Today I’m going to push the rewind button and go back to the end of July. With the change of season and the temperature of the air… July seems so far away.
I came to Richmond bearing gifts and matching the Chinatown bus. On my visit I found a handy dandy travel case, and had a Barbie pool day… along with other adventures.
Let’s do the time warp!
A little over two years ago, my best friend and I had wedding ceremony as a symbol of our friendship. Some of you may recall the recap I shared as a testament, We Are Gathered Here Today. This weekend she made an impromptu visit to see me, and it was her first time in New York City!
Next thing you know she drove through the night to get as much time as she could. Finding a great parking spot for the weekend only a couple blocks from my place was just the beginning of the lucky penny that shined over our next couple of days.
She had her coffee black with sugar, and then off we went to explore the city’s west side.
They were having a family street fair over in Tribeca, which was a part of the Tribeca Film Festival. There were lots of kids with painted faces walking around, getting into character. We walked through Greenwich village, perusing through chocolate shops, boutiques, stationary shops. Strolled through Washington Square and made our way through Union Square…
My friend was overwhelmed and in love all at the same time. I imagined having a weekly ritual, going there to pick up a “new” book. You can find books that are out of print, on any subject from psychology to banned titles, or even old fortune books. Eventually we headed over to Eataly–a great place to take vistors, and I wanted to check out their fresh fish selection.
While you’re browsing the pastas you can smell the aromas of sauces cooking, and look over and you’ll find someone enjoying a delicious platter at one of the many dining areas in this establishment. It’s a large cafeteria with a market and “restaurants”. Whether you’re in the mood for a morning cappuccino, a glass of wine, beautiful pastries, gelato, cured meats, chocolates, or vegetables… you will find something. Another neat thing is that you can try things based on various regions throughout Italy!
After we toured Eataly, we headed back up to my neighborhood for dinner. We had planned on going to Candle Cafe’s relatively new Upper West Side location (I feel spoiled only living a couple blocks away), but the wait was too long for our hunger to wait.
Cleopatra’s Needle by night always caught my eye when walking home. It seems like a place that’s been there for a long time. I’d look in through the paneled windows, to see tables of people leaning in over wine glasses, grooving to the live jazz music that goes on every night. I also often see patrons dining alone, simply enjoying their own company. Something about this place, with its dimly lit and old-fashioned setting, is so inviting.
This was a little experiment I attemped over the summer when I first tried Lebni
Who knew what I was getting myself into that day, but I do remember feeling inspired without a care in the world for rules. And there was a container of Lebni sitting in my fridge, ready for anything.
Lebni is a type of cheese that is smooth, tangy, and quite thick. It’s also known as “kefir cheese”. So because of its consistency I thought it might work to make a dessert of some sort. Instead of icebox cookies, there was icebox tart!
It didn’t turn out quite how I wanted… I think I needed more Lebni or less juice from the apricots. But I wanted to share the recipe in its experimental state, so perhaps you can experiment with it too. The cinnamon is definitely notable in this recipe, so if you want to turn it down feel free to use less. It kind of reminded me of an edible version of some creamy tea enjoyed in a far off land where they like things slightly tart.
Don’t Take It So Seriously Tart or Fig and Apricot Lebni Tart
Ingredients
1/4-1/3 cup milk (I typically use almond)
8 oz. lebni
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbl honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 apricot, sliced
4 fresh figs
Almond Crust
6 Medjool dates, pits removed
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon organic vanilla
Directions
1. To make the crust, place the almonds in a food processor and process until it reaches a crumbly-grainy consistency.
2. Add dates and process until they are chopped and mixed in well with the almonds–making a paste.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and process until everything is mixed well.
4. Press the crust into a pie or tart tin, and make sure it’s an even layer throughout. Then let it chill while you make the filling.
5. For the filling, blend the milk (starting with the least amount) with the Lebni until a pudding consistency is formed.
6. Then add the cinnamon, honey, and vanilla.
7. In the food processor chop the apricot and the figs together until they make a puree. Then mix in with the other ingredients for the filling.
8. Pour the mixture out into the tart base and put it in the freezer.
Right before it melts into your mouth... or all over your plate
Before serving it, let it sit for a bit to thaw. Don’t let it sit for too long though! Or else you’ll have more of a ‘Don’t Take It Seriously’ puddle. Which I guess is kind of the point. Sometimes things don’t fall into our ideas of what we had in mind, and that’s okay. It’s an opportunity to enjoy something unexpected, and for what it is.
Hope you all have a wonderful Friday, whether you’re winding down, going out, or who knows! Either way, treat yourself to a slice life.
