had to do something to help me calm down. I have worked so hard to not succumb to things that in the end are not good for me. I reached out, communicated my feelings, and ended up rising above the stress. I did what I knew would be best for me. So glad I wasn’t incredibly stubborn and didn’t give in. Now I plan on going out with some friends and dancing my worries away! Do any of you find it hard to let things go out of stubbornness?

This weekend there’s going to be tons of love in the air. Who knows what’s in store!!! Either way, I hope you all enjoy it whether you’re single or taken!

Hope You Had Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Katharina

Hello hello everyone! I hope you haven’t forgotten about me. I am going to have to catch you all up on things – and I have some major catching up to do for myself. I want to know what everyone has been up to! To get you guys back up to speed I decided to do things a little differently. I’m going to go backwards with two part post. This means we’ll be time traveling! If only I could time travel back to when women wore beautiful decorative hats! And then I’d go further back to BC times and listen to Plato speak.

So let’s begin! I’m going to start off with the day after Christmas!

Warm spiced vanilla oatmeal with banana, coconut oil, Cacao Bliss, and a crumbled gingersnap.

Then we got ready to meet up with some old family friends. I’ve known them since my family moved to America and I haven’t seen them in years! We decided to meet up at this Latin grocery store that’s the size of a regular supermarket. Usually, specialty stores are very small – so this was quite a treat.

They had a cafeteria-style eating area.

A machine that makes freshly-squeezed orange juice. It reminds me of the 70's.

I've never seen an arepa de choclo look like this, but it was delicious nonetheless!

Hi everybody!

Leche (milk) de moras (raspberries) and a HUGE tamal!

Afterwards we went and did some shopping. Surprisingly the mall wasn’t too crazy.

Big ornaments

A winter wonderland.

Oh my, I had to stop myself that day. We walked into a store and I was trying something on and then I turned around to my mom and said “I’m done.” I figured since me and some friends wanted to go on the hunt for some New Years Eve stuff, I should not go crazy all in one day. Save some for later! I feel my style is in the midst of another evolution. Although I always have my underlying style motto: keep it classy. But I will show you guys some things I got.

I feel like a horseback-riding, biker, crime-fighting woman of the future in these pants. And yes, I wore them out later that night.

Sequins shorts!

I seriously think I have had this extra surge of confidence go through me. I feel like being more daring. When I browse through fashion magazines I find myself “oo-ing” and “aah-ing” at all these wonderful clothes – so why shouldn’t I be able to pull it off? Besides, life is too short to be worrying about if something is too “crazy” to wear. Of course, if you don’t feel like it’s you then don’t do it. Everyone has their own style, so embrace it!

I remembered that I never showed you guys the black shoes!

Whoops! How did these little hermits and strawberries find their way here? Who am I kidding, these guests are welcome anytime!

I also got a rock star faux-fur vest.

And my best friend was rockin' it too!

Too cute to handle!

Before I forget! Matilda got a new do the other day.

And she's going to be stylin' in a super cute vest as well! Like mother like daughter.

I love this picture!

She came over and we got ready for a night out on the town. We decided to go to a place we haven’t been to yet. It was funny because when we got there we thought the lounge was very trendy and cool – a bit too dark – but we were wondering why the music wasn’t pumping. The music was good but not really heart-thumping and energizing. They did however end up playing some happy-go-lucky Beatles and James Brown tunes. So we did our thing. Then as we were leaving my friend saw there was an upstairs. Naturally, we went to go check it out. This was where the party was at!!! So we stayed for a while longer and danced our hearts out.

Random picture of the place outside.

So now let’s rewind one day and go back to CHRISTMAS! This is how it started out…

Snowmen bowls!

From a very dear friend!

This is why I love the holiday season!

My favorite ginger!

Gorgeous Brooke sent me a wonderful Christmas card and a glamorous wintery picture!

I made my dad a brochure of things around south Florida I think he'd be interested in doing + a bowl of Key Lime (R)Ice Cream.

Somethings he enjoys... opera, bike riding, spirituality, and healthy living.

Spiced pumpkin oats, a gingersnap, maple syrup, coconut oil, sprinkles, and macadamia-cashew butter for two eyes and a mouth.

