Tag Archives: dance

Deconstructed

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To make my bowls of oatmeal interesting I like to deconstruct dessert recipes.

And the way I remember that dessert is spelled with two s’s is because I’d like two scoops of ice cream. What flavor? Cherry amaretto ice cream, please. I whipped up some banana soft-serve, pitted a handful of cherries, drizzled it with amaretto syrup, and topped it off with Cacao Bliss. The amaretto syrup gave this bowl of oats a zing.

Hello delicious wake up call!

Remember how I mentioned that I realized that I didn’t have a birthday cake this year? Well look what I found! Chocolate cherry amaretto ice cream cake. And it just so happens that it won a raw ice cream cake contest.

On the topic of ice cream... what else is there to talk about?

I stumbled upon my soul sister and her dad’s favorite ice cream! This little lady’s recommendations never disappoint, so of course I put the pint of Mocha Almond Fudge coconut milk ice cream in my basket. Verdict? Oh my gosh. There are just enough almonds, each bite has that yummy fluffy mocha ice cream, and the swirls of fudge seal the deal. Pint start with a ‘p’ so I can make alliterations like… personal pint.

Something else deconstructed?

I was browsing the Veganomicon cookbook when my eyes wandered on to these words “samosa stuffed baked potato.” You all know how much I love Indian food! I’m so use to making deconstructed recipes for breakfast that I don’t usually think of making them for lunch… or dinner for that matter.

I took away the potato's vegan status and spread on some ghee.

Oh and I can’t leave out my mom’s dish! The night before she made a curried coconut milk vegetable dish that had me eating spoonfuls from the pan she had just cooked it in. I decided to mix in some cooked lentils the next day.

I don't go to the movies often so this was a nice change.

My mom’s friend had special tickets to watch a movie before it would be released in this theatre and she asked if we wanted to go. We gladly accepted her invitation and watched ‘The Solitary Man’. It was a pretty good movie, but I didn’t like the ending. The theatre I went to is one of my favorites because of the interior and comfy seats. If you don’t feel like finding your own parking spot you can always opt for the valet parking. What can I say? This is the state where people go to retire!

Inside the movie theatre--check out the ceiling!

On another night me and my mom went to support some friends that were dancing in a show.

She never ceases to amaze.

And neither does he!

Complete with samba dancing as well.

Making dinner milk rolls from one of my favorite cookbooks.

I love making bread! My favorite part is kneading it, and after that I love the smell that wafts through the house when it’s baking. Then of course there’s the satisfaction of biting into the fresh bread you made.

They remind me of the Brötchen we would pick up daily from the bakery in Germany.

My mom said they tasted even better! She’s such a mom hehehe.

Yum! This is just asking for some butter.

Speaking of Germany…

Yours truly got ready for a day that would be filled with many German things.

Note: I straightened my hair for the first time in years!

What did that day behold?

We went to a German restaurant to see their first game in the World Cup 2010!

Deutschland is my motherland and where my heart belongs, so when they beat the Aussies 4-0 I felt very proud!

I'm not a big beer person but I tried their heferweisen and I liked it!

Another goal? More beers on the house!

They still make the best potato pancakes I've ever had--three or four rounds of these were ordered!

Ever since I was little, it just has always gone without saying that I get the most potato pancakes or latkes.

I'm not typically a cake person, but I do think they're beautiful and there are the exceptions of tiramisu and carrot cake.

However, this berry black forest cake was amazingly incredible! Our table ordered this cake to go, and about five more slices to have at the table, plus a chocolate mousse cake for the super chocolate lover (my mom’s friend’s husband). Victory was ours and we ate like champions as well!

In honor of the World Cup 2010 being held in Africa I decided to make use of a box I found in my parent’s pantry. So what does a box have to do with the World Cup?

This box!

Fufu flour! It’s a fun word to say and it’s even more fun to eat. What is fufu exactly? “Fufu is a staple food of West and Central Africa. It is a thick paste usually made by boiling starchy root vegetables in water and pounding with a mortar and pestle until the desired consistency is reached.”

It's traditionally served with a soup... or rather in a soup.

It came out lumpy--oops! But still safe to eat.

I made a peanut soup to go with it, and mark my words when I say… TRY THIS! Here’s the recipe for the peanut soup, but I made some changes. Instead of a green bell pepper I used a red. Also make sure to use real peanut butter to get the most flavor. I used my favorite kind and the crunchy peanut bits actually added a smokiness to it.