Hello everyone! Let me tell you… last week was anything but ordinary! My mom came to visit me for a whole week, and my step-dad was in town on business as well. I know I’ve mentioned my stresses about being financially dependent on my parents on my blog before. Recently, I’ve been having to make conscious effort to stay away from bleak utilitarian ways. Whenever I’m around my mom I’m reminded that it’s nice to treat ourselves just because, so her visit couldn’t come at a better time.
My parents enjoyed the delicate candies I made.
Moms are wonderful at French braiding!
A loaf of freshly baked bread...
And this is what happens on the way home.
Chocolate!
And...
More chocolate!
What surprises are in here?
Mmm truffles.
Tiramisu, cookies and cream, blueberry cheesecake, dark chocolate sea salt caramel, and black forest cake.
A blast from the past.
And one of the best ideas I've come across: honeycomb covered in milk chocolate.
My mom got some filled chocolates to try too.
I love that she enjoys so many things about life.
And she has a taste for colorful food as well!
She's the queen of salmon.
More colors!
I made Aggie’s Last Minute Sesame Noodles for me and my parents to enjoy during the week. I loved the sesame oil in this dish! It felt special when I packed this for me and my mom in my little lunchbox, since she went to my classes with me while she visited. I also packed some for my step-dad to take with him to work. He was also in town on business that week. It’s quite a rarity that my parents are in Richmond at the same time, so I wanted to treat them as much as I could!
Since my mom was in town, she whisked me away to Trader Joe's.
I usually make my own hummus, but since my mom was in town I wanted her to try the Triple Layer Hummus. There are no Trader Joe’s stores in Florida so this was a little special something something.
And she brought something special up from Florida... papaya from our tree!
Simple, delicious, and convenient "mush"
This is Joy’s recipe for gluten-free chickpea and apple slaw. I accidentally processed it in the food processor for too long, but it still tasted delicious! Tangy and sweet, like what the recipe says, with dried cranberries and a Granny smith apple in the mix.
On a slice of "Seeduction" bread.
Oh my goodness this is the kind of bread that is so good that you could finish the whole loaf without putting anything on it.
My version of a bento box--Rotkohl (German recipe for red cabbage), leftover red lentil burger tipped with vegan mayo, avocado slices, and coconut milk basmati.
Random, yes. Delicious, yes. YES!
While my mom visited she also made her classic recipe and one of my favorite desserts: tiramisu.
Proud of her creation!
As she should be.
We were looking forward to having the girls over that night!
Beautiful ladies all around!
Dainty dishware was appropriate.
The best tiramisu my mom has made to date!
And a night isn't complete without dancing, or salsa in this case!
But wait, was there more fun to be had?
Précisement, mes ami!
We went out to dinner at one of my favorite hang out spots, Balliceaux.
It has the neatest decor.
To start off we ordered tandoori fried cauliflower with a chickpea salad and pickled cucumbers.
I want to learn how to make cauliflower taste this good! The chickpea salad and cucumbers added a refreshing touch to the crispy battered cauliflower.
I also ordered a cup of roasted pumpkin-mushroom and barley soup.
This tasted so much like a soup my grandma use to make when I was little!
I couldn't put my finger on which recipe I'll have to ask my grandma for.
Aromatic steamed salmon with black bean paste, scallion-celery stir fry with house made bacon, and fragrant jasmine rice for the sir.
I’ve never heard of cooking celery. Curious, eh?
Southern fried Twin Oaks tofu with red beans and collard greens for the queen.
Twin Oaks makes the best tofu EVER! And the way that they prepared it here was reminiscent of a typical southern dish with fried fish. I thought it was adorable that my mom, queen of salmon, decided to get this vegetarian dish. I may have done some influencing though because I also wanted to try this, but I had something else in mind for myself…
A hearts of romaine salad with a creamy hazelnut dressins and crunchy ZUCCHINI BREAD CROUTONS!
As soon as I saw the words “zucchini bread croutons” I knew that would be my choice. Oh my goodness. If salads could be desserts this would be it. I kept gushing about how wonderful of an idea it was to do this! It was so delicious that I sat there thinking of all of the wonderful breads I could make into croutons. The waitress exclaimed, “you can make them out of any bread!” And right she is. Next time you have a sweet bread in your home, I advise you make them into croutons. Actually, I urge you!
After dinner we met up with some wonderful people.
My mom got a taste of Ipanema's homemade soy ice cream and their vegan apricot almond blondie.
We had a feeling that the dessert made us extra hyper.
The past week was a memorable one indeed. It was so much fun having my mom go to my classes, and she got to see what her daughter does in art school. I’m sure a lot of parents would like to have that experience. She got a better understanding of what my life is like for most of the year. Looking back on her visit I see that she’s become a more flexible person, or maybe she just really likes being around me? I think it’s both!
p.s. I’ll be announcing the winners to my last two giveaways very soon, so keep an eye out for that! My apologies for keeping you all waiting.