Mmm butter stollen!

And Archer Farms' bread pudding yogurt!

I made my mom some macadamia-cashew butter since she can't eat solid nuts anymore.

Another recipe from The Accidental Vegetarian - Grilled Eggplant with Nuoc Cham.

We were invited to a Christmas dinner so here are some prep pictures!

Make the crust...

Macadamias, walnuts, coconut-rolled dates, maple syrup, and cocoa powder = gluten-free and vegan crust! It’s practically raw too.

The cake part...

Tofu, coconut cream, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and some very ripe bananas.

Now into the oven it goes!

My dad looks like he's up to something.

Moroccan Stew

I followed the recipe that the lovely Lauren sent to me. Thanks so much girl! This recipe was a winner and I’m so glad I had leftovers. Actually, I just finished the last bit that was left. All the spices, veggies, and chickpeas cooking together for hours just made it out of this world. On top I garnished it with the “scented” almonds Bekah sent and cilantro. Mouth-watering.

They made pop-overs as well and had teenie roasted potatoes!

Look at what found its way on to my plate and I wasn't even looking for it!

This was such a cute little happy surprise. April! It’s a teeny purple potato!

Then it was time for coffee and dessert!

Happy with homemade tres leches complete with whipped cream and a cherry on top!

There was also a postre de nata which is basically a cream dessert. All these Colombian desserts! Where is the one I made?

A vegan banana coconut cheesecake with chocolate macadamia crust

Wow! That’s a mouthful (a delicious one). Here’s the recipe for the cake. Although I would make a suggestion: use a bit less banana and up the vanilla extract. Everyone loved how fresh tasting this cake was. And the crust… the crust was to die for!

Some of them were fellow vegetarians!

They shared stories of the different parts of the world they’ve been in and the various interesting people they’ve come across. They were so intriguing themselves. You can literally see their inner-glow in this picture! This was such a fabulous Christmas dinner. There was great food, wonderful company, and new friends.

More wonderful family friends!

Mom and I!

Passing a childhood book on to a new family.

This was such a reminder of what Christmas means to me. The whole day I was constantly reminded of how precious our lives are and the ones who are in it do care. And it’s so wonderful to feel that.

‘Twas the night before Christmas…

My dad walked into the house and told me I had a package!

It was from Maya!!! Look at the gingerbread people doing yoga poses! This was such a sweet package and not just because of the goodies. Maya, your words mean so much to me. Seriously, if you don’t now this young lady – you should. She’s one of my role models.

A yummy package from Maya! Jam thumbprint cookies, homemade marshmallows, pumpkin seed brittle, and world peace cookies!!

Homemade marshmallows - I'm never going back! You hear that Jet-Puffed?

So that is all for right now. Next post will be a blast further back into the past!

I hope each and everyone one of you have been able to spend the holiday season with dear ones and warming up with their love.

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?

101 Dalmations!

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Katharina

This is why I believe the number 101 is better than 100! This is reason why I decided to have a giveaway to celebrate this special occassion. Definitely special enough!

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Original Video – More videos at TinyPic

Yeah that’s actually my contained version of my excitement! I know I’ve expressed it quite a few times what this blog and all you friends out there mean to me. So what’s my way of celebrating this special occassion? With a snip-it of what it’s like to live in my life for a couple days and a special surprise at the end from yours truly. I’ll be honest, these last couple of days have been rough. But I had a reminder of how much harder things can get when I learned some sad news relating to someone I know. It really helped me push through, and helped me to stay motivated to rise above the stress. Anyway, here’s a little glimpse starting from Saturday night…

Scarves really help out when coming up with an impromptu costume!

Warm soymilk with Nature's Path Hemp Plus granola and a sliced banana.

Warm soy milk with Nature's Path Hemp Plus granola and sliced banana.

A nice way to start a grey chilly Sunday. I swear Nature’s Path makes some awesome granolas for something that comes out of a cereal box. Usually I find those granolas to really be lacking. The two flavors I’ve tried – Vanilla Almond Flax Plus and Hemp Plus are nothing short of delicious.

I decided to go out and check my mail, since I’m special and I get mail on Sundays. I really just forgot to check the day before, but let’s pretend.