Did I mention that you eat this with your hands?

Are any of you keeping up with the games? Favorite teams?

Also, what are some of your favorite deconstructed recipes?

Still Soaking Up the Sun, Con’t.

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I just realized that I forgot to reveal the truth! Drum roll please! Okay… so the truth is that I made out with one of the guys from my favorite band. Oh man, that is a long story to tell and I smile whenever I think about it. I definitely thought I was all that and a bag of potato chips after that hehe.

So back to the recap. The next day was cloudy and rainy so I decided to take Kelley to some specialty stores. But before that I whipped myself up a quick lunch.

Veggies, avocado, and a filled tortilla.

My parents had the sprouted tortillas which I’ve never tried before. I was surprisingly satisfied with these. Sometimes those kinds of tortillas taste too “brown” for me, you know what I mean?

Filled with the leftover curried fava beans my mom made, veggies, and Wisconsin cheddar

Then we hit the markets.

First we stopped at the Italian market. Look at all that pasta!
We also stopped by the Latin food store and I got some things for her to try: oatmeal milk and a sweet treat (cream with guava)

She really liked both of them! These are old favorites for me. Before my mom came home from work I decided to take Kelley to a secret location that a lot of locals don’t know about. I discovered the little spot back when I was learning how to drive and I was just curious to where this seemingly endless road would take me.

Who knew the everglades were so close to me!
Sunsets are beautiful here.
And watch out, you may bump into a alligator too.

Then we headed home for dinner.

Part of our dinner that night were some fried sweet plantains that we find at one of the markets.

And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but avocados are a staple at my family’s table! The next day my mom took off work and she wanted to make something special for us! She went through practically all of our cookbooks the night before to find some recipes to make.

She prepared an Indian feast for us, not leaving out the mango lassi of course!
Get in my belly!
We went to a museum to see our friends perform.
Two lovely ladies!
Goofy!!
We were happy that we got to wear our long dresses!
Dance!
They’re from Brazil and you can tell that they’ve got the rhythm and beats in their blood.
Samba! It’s actually one of my favorite dances.
They are such great performers.

I use to take dance lessons with the man in the picture. He’s so incredible and even knows how to belly dance! He knows how to shake his hips better than any one I know. But aside from that, this couple has so much love inside of them and it just radiates through their smiles.

Group shot!
Later that night we headed out with some more friends!
I was so happy to be with my two best friends–in the same place!!!
She came out to party with us even though she had work in the morning! She’s a trooper.
All of us, but my mom got cut out!
There she is!

Pilar ordered the Vesuvius Cake: Brownie Crust, New York Style Cheesecake, Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Truffle,and Chocolate Mousse Topped with Chopped Walnuts and White Chocolate Chips

You know I helped my homegirl out! The music was good and you know what means. It was time to dance. There was no one out on the dance floor, but who cares. As soon as we started shakin’ what our mama’s gave us, a crowd of people came and joined in on the fun. Seriously, how can someone just sit there when there’s music to be danced to and a dance floor? But at least it doesn’t take much to wake some people up!

My next post will be the final recap of my break in Florida. I miss it already! I’ve been calling my mom every night… actually that’s something I did anyway hehe. I hope everyone is enjoying spring so far!!! Don’t you just love seeing everything come to life?

Long Letters to My Dear Friends

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Good day to you!

Dinner is served.

I tried out another Veganomicon recipe; one of Neela’s favorites from the book–the chickpea cutlets. I definitely understand why. They’re simple to make and are so versatile! I also steamed some Nishiki rice to go along with the mushroom mutter masala. I’ve missed Indian food and all of its wonderful spices!

All mixed together and voila! A tasty dish.
I noticed Matilda was channeling her inner-yogi again.
You know what this means!
This calls for drastic measures–a spoon long enough for a jar.
Banana PB&J OIAJ

Funny story: while making the OIAJ the container toppled over and spilled everywhere. Luckily the peanut butter was still in the bottom so that survived. But I told myself not to get upset, just clean it up, and that I could just make some more. No big.

Then lunchtime rolled around.

I’ve seen Holly put sweet potato in her sandwiches and I also remembered when I made a sweet potato and ricotta toasted sandwich as well. These things lead me to topping the Garden Herb Sunshine Burger with a sweet potato and ketchup. A very wise choice indeed!