I’m still feeling the warm welcome back and I love it! I had missed blogging and reading about all of you! Each of you has your own style of writing and I almost get the sense that some of you are right there in front of me–in person, obviously not on a screen haha. Anyway, keeping with the spirit of the last post I’m going to flash back to wonderful times with friends, and what that entailed!
When my mom came to visit, it involved special breakfasts like these...
A bowl of oatmeal topped with beautiful berries, Futter’s hazelnut butter, thick and creamy coconut milk, and the jewel of it all–Coconut Bliss’s Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge. If you haven’t eaten ice cream for breakfast, then I highly recommend you do. In fact…
You should also try ice cream in your hot chocolate... with sprinkles to boot!
It’ll melt into your cup of hot chocolate, making it creamier and even more delicious!
When Maya had come to visit she left me with a jar of peanut butter, and I had OIAJ!
So thank you, Maya! Note: if the container is plastic the oats aren’t actually cooked in the jar. This may seem obvious but you never know who may think otherwise.
I went to my first wedding shower for a dear friend of mine.
Check out her bridal “throne”.
There was even a cake decorating contest, which was so much fun.
Behold, our beautiful creation!
Afterwards my mother and I met up with some good friends for wine, laughs, and...
Being up to no good!
The next morning I went on a walk with my beautiful mother in a quaint neighborhood along the James River.
Lucky for my mother, Virginia was experiencing unusually warm weather when she came to visit me back in November. She’s a big baby when it comes to cold weather, but it’s kind of adorable and funny to see her bundle up when it’s in the low 60′s
Once my mom left I felt a little empty because I’m so close to her. There have also been some very shaky things going on with my family, and during that time I remember they were really in a dark place. When my mom came to visit I just wanted her to know that there are people in this world that will love her no matter what. I wanted to show her what it felt like to have someone care for you, and not have constant strife. It was heartbreaking to send her off because I knew what she would be going back to, and all I could do was wish that she’d be okay.
But life went on...
and I had to let myself just enjoy the moment. Do you ever get like that? Where something seems so all encompassing that it’s hard to step outside of it? One thing I’ve really experienced through these tough times is that I can step outside of it. I just have to let myself. It sounds easy, but the build up to that moment where you let go… is hard. But once you do it, it’s so freeing.
Plus, I had nice little reminders of my mom, like her new found love for goat cheese; pictured here with some jam on a bagel.
Goat cheese works just as well as cream cheese… if not better! The other half of the bagel had butter, lots of brown sugar, and cinnamon!
I’ve said it before, but I like to surround my self with things that do something for my soul. Whether it’s the music I listen to, the way I walk, the food I eat, the people I call friends, the strangers I say hello to, the outfit (or costume) I decide to wear on any given day. Lighting a candle because it fits my mood, sitting in a chair with a book because I plan on falling asleep, or looking at something someone else seems to notice. Appreciating the things that sometimes have nothing to do with me. When I first heard this quote by Nancy Stark Smith something in me just clicked, “the earth is bigger than you, so you might as well coordinate with it.“
In this case, the power lies in the homemade relish to make a sandwich extra special!
In Katharina fashion, I took this beautiful and delicious sandwich with me to class, and I thought to myself "I would."
The recipe is “The Veganomicon’s” Roasted Eggplant Muffuletta Sandwich with the addition of smoked gouda… making this not vegan. Seriously though, this sandwich was hitting every inch of my tongue’s palate making fireworks go off. Since the recipe calls to let the sandwich sit for awhile (overnight if you have time), it allows all of the flavors from the relish and roasted veggies to soak in. This is why leftover’s usually taste so great!
Before we knew it, Christmas was already on its way and we put up an Adventskalendar!
We split a yummy milk chocolate every day to countdown till the 24th!
I felt like a little kid again, knocking on my roommate’s door splitting the chocolate with her. Or when she’d peek in to give me the other half on a given day. It’s such a wonderful thing that this little lady is in my life. We had met in a yoga class a couple years back, and who would’ve thought we’d end up living together! She’s such a special person in this world, and someone I feel at harmony with. I’m so lucky to have her just a few steps away, and honored that she sees the same in me.
We all know that food can be comforting as well... corn and sweet potato soup.
I got out my book filled with hundreds of soup recipes to soothe some winter blues. Soups just seem to be the ultimate comfort food during the winter. It turned out looking a bit greenish-brown, but that’s just because of the vegetable bouillon. Anyway, the point is that it was yummy, especially because I love corn and sweet potatoes! The texture from pureeing half of it and mixing in the rest of the vegetable chunks was satisfying as well.
Warm sandwiches are what it's all about.