From one of my favorite and most admirable people ever.

From one of my most favorite and admirable people ever!

I had forgotten my driver’s license and cash in her purse from the night we went clubbing in Miami. I got way more than that! One time someone complimented her on her sweater and she asked if they’d like to have it. This girl means what she says. I had mentioned that I liked her keychain cover, and she remembered that.

Gio is one year old!

I did some things around the apartment and before I knew it my tummy was growling for lunch!

Penne with Artichoke hearts, spinach, parmesan, ricotta, and pine nuts.

I stumbled upon this yummy site full of pasta recipes. I was feeling kind of down and out after some studio time and some “old/new” crush heartache (he decided to go MIA), so I called a good girlfriend of mine to do some retail therapy.

Note: wearing my hair up is a big deal for me.

Note: it's a big deal if I wear my hair up.

Jeez Matilda!

But she can also be a little lady.

Picking up my friend and admiring the leaves.

Matilda welcomes all passengers!

We picked up some coffee and headed to the doggy store. I got Matilda some goodies!

Some pumpkin "pup"cakes, a spooky cookie, and a new harness (finally!)

A couple pumpkin "pup"cake cookies, a spooky cookie, and a new harness (finally!)

Then we headed to Anthropologie! And what did Matilda do the second we got there? Peed, of course! It was weird because she had never done that before.

Some things I tried on...

Being sneaky taking pictures in the dressing room. I always feel like this is forbidden.

Super cool shirt!

Here’s a new addition to my necklace collection

Why hello there!

On the drive home my friend snapped some pictures of us crossing the James River.

My friend snapped some pictures of us crossing the James River on the way home.

Appreciating the fall season.

Got home and cooked some dinner.

I vaguely followed the recipe for pasta with ricotta, basil, and tomato. On the side are some hot butter and garlic artichokes with grated parmesan. Later I prepared my meals for the next day so I could spend all day in the studio.

Ah, Monday Monday…

I had some European style plain yogurt with Crofter’s raspberry superfruit spread, cranberry cinnamon swirl toast with cream cheese, pumpkin butter, and some slices with Artisana tahini and agave nectar. Oh! And can’t forget the apple I had already started biting into. May I just add that tahini + honey or agave = the bomb.com?

Then it was off to my morning Taoism class - first day of learning some exercises with sticks.

Then I stopped by my apartment real quick to get a snack and the rest of my goods.

Graham-wiches!

U.S. Mills sent me these awhile ago and I finally got around to trying them. I got to try the Honey Graham & Vanilla Creme sandwich cookies and the Chocolate Graham & Peanut Butter Creme kind. Both were seriously so good.

Sandwich cookie powers unite!

Then it was time for my "Kick Ass in the Studio Day"

Then I took a break to go to my Literature class.

I came prepared!

I made banana dahl + coconut oil with brown rice and vanilla butternut squash mash with cinnamon and ricotta.

All mixed together.

Some of the butt-kicking that went on.

Energy bar break!

Have you guys ever tried the Prana Bars by Divine Foods? Well, I was lucky enough to be sent some to sample for a review, which I will be posting later. The sneak preview – this flavor was incredibly delicious and I could definitely taste and even see the coconut shreds. The sweetness mainly comes from the date paste and agave I believe.

After having a dance party while setting up my piece in one of the critique rooms, I finally got home around 9 pm and let Matilda out to take care of her business.

So Tuesday rolled around the corner and it was critique day. Dun dun dun.

Random breakfast

I crushed up Trader Joe’s peanut butter filled pretzels, a fun-size Butterfingers, vanilla yogurt, and Crofter’s raspberry superfruit spread. I had an orange for a vitamin-c boost since I was feeling under-the-weather.

Crit Room 3

All that stuff on the table and in front of it on the floor fit into someone's Nissan Sentra.

And my sculpture... it also had a sound piece to it.

I was so scared about this critique… nauseous scared.. I wanted to go against my perfectionist tendencies as an artist, and just experiment and go with the flow. That felt so uncomfortable, so a lot of insecurities rose up. However, much to my surprise, the critique did not make me cry, nor did I actually throw up.

So now here’s the surprise! I decided to have a giveaway in celebration of this blog’s 101st post. The prize?