This little bugger helped me through my philosophy exam.

This was a Betty Lou’s High Protein Almond Nut Butter ball. This was so delicious and the texture was awesome. I loved the creaminess of it and the bit of crunch as well. Almost looks like a classic Drumstick doesn’t it? Anyhow, this snack boasts a whopping 12g of protein! These babies are gluten-free and do not contain wheat, corn, soy, and are non-GMO. On the flip side, because they have whey protein they’re not vegan friendly. However, vegans don’t have to feel left out because they do have some treats for you all! Anyway, if you’re looking to up your protein intake with something yummy, definitely keep your eyes peeled.

Actually, the very kind folks at Betty Lou’s sent me some of their products to try out a while ago; remember that? Now since some of their snacks are gluten-free, I was given another opportunity to sample them out. Would they still have that same great taste?

I tried a new Jumbo Fruit Bar flavor: STRAWBERRY!

Check it. It’s gluten-free! Okay, as soon as I opened up the wrapper the sweet smell of strawberries was the first thing I noticed. It was soft and chewy, but not messy and sticky. The best part? It tasted like a delicious baked good!

Crumbled over some yogurt with sunflowers seeds for crunch.

Matilda was curious.

This was the Cashew Pecan nut butter ball. First ingredient? Cashew butter! Um, yum? I love these because they’re like biting into those peanut butter balls you can make for kids. Chewy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Well, they’re obviously not just for kids anymore! Another plus, I was able to take this snack with me while I was on-the-go.

Peanut butter ball

Heck they even peanut butter balls! For some reason though I didn’t like the flavor as much as the other ones. I couldn’t really put my finger on it. Well, I still have some more to sample so I will keep you all updated! Don’t forget to check out their website to see what other products they have that may catch your eye. I feel like they’ve got something for everyone’s tastes.

Then I got ready to go to a modern dance performance with a friend.

Smile for the camera!

The show was awesome! The costumes went well with each performance and just extended each movement further. I wish I could’ve taken pictures of the performances! All in all, I was left with a smile and the yearning to dance.

Afterwards, we went to an Ethiopian restaurant to meet up with a friend/her boyfriend. Aren’t they cute?!
We talked over some yummy chai tea.
For breakfast I wanted to try something new–yoatgurt!

I cooked my oats with a bit of cinnamon, stevia, and vanilla extract. The oatmeal and the yogurt had to share a bowl and I topped them with a sliced banana, coconut butter, and Sunland’s caramel peanut butter.

The yogurt made the oats extra creamy!
After breakfast I went to a contact improv dance class.

It was so much fun. I can already tell that my body will be bruised and sore tomorrow. But I needed to move, extend, and stretch my body like that. It’s been awhile since I moved my body like that without hesitation. Speaking of not hesitating, I was also able to tap into my acrobatics and gymnastics background and do a flip down someone’s back.  Great way to start my Saturday!

Vegan Caesar Salad from The Conscious Cook

This recipe was so simple to put together. It called for focaccia which would be used as croutons. I also added in a chickpea cutlet from the Veganomicon.

So that’s what I’ve been up to for the past couple of days + working on a sculpture project and completing my headache of a philosophy exam. I wish I could post more often because sometimes I think my posts are overflowing with things. I’m hoping school will settle down a bit and that spring break will make its way over here pronto! In the meantime, just see my posts as really long letters to catch you up on what goes on! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and that the weather was gorgeous wherever you may have been. What did you all do?

Hope You Had Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Part II

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Hold on to your seats ladies and gentlemen we’re blasting back a little bit further into the past!

Granola girl is back!

I had this bowl of Udi’s Au Naturel granola with the apple grahams Holly sent me, spiced applesauce, Sunland’s caramel peanut butter, and vanilla yogurt. This granola is really good if you want to keep it simple or basically, it would go well with anything! The Au Naturel flavor is basically a wildflower honey sweetened granola.

Looks like I couldn't help but take a bite of the tortilla before I took the picture!

I just stuffed it with black beans, peach salsa, sour cream, nutritional yeast, and cilantro.

Whoa mama!

I hadn’t had banana soft-serve in forever! Size does matter when it comes to this – the bigger the banana the better (you get more)!! My toppings: coconut milk, Artisana Cacao Bliss, and Bekah’s scented almonds. YUM to the 10th degree!!! I’m talking love in exponential amounts.