A chickpea cutlet, goat cheese, green pepper jelly, roasted red-peppers, and wilted greens sandwiched between two slices of toasted whole-grain bread. This sandwich was so good that I exclaimed to my friend in class that she should have a bite! That way someone else would understand why I was making “mmmm” sounds while eating.
I also went to a restaurant downtown that I never heard of before called LuLu's.
The restaurant played off of Richmond’s architecture and city skyline, which I thought was really neat. And who wouldn’t love a place called LuLu’s? If you’re in the area you should definitely check them out. They’ve got a wonderful menu with so many choices, it’s incredible. They’ve got dishes from Moroccan-spiced grilled quail, mezze platters, to arancini.
Notice the letters are actually buildings.
I wanted something comforting for that chilly night, so I ordered the tomato soup with a grilled pimento cheese sandwich.
This is what I call a sophisticated big kid’s meal, don’t you think? It was so tasty, and it was the first time I ever had this traditional combination! You bet I dipped the grilled cheese in the thick tomato soup. Biting into this sandwich filled with ooey-gooey thick cheese i crispy buttered bread was perfect! Actually, before I ordered the soup I wanted to make sure that it was made with a vegetable broth. The waiter thought I meant to ask the chef what vegetables they had used, and he came back with an answer which was more than what I had asked for, “he made the stock out of the vegetables we had in the house, but he can’t remember which ones”. I guess that means that they make everything out of scratch, which always impresses me.
Everyone was ready to eat and enjoy!
We also ordered some desserts to share: an almond tart with homemade whipped cream.
This heavenly slice of pumpkin roll had me saying, "oh my goodness" multiple times.
It was by far the best dessert I’d had since I could remember!
Baking means sharing in my book!
I made a batch of moist vegan pumpkin chocolate, chocolate chip muffins.
I also went out to eat with one of my closest friends and his incredible mother.
We went to one of my favorite places, Cafe Gutenberg, and I ended up ordering what I had gotten last time because I loved it so much…
The vegan caeser salad made with romaine, hearts of palm, grape tomatoes, grilled tofu, and a lemon-caper dressing.
I saw that they also had rolls made by a local bakery, so I asked if I could have that to go with my salad. The tofu they use is the best in the world, and comes from a local commune called Twin Oaks.
Remember those yummy mozzarella bites I featured awhile ago from Farm Rich?
Not only do these taste good, but they’re made with real cheese. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re interested in more information about their products like ingredients and methods, you can check out their FAQ site here. Anyway, the people over at Farm Rich kindly gave me another opportunity to try them, and they also sent me a voucher to share with a lucky reader! I also wanted to include some other things, so I thought I’d throw in a voucher for Gardein, and also a mystery prize that I’ll make especially for the winner.
It's giveaway time!
Here’s how you can enter:
1. Go to their site and comment on this post telling me one of their products you’d like to try.
Additional entries (don’t forget to comment on this post telling me you did these things):
2. Follow them on Facebook.
3. Follow them on Twitter.
4. You can also link back to this post on your blog, and make sure to let me know!
Make sure to get your entries in by Tuesday, January 18. Best of luck everyone!
Why hello there! Let me start off by saying that I was touched by the responses I got on my last post. And I am glad that it was just what some of you needed to read. Never leave a friend hangin’!
In my review of Farm Rich’s product I mentioned how they were a bit pricey. Well it was brought to my attention that you can print out a coupon right over here!
Funky colors
Greek yogurt + granola + sliced banana + papaya + pumpkin seed butter + shredded coconut
My dad has been in town this week and he brought up a couple of papayas from their tree!
Speaking of my dad, we've had a few picnics over the week.
It’s been really nice to have him here and to just enjoy the nice weather. We would meet up at Capitol Hill, where we’ve had many picnics before, and just sit under a tree and hang out.
Here's an old picture of Capitol Hill
I packed him a hazelnut butter + creme of dates & almond sandwich
A pumpkin seed butter + creme of dates & almonds sandwich for moi!
I can get pretty cray-cray when I eat
And there's my little nugget, Matilda, cooling off in the shade by my bike
My dad also brought up turmeric fingers, and they stained my own!
I grated the turmeric into the spiced red lentils while they were cooking and it made such a noticeable difference!
I served the lentils with coconut oil (of course), basmati rice, and steamed broccoli spritzed with Bragg’s.
Later that day I met up with some of my ladies at Ipanema's sister restaurant, Garnett's.
It reminded me of a charming country kitchen.
We wanted dessert, but the baked goods that day didn't sound too appealing to us. We just talked and ordered coffee and tea instead.
Then we took a hop and a skip over to Ipanema in hopes of finding yummy desserts.
The great thing about these two places is that their dessert menu pretty much changes daily. They’ve got staples like brownies a la mode, but their pies, cakes, and other desserts are different each day. Not to mention they also have gluten-free and vegan options as well.