Lots of goodies!

A Sunshine Burger baseball cap so you can rep the best veggieburgers in town. A Nature’s Path Optimum Blueberry Flax and Soy bar (yummy icing). All the Prana Bars which are vegan, high-raw, and delicious. There are also some coupons and a vitamin case. Last but not least, I’ll also be sneaking in some other goodies but that’s a secret.

So what do you have to do?

1. Tell me your favorite recipe! It can be a sandwich, yogurt-mess, bowl of oatmeal bliss, dessert, whatever your hearts desire! I will recreate the winner’s favorite - and no worries if it’s not vegetarian. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

2. Link back to this contest.

3. Add me to your blogroll.

And please let me know if you do numbers 2 & 3. The contest will end on Saturday noon time EST. Thanks and good luck!

p.s. All you folks that have been treating yourself to Pumpkin ice cream, try it with walnuts!!! Speaking of sweets, I will be updating my recipe page so you can see the recipe for the scones! Enjoy your Wednesday everybody; we’re in the middle of the wave and it’s smooth riding from here.

Great Things Come in Small Packages

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Katharina

Bahaha an old warped picture from Photobooth - because it's Friday and everyone's smile should be that big!

Oats with bananas mashed in + Asian pear + biscotti + cashew butter

I am just going to do all my posts like this: breakfast-y foods first, then the rest just fall in place.

Waffle Pancake Wednesday

On the side is a chocolate protein shake I made with mixed berries and rolled oats for kicks.

I had pancakes for breakfast on Wednesday instead of waffles, Janetha.

These pancakes were HUGE! Almost the size of a plate. So I cut one in half and decided to do two different toppings. One side has coconut oil, apple slices, cinnamon, and confectioner’s sugar with nutmeg. The other half was just buttered, apple slices, cinnamon, and maple syrup. I sprinkled the last of my rolled oats on the whole shebang. I kept alternating between the two because I loved both sides equally. But which side was lucky enough to be my last bite?

Last week I received a package in the mail!

I’m sure you guys have seen Late July at your grocery store, but have you tried their stuff out? They’re organic snacks and a very family oriented company. Companies that care are an A+ in my book. I was sent their new Mini Sandwich Cookies to try out. The flavors are: milk chocolate and white chocolate. The website says that they are melt in your mouth good, and I agree. I also enjoyed washing down these cookies with a warm glass of almond milk. Yes, these are tiny (my hands are just bigger now that I’m a “big kid”), but it’s so fun to feel little again. If any of you Mommies or Daddies out there are trying to shy your kids away from chemical-laden treats, but don’t want to eliminate sweets – these are worth trying!

Cute!

“Seven different endangered animals are featured on the cookies and 10% of the profits go to the Jane Goodall Institute to help with their efforts in endangered animal awareness.”

My favorite grilled cheese sandwich!

I hope by now you all know what’s in this sandwich. Mango chutney + cheddar cheese. Rather than using pumpernickel bread -which I didn’t have- I used 2 slices of the Spelt loaf I bought last week. While eating this sandwich I realized this bread is the perfect grilled cheese bread. I’ve said it before, but bakery bread just tastes so good. But I’d imagine the best bread would come straight out of Mia’s oven! What’s that peeking in to the left of the sandwich?

Why hello there tasty salad.

While Kim and I were in the kitchen making dinner, she offered me some of her Lime tortilla chips. Then I thought, this would be awesome on my salad! I love edamame, and after seeing edamame hummus at Trader Joe’s I want to make some of my own.

Lately, I’ve been making myself a cup of agua de panela with a squeeze of lemon juice. What’s panela? It’s whole cane sugar, basically, unrefined sucrose. I just googled it, and this how someone described it, “a sweetener that tastes like a cross between molasses and brown sugar.”

I bought this box last time I went down to Colombia.

Running low, uh oh.

I’m sure you can find this at a Latin food market. Who knows, with the international food aisles the chain supermarkets have now, you may even find it there!

A Jamaican inspired meal.