Have any of you guys ever taken or heard of Zumba? Well this is a dance class I go to whenever I’m down in Florida. My mother and I love to dance and all of those classes have so much energy and happiness from everyone that you can’t help but have fun. There are even some professional ballroom dancers that attend the class. Everyone in that class just lets loose and gets down. For real!

With some friends from the old dance academy.

And with Wilson, one of our old instructors!

We also did the hora!!!

The dance instructor was touched by the students' card and gift to her.

Santa Claus came!

There was never a boring moment in that class!

After the dance class my best friend came over and Matilda got some presents! But I guess she really liked the necklace I got.

I went to go meet up with a friend for coffee.

Keeping it natural.

I tried Udi’s Muesli that morning – muesli is one of my mom’s favorite breakfasts. This was a really good muesli!!! There were lots of dried fruits – which I find to be lacking in a lot of pre-packaged cereals.

Agave-Lime Grilled Tofu with Asian Slaw and Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Another recipe from ‘The Conscious Cook’. The best mashed sweet potatoes ever!!! You mash it with a cashew cream, butter, and chipotle pepper. Everything in this dish was incredible and complimentary to each other. I love when a meal touches so many different kinds of flavors. This took my taste buds on a delicious ride.

Pistachios

My dad came home form the store with a container of pistachios! I love these nuts, especially with dried cranberries and golden raisins. I really want to make a pistachio butter. Has anyone tried pistachio butter? Do you like it?

And I FINALLY wore the shorts my mom got me on her trip to Germany.

They gave me two coffees but I had only ordered one! Maybe I should've played the lottery that day.

I've known her since I started middle school!

Later on we went to Target and they had me try on the new Rodarte dresses. I didn’t know Target had such cute things!!!

My friend up at school sent me a little box of treasures!

And the ring lights up!!!

Tempeh Creole

Dinner that night was something special. I made another recipe from ‘The Conscious Cook’. I love the variety of flavors this book has. I usually stick to using the same spices and seasoning when I cook, but this was different from what I usually use. I served it over some brown basmati rice and with a colorful pepper medley on the side.

Breakfast is a calling!

Looks like I had English muffins for breakfast that morning. One slice with butter and the other with pumpkin butter. I also tried the egg nog flavored yogurt with a lot of cinnamon sprinkled on top. Does that count as “sprinkled” still? It looks like it was actually doused! I also had apple slices with caramel peanut butter = delicious.

Yummy snack

I know some of you are always keeping your eyes out for new snack ideas. Well I found one that is not messy and perfect for when you’re on the go! Not to mention it tastes really good. I tried Udi’s granola nuggets! Let me quote them , “Snack-perfect granola chunks made with honey, oats, and lots of nuts.” They contain almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds. I tried the little nuggets with Wallaby’s Downunder Mango Tangerine flavor.

And now we’re going to blast somewhere else into time.

Personally, I like raw collard greens better than cooked.

I tried cooking them the other day but I wasn’t too keen on the flavor. Anyway, these collard greens made for perfect wraps for the leftover Moroccan stew. There wasn’t much liquid left so I didn’t have to worry about stuff spilling out. I also had some Mestemacher bread with mashed avocado, tomato slices, and horseradish sauce.

Check it out!

Look at what my mom made!

We had to use up a bunch of veggies that we had in the fridge so this was a mish-mosh of things! She even cooked daikon radish! I’m not sure what she put in here exactly but I’ll tell you what I do know – besides that it tasted delicious – cauliflower, yellow squash, daikon radish, mushrooms, yellow onion, turmeric, fenugreek, coconut milk, and other things!

Another nighttime snack

A bowl of fruits with coconut milk is something I’ve been eating daily while in Florida. That night I remembered that I still had some Fig Newmans! I love the chewiness of these fig cookies.

So that was the time traveling adventure! Now that we’re all back up to speed, I have a story to share with you all. This was shared with me over Christmas dinner and I thought it was inspirational. They told me about a writer who was diagnosed with cancer but wasn’t going to give up without a fight. So what did they decide to do? They had heard of “laughing clubs” in India and other countries, so they got their wife to go to the library and find a bunch of comedies. Everyday the two would wake up and watch a funny movie. Eventually he was able to cure his cancer with laughter. So never underestimate the power of bursting out in an uncontainable laughter or even just a giggle will do. What’s a miracle you’ve had in your life?