One friend got the maple creme brulee.
My other friend ordered the mixed berry pie a la mode.
And I got the vegan apricot almond bar a la mode.
All of these were so incredibly delicious and huge oh my gosh. Perfect! But was there ever any doubt? This place always impresses with its desserts. Later on we found out that they actually make their own soy ice cream as well! It was also nice to bump into a friend of mine who works in the kitchen. I always ask him for his recommendations.
My friends are so pretty!
After dessert we wanted de-stress from all the school and life responsibilities so we went dancing for a bit. Much needed! I love these ladies to death and I felt complete after hanging out with them.
I'm going to be honest I was a little hesitant to share these muffins with all of you because they look funny...
But they taste yummy and I wanted to use the last my hemp protein powder so I made these muffins following a basic muffin recipe. I also opted for coconut extract instead of vanilla, filled some with Cacao Bliss or pumpkin seed butter, and sprinkled on some coconut shreds and chocolate coconut sprinkles. These are perfect as part of a quick snack.
Say bye bye for now, Matilda.
Matilda is now in Florida staying with my family since I’ll be going to New York soon in a couple of weeks. I won’t be staying for too long, but unfortunately I can’t take her with me since I’ll be flying from New York to Florida. Three weeks without my baby!!! I need distractions. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! And all the mommies in the world better be feelin’ the love!
K for Katharina
I found a delicious yogurt...
I still have a few freebie coupons from Oikos left and I was on the hunt for the strawberry flavor. Much to my delight I finally found it! I couldn’t wait to try to it because the blueberry one was great. So what’d I think? This was so good! Sometimes those fruit at the bottom yogurts taste really artificial and have a strange texture. But this blended so well with the tart and creamy Greek yogurt. Now I’m on the search for the caramel flavor!
Another recipe from The Conscious Cook
Asian Tacos with Kinpira and Spinach-Sesame Salad
I didn’t follow this recipe exactly, but it still came out delicious. I didn’t shape the won tons like tacos because I didn’t feel like it, and I substituted rutabaga for burdock root. I also used kale instead of spinach for the side salad. The seitan was cooked with freshly grated ginger and garlic and other various flavor enhancing items. This was such a satisfying lunch. Partly because it felt like a mini-project since there were so many steps.
Me and my roommate started finally decorating the living room!
And she also baked something
Cottage cheese muffins from 101 Cookbooks
These had cottage cheese, parmesan, almond flour, sun-dried tomatoes, eggs, and basil. I surprisingly liked them because I usually don’t like eggy things. However, this did cause my stomach to act up. Eggs + Katharina = Indigestion.
Tada!
Went with one of my favorite ladies to see a salsa band play at this eco-chic restaurant called Balliceaux.
The band
That night, right before the last song, a man asked me if I wanted to dance. That was the first time I said yes. I’m glad I did because I danced salsa in a way I’ve never danced it before. The music and the setting had a great vibe and I felt on top of the world. Being up front and feeling the beat of the conga and the song being brought to life by the playful trumpet, I felt it in my soul and out through my feet. I noticed that I had been smiling so much that my mouth got dry… I could feel the sweat forming in the creases of my pants. He had me doing triple turns and then go right back to the swing of things at the very front. Then the final song ended with a dip but the thrill lasted and left me wide awake at 2:30 in the morning.
I came home to make some hot chocolate with the marshmallows Maya sent me--in my special cup!
Inspired cinnamon breakfast
When I saw Sam’s bowl of cream of wheat I knew I had to have a bowl for myself soon. It looks kind of funky because I used a vanilla protein powder that has spirulina. This was so delicious. I topped it with a diced apple, Sunland’s caramel peanut butter, granola, and homemade cinnamon-sugar wonton crisps.
I have been in the mood for salads!
I guess Florida left me craving fresh foods! I made a salad with romaine, corn, Southwest Sunshine burger topped with Sun-dried tomato mustard, and BBQ sauce. Yum!
A dog and a cat!
To celebrate my dad’s birthday we were invited to a family friend’s home for dinner. How sweet of them to have us over!
My dad and his favorite... salmon!
Knowing I love my vegetables--they made a delicious salad, and baked some biscuits on the side.
The orange blob is the most delicious sweet potato mash. It’s the one I made before from “The Conscious Cook”. It has sweet potato, cashew cream, chipotle pepper, butter (Earth Balance if you’re vegan), and s&p. I think this is my favorite mash.
Dinner time!
She was trying to open the jar of Red Pepper Jelly she got from Alabama.
Never had it before but it always sounded interesting--it was like a sweet and spicy sauce.
The chef and his dessert!
His pie turned out wonderfully! It was so fresh tasting and had such a great lime flavor.