While browsing the internet for tempeh recipes, I came upon one for Jamaican jerk tempeh. I’ve always wanted to try jerk something, so of course I decided to give this recipe a whirl. I found some others that asked for apricot juice instead of OJ. I think apricot is a better choice because of the sweetness. Since I didn’t have a lot of those spices on hand (crazy!) I used my tea masala. Tea masala has a bunch of Indian spices. I served it on brown rice I cooked with cinnamon, and once served I mixed in coconut oil. On the side I made a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad.

Since I baked the tempeh and it was rather dry, I spread on some tamarind-date chutney.

Such an exciting meal with an array of flavors. Sweet, citrusy, savoury, and a spicy kick.

I’ve been making more use of my toaster oven, now that I discovered that I can actually bake with it.

Toasted kabocha seeds with brown sugar and cinnamon.

I baked the kabocha with butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar then sprinkled some of it’s seeds for decoration. Then I assembled some Ak-mak crackers, spread some creamy gorgonzola, agave, red onion, Asian pear slices, and a sprinkling of more cinnamon. I haven’t had these Armenian crackers in so long! They’ve been sitting in my cabinet and I forgot all about them. It took me forever to finish this plate. An hour later I realized I was still eating. I find that when I eat alone, I finish rather quickly. But with this meal I took my time, and I didn’t even have to try.

So here’s my heart to heart for you guys:

The topic I want to share with you all is about “being on top of things.” There are responsibilities that I can’t ignore; like taking care of my beloved Matilda. I’m ready, but it’s hard when others around me don’t quite get it. Which is why I probably feel more at ease around older people because they don’t see my responsibleness as pooping on the party. But there is a crazy, fun-loving side to me as well! I’m starting to get it back. I think I explained before that I went through a period in my life where I became overly practical and cut out so many things. It was such a bleak moment, simply a moment… that I don’t want to go back to. I enjoy the feeling that I get from knowing that I’m flourishing again and walking down the street with my head up high and shoulders back ready to take on whatever is ahead of me.

Oh, and to fill you guys in on my school shtuff:

Not suppose to be eating in my studio!

In that big tupperware I layered a lot of kabocha, brown rice + coconut oil, and leftovers from my Jamaican jerk tempeh with tamarind-date chutney. And a little jar of roasted seeds!

Next week is my first critique of the semester in my main sculpture class. I’m kind of nervous because I’m making a video for it, and I know that some people might be like… why didn’t she make a sculpture? Well, I might make one – I just haven’t really thought of anything yet. I don’t really search for ideas, they just come to me. Hopefully, as I’m editing the video I’ll be knocked out of my chair by an idea that hit me!

Staring contest or crotch shot

Na-na-na-na-boo-boo, getting ready to do upward dog.

Stay tuned for the next post because I plan on featuring a culinary adventure I will be attempting tonight. Happy Friday everyone!

Whoa mama!

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Katharina

So this post is going to be full of pictures! I finally got ahold of a memory card reader. Without further ado, I present you with the pictures that have been MIA.

Remember when I said I made my first green smoothie?

: This tasted very yummy, but I ended up feeling sick to my stomach about an hour after.

Awhile ago I had visited one of my roommate’s family and I got to try a bunch of wonderful food from the Philippines. They have this wonderful treat called Ube. What is that? Well it’s basically a purple yam and it tastes hella good. If you know of any Philippino stores, you should try some desserts with ube in them. If you don’t have one nearby, you can always go to an Asian market, and I’m sure they will at least have ube jam. It’s seriously worth trying.

: Ube mixed with coconut make this ice cream to die for!

: I made Gena’s cauliflower salad with a sweet potato topped with shredded coconut and cinnamon.

This salad was wonderful! I loved the surprising addition of the golden raisins. It added a sweetness, but it was subtle enough to go well with everything else.

: A yummy bowl of chickpeas, roasted red peppers & onions, over coconut wild rice with coconut oil.

: I followed Ramya’s recipe for Vendakkai Poriyal.

: I mixed the veggies with chickpeas over coconut basmati rice and coconut oil.

If you like okra you have to try this recipe! If you don’t like okra you have to try this recipe! Everyone should just do it.

Here’s some more chickpea lovin’.

I made a salad with chickpeas, onions, and BBQ sauce. To go along with my salad I made some spaghetti aglio e olio.