Posin'
"Smell it!"
He fell for it hahaha! Sucker!
Afterwards I met up with some friends at a bar.
And I took my first shot of tequila with "training wheels".
Only with my lady!
Last night I had two people offer to cook for me! What a treat!
This does not happen often so I happily agreed. Well, I made a compromise. I decided to have dinner with the girls and then later I would go to my other friend’s place for dessert.
The bottom half--and the lone slipper in the back.
When I arrived at my friend’s house I got a text from yet another friend asking if I wanted to go to this awesome Cuban restaurant a couple blocks down. Was there a blue moon or something? Three dinner invitations in one night? Sadly, I had to turn down the last one.
Waiting like little kids for "mommy" to cook us dinner.
She made us a seasoned pasta dish with mushrooms, feta, parmesan, and caesar dressing.
I brought some seasoned seitan and sprinkled some dill weed on top + Sugar Cookie tea!
I have a love-hate relationship with Jack the cat.
Then she offered to make us dessert!
Banana bruleed in a brown sugar sauce + vanilla ice cream + chocolate chips (but the rum was missing) = BEST MOM EVER RECIPE!!!
She knows how to take care of her babies.
Then I went to my other friend's house for dessert and wine.
Spiced pear compote with maple syrup. When I say spiced I don't just mean cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. There was also cayenne!
There was some leftoever and I had it with part of my breakfast. Guess what? My friend made me breakfast too! I had a bowl of cooked homemade grain mix with sunflower seed butter and the spiced pear compote + more maple syrup. I also had an orange and tried my first meyer lemon. It was actually really delicious and nice to have someone make me something for a change. Don’t get me wrong–I love to cook, but sometimes I like to be treated to. Who doesn’t?
Well this was my first week back in Richmond and I must say it’s been full of fun and has left me anticipating this upcoming semester. AHHHHHHH!!! I hope you all had a wonderful week. I’m going to have to catch up on all you lovely people’s lives now.
Have you guys ever eaten so much fruit that you think you might become one? How weird would that be if I morphed into a papaya. I’d probably have to live in hiding though because I wouldn’t want anyone to eat me.
These would be my siblings!
These are some of the papayas from our papaya tree. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is so awesome and satisfying! Papaya has many health benefits as well: promotes digestion (especially for meat-eaters), rejuvenating properties, good for the heart, rich in vitamin C and carotene. Even the skin can help minor surface wounds heal!
So it's only natural to have this wonderful fruit for breakfast.
I had this with vanilla yogurt and Bekah’s delicious coconut chia granola (perfection).
Peanut butter + Apples
I got to try a very special peanut butter thanks to the kind people at Sunland. I really enjoyed this flavor because I could still taste the peanut butter and it wasn’t too sweet. Caramel and peanut butter naturally go together. Don’t you think? They sent me a box of goodies not too long ago…
Matilda even approves!
Hickory Smoked Peanut Butter + Mom's sweet potato and butternut squash soup with cinnamon and coconut oil
I love the crunchiness of this one! It was good but I’d like it better with something else. Later on that day I gave it another try.
Second chance!
I decided to try the hickory smoked peanut butter with spinach, gouda, tomato, and cracked black pepper. Much better! I bet it would also taste delicious with provolone or mixed with some noodles and veggies – a smoky peanut stir-fry? Let’s rewind a little and give special attention to the soup my mom made.
Yum!
She made a sweet potato and butternut squash soup. I added some black beans and cilantro in my bowl!
Also served some papaya, avocado, and methi paratha.
We finally bought a Christmas tree the other day!
Can you believe I went in a mini-skirt, sleeveless top, and sandals? Crazy!
After dinner we headed to the boardwalk to walk along the beach...
It was a nice way to wind down on a Sunday night.
I love the ambiance of south Florida!
It’s all about enjoying life and not letting things bring you down.
You could see the stars
The pier
Part of the boardwalk
My best friend and I are planning a special ceremony that'll take place before I head back to Richmond!
This morning I had oats in a jar!
I haven’t had oats in a jar in ages. I just cooked my oats in soymilk + pumpkin pie spice and the huge chunk of peanut butter left in the jar. Then I chopped up a pear and let it sit for a bit and topped it with pumpkin butter.
My dad also had his first ever oats in a jar.
Since his was a plastic container I didn’t cook the oats in the jar. For his I pretty much made it the same as mine except his had a banana instead of a pear and I crumbled a Newman’s Own Organic chocolate chocolate chip cookie. He walked over to me with his jar and exclaimed how good it was. Duh!!!
This morning I baked so many cookies! But I don’t want to tell you what kind they were because that’s a surprise.
Parsnip and carrot puree with spices and coconut oil
I also had toast with gouda and apricot jam. This is such a great combination. Next time I will try this combo grilled with cinnamon!
Dessert!
Not too long ago Maggie had asked if I could post some desserts I like to have after dinner. Why yes, of course! This was last night’s dessert. I went to the store and got a case of tunnel vision once I read the words “carrot cake”. Note that carrot cake and tiramisu are my two all-time favorite desserts, so into the cart went the pint of Organic Rice Divine Carrot Cake ice cream. That’s a mouthful! And a delicious mouthful it was. I also tried a Newman’s Own Organic milk chocolate caramel cup. Yum yum yum!
And now it’s time for more art! Continuation from Art Basel…
An installation
Close-up of the figures
The letter O and the co-founder of the word "okay" forming a K
Swarovski deer!
“There is no freedom like seeing myself as I am and not losing heart.”
- Elizabeth J. Canham
I hope everyone started the week off on the right side of the bed!
Part 2 of my vacation is here! This was probably the most fun day out of all of them. I swam so much in the ocean. I love the ocean! Some people told my mom that I looked like a mermaid the way I was swimming. Maybe I was one in my past life? Anyway, I found a lot of beautiful seashells while I was in the ocean, and did plenty of floating. The water is so calm in the Gulf Coast that you can float without a care.
Mom and I woke up early and we wanted to make use of the fitness center. I got to sample one of the Luna bars that were sent to me. Which one did I decide to try? White Chocolate Macadamia! This was surprisingly good. I like white chocolate and macadamias but sometimes I find that Luna bars have this strange iron-taste to them. At the gym I got to enjoy an episode of Saved by the Bell. I haven’t watched that show in forever. If I met Screech in person I think I would’ve had a huge crush on him, and Zack too! After some muscle building we headed downstairs to have breakfast.
The banana nut muffin was very yummy too. And in that ramekin is oatmeal brulee. I wasn’t too keen on the flavor of that one, but it sounded interesting!
After breakfast we just hungout for a bit. I wanted to go to the sauna and see what was up. At first I was really confused because I didn’t know how to turn it on. Finally I figured it out, but I had to wait awhile for the room to actually heat up. Oh man, it definitely heated up! I kind of lost track of time since I was reading, then I heard my phone ring. “When are we going to the beach?” Since we had reciprocal guest privileges at this other hotel, we headed over to their beach!
I can’t imagine sunning on the beach all day without dipping into the ocean. The heat got to be unbearable, so at that point was when I got my mermaid swim on, and went looking for seashells. The water was so refreshing and we pretty much stayed in it for the rest of the time we stayed at the beach. We headed back to the hotel around 6 or 7. I can’t remember, but I know it didn’t feel like it was that late! It’s crazy how long summer days can seem.
We managed to get ready before the sunset. Over on the Gulf Coast the sun sets over the water. It’s so beautiful. It was a bit cloudy that evening though, but the lighting still made everything look serene.
Oh! I almost forgot. When we got back from the beach, my mom spotted a cute guy around my age. So we were on a mission to spot him later on. Maybe he’d also be at the happy hour? We didn’t see him there but I atleast I had some other eye candy: the personal trainer at the gym. I wish I went to the tennis courts with my dad, I bet there would’ve been some cuties over there!
Harry Potter comes out tonight! I have my ticket and I’m so excited. I just need to stay awake. Who am I kidding? How could I possibly fall asleep during a Harry Potter movie?
Moreover, yesterday I received a package from Kardea. All of the flavors sound incredible!!! Banana Walnut, Chai Spice, Cranberry Almond, and Lemon Ginger. I might not be able to choose just one to try at one time.
Get ready for Part 3 tomorrow!
That's one of my roommates, Kim.
This is from the night we went to a Spanish restaurant called Casa Panza. A flamenco dancer performed along with the Spanish guitar and a singer. All of them looked like gypsies. At one point of the night I went to the bathroom and when I came back and took my seat – I landed so hard on the ground. Notice in the picture what the ground is made of. Apparently those seats are too light to handle a purse and camera on the posts. I think everyone else realized I had fallen before I even did. I was just really confused. I’m surprised no one started laughing because it was pretty funny. Might I also add that this incredibly good-looking man helped me up. My butt was definitely hurting the next day.
Down below is my birthday cake. The one thing my mom loves to make is tiramisu. However, I found a recipe online for pumpkin tiramisu. It was very yummy. We drizzled some Amaretto Sherry Wine syrup over our pieces. Since we had no birthday candles in the household I improvised with colorful toothpicks.
Notice my band-aid has Hello Kitty on it. I didn't even get carded!