I made a salad with chickpeas, onions, raisins, and BBQ sauce. To go along with my salad I made some spaghetti aglio e olio.

The spaghetti aglio e olio was a recipe I found on Rouxbe. It’s an online instructional cookbook.

During my “recent picture hiatus” I went to the river with my friend, Steph, and some other people. It was so much fun! Thank goodness she was a camp counselor because she helped get the fire going and had a wonderful idea for roasting our veggies.

Hi Steph!

This was the secret location tucked away in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Richmond.

Steph had the idea of putting our veggies in personal "pockets".

While we were at the river I let Matilda loose and guess what she did? She bolted towards the water. At first I was afraid because I didn’t know what to expect. Matilda was a natural and she had so much fun swimming around.

There she goes!

I also brought along some Philippino treats. They look like eggs - green eggs and ham!

This past weekend my parents flew up to kidnap me. It also happened to be the weekend of Richmond’s Vegetarian Festival. It was such a hot day, but since it was at a park we were able to sit in the shade a lot. I got to sample a lot of things. Among these samples I tried Tofutti’s cuties. These were delicious and perfect for a hot day! The two flavors I sampled were key lime and wild berry.

We were able try different things from a variety of vendors.

We were able to try different things from a variety of vendors. Lunch was like traveling around the world with plates from the Mediterranean, Ethiopia, and Thailand.

So many people! So much heat!

Matilda came with us. She got some treats and plenty of water as well.

After the festival I decided to take my mom to Trader Joe’s. The last time she had gone to one was over a decade ago! She was so happy I took her there, but she was a little bummed that they don’t have one in Florida. Trader Joe needs to make his way down here! We got a bunch of things, and since we knew we had a long driving day ahead of us we got some travel food. My dad picked out a blackberry Belgian beer that I said I would split with him since we had to do a raincheck for Father’s Day.

Hmm... what's this? Trader Joe's horseradish hummus!

The verdict? Me likey a lot! And so did everyone else.

Yesterday, I arrived at my parent’s house, and of course I always get excited to see what they have. I usually don’t buy crackers, so I was eager to try these. I tried some Harvest Grain Simplyfit crackers. I could make like Kailey and just munch on these straight out of the box! So of course I had some for lunch today. I’ve never tried Kashi’s TLC crackers, but I’d imagine these are just as delicious. They also use 10 whole grains and seeds (like quinoa).

On another note, there are a few perks I’ve discovered since blogging. The main one being all the wonderful people I have encountered! Everyone seems so friendly and open to new things, and I love that! You guys rule! Another perk is getting samples. I hate buying a whole box of something and I end up not liking it. It makes sense to sample something before you dive in, right? Unless you know you’re going to like it, or simply don’t mind. So let’s get to the good stuff!

The generous people at Kay’s Naturals were more than happy to send me some samples of the products.

I'd say they were more than generous!

So far I’ve tried all the cereals, and tonight I plan on trying some more. I’ve liked everything, but my favorite would have to be the Honey Almond Protein Cereal. I loved having it with almond milk and a caramelized banana. Thanks so much for the package, Lindsey! I was seriously blown away when I saw all that was sent to me.

Next up, Michelle, over at Alternative Baking Co. hooked me up with some delicious vegan cookies.

Opening the letter!

They sent me a Colossal Chocolate Chip cookie, and their cookie of the season - Coconut Macaroon.

Wow! Which one do I try first? I love anything coconut so of course I couldn’t get enough of the coconut macaroon. The chocolate chip cookie was incredible as well; it tasted like unbaked cookie dough! I loved everything about these cookies. They were chewy just how I like them, and huge just how cookies should be. Thank you so much Michelle!

Lastly, Annette over at Sun Warrior sent me some sample packets of their protein powder. She sent me the vanilla and chocolate flavors. I haven’t tried those yet, but I will definitely report back.

Does anyone have any suggestions for some yummy shakes?

I’m going to save all my breakfast eats for my next post. Yes, they are that good!

I hope you are all enjoying the rest of your Monday. Now let’s all face the rest of the week!

Christmas Cookies

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Katharina

So if you were one of the lucky few who got some baked goods from me for Christmas, this is what you got!

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: cookies