After deciding between 2 restaurants I opted for the place we hadn’t tried. It’s this place called Seasons 52. They change their menu with the seasons because they use fresh produce. They are a place that takes their customers health seriously. It’s refreshing to see that you can eat out without worrying whether or not your food has been pre-packaged and loaded with preservatives. On top of that it’s shipped cross country to be heated up again and served to you. Oh! This is my first legal drink in the US! It actually tasted really good. I know I’m only 21 but if I’m going to drink, I don’t want to drink something I don’t think tastes good. I guess it’s strange for my age because most people just drink to get drunk. I’m fine with other people doing that, but for myself – if I’m going to put it in my body I want it to taste good too!
They had these little desserts and I got my birthday candle! I couldn’t decide between mango cheesecake and banana caramel pie. So what’d I do? I got both! I liked the mango cheesecake a lot more than the banana caramel pie. I’m discovering that I’m not a big fan of super chocolaty, or rich desserts. Maybe it’s the summertime that makes me more keen to fruity things. I could live off popsicles during the summer!
And this tasted good too! Sipping on Caipirinha and lime juice.
Now here are some things I made while I was at my parents house in Florida. Yes, my “vacation” has come to an end. I still have tons of free time in Richmond, but I’m back to fending for myself. No more being driven around! But I admit I missed bike riding to places. I tried to do that while I was in Florida and it was really nice to ride around in a different scenery. Moreover, when I ride my bike in Richmond it’s usually to get somewhere. But while I was in Florida I just rode and explored.
I made some Honey Lime “Chick’n”. It was yummy, but I try to avoid fake meats. Some of the time they taste good, and they’re definitely convenient. I usually keep one fake meat item in the house because you never know when you have no time to spare. But lately, I’ve just been getting cans of chickpeas and beans. I think my favorite source of protein though are lentils. Those babies are so versatile. They’re like the oatmeal of legumes! I also don’t like to consume a lot of tofu. I’ll have it every once in awhile though. I guess what I try to do is keep the food as natural as possible. It ends up being cheaper too.
How do you guys feel about fake meats?
When I went to the mall one day I stopped by this bakery called PAUL. I picked up some bread rolls for the family. I got poppy seed, walnut, and sesame. I actually prepared an egg for myself. I rarely ever have eggs. Before I made the huevos rancheros, the last time I had an egg was years ago. I don’t do well with eggs nor do I like them, but for some reason I felt like having one. I could start to feel my tummy getting funky, so I didn’t eat all of it. To go along with the rolls I sliced tomato, mozzarella, avocado and included an array of fruit butters and spreads. I also made kale chips to go along with the meal. My roommate is hooked on kale chips now. And my parents were stoked that I made them again.
This is a dish that I made up. It has paneer, vermicelli, and a vegetable medley. The veggies I used were red peppers, corn, and scallions. I’m trying to remember if I used teriyaki sauce or something else. Food blog faux pas!
Before I forget! I opened up a can gooseberries yesterday. I had to rinse them off because they were kept with an extremely thick syrup. So far I’ve had it with rice pudding and vanilla oatmeal. Both were so good, but I think those combinations are obvious matches made in heaven.
For lunch today I tried some new things! I finally bought some Dr. Kracker crackers after I saw Courtney from the Hungry Yogini awhile back. I opted for the pumpkin cheddar flavor. These crackers are very large! The perfect size for a large slice of muenster cheese, tomato slices, and avocado. My salad consisted of romaine, tomato, mushrooms, tomato slices, and avocado. I scooped some hummus on top and drizzled the whole thing with balsamic vinegar and honey. I splurged a little this week with trying out new products. I usually don’t do this, but it’s my birthday week. Besides, I’m trying to work on being flexible with myself. I should make life as easy as possible and not everything has to be practical. Anyway, before I go off further onto my tanget, I got a package of crème brûlée flavored rice pudding. I topped that with raisins and had a few chocolate chip bites from SniKiddy. Maybe now that I’m 21 I have this urge to indulge myself with kid stuff.
Does anyone know any good combinations for balsamic vinegar?
I think I want to start making more of my own dressings, but keeping it simple. I think a key lime vinaigrette would be delicious.
Okay I’m stretching this post out even more. This is what happens when you don’t post for awhile! Over my stay with my parents I bought this protein cereal by Kay’s Naturals that sounded interesting. I got the sample size bags in 3 different flavors: Apple Cinnamon, French Vanilla, and Honey Almond. All of them were delicious but my favorite by far was the honey almond. Usually it’s hard or me to get a good source of protein for breakfast (this is why I put protein powder in my oatmeal). I’ve been working on it, but in the past I noticed that I forget about that component. So this cereal would make it a lot easier. I have yet to try their other products, but I’m assuming their yummy in my tummy as well! So all you cold cereal lovers out there if you haven’t tried the Protein Cereal, well, you should.
Okay, so I’ll let you guys take in this incredibly long post!
ps Does anyone have any yummy refried beans recipes?