Tag Archives: homemade

Awareness And Making Connections

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Hello, hello! Last week I was in the San Francisco area (for my family’s first home exchange experience) enjoying every bit of its majestic beauty. It made me think of things that demand our attention. I found myself being very present when I was out in Northern California… all of us being pulled away from our devices and not wanting to miss a single piece of it. Being present around untouched nature is not hard to do, but when I’m back in a busy city like New York I feel like I’m making a point not to be staring down at a phone. Should I move to the side for the person too busy texting so they continue not watching their step? Sometimes I’m tempted to just stop in front of a person.

Do you guys find yourself tapping into thoughtless awareness?

I find it difficult to not give my attention to the now, including the details. I know that reflects in my taste and how that is guided by how my body responds to things. Recently, I’ve been noticing how flavors nourish my body. For instance, I found that lots of sugary things keep me in a place where I don’t feel as motivated or dedicated to something, and it’s a difficult habit to break. It’s like a lazy comfort for me. Earthier flavors really heighten my focus, and sour refreshes me. Or for instance… if I have dried fruit I balance the very sweet flavor with a dense nut, or else my thought goes on auto-pilot and I start to get mindless. I’ve also found that I’ve developed a heightened sensor for specific additives, in turn giving my body the chance to communicate clearly. I’m curious to know… what are some things you’ve recently discovered about yourself?

Right now it’s snowing, and this post is going back to the very end of summer in Florida.

1) I packed fresh figs, a salad and smoked salmon for the airplane ride… ended up having it as brunch because of a delay; 2) Beach front apartment in South Beach; 3) Driving over McArthur Causeway at sunset; 4) Having traditional Cuban desserts in the heart of Little Havana; 5) Bird watching in my parents’ back yard; 6) Dinner consisted of summer fruits for one last hurrah!

My parents befriended one of our future home exchangers from Bordeaux, and they’ve been having dinner parties together…

So while I was there we thought it would be nice to invite them over for dinner.

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Blast From The Richmond Past

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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!

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A Westside Institution

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Thank you for the well wishes everyone. The area where I’m living in Manhattan didn’t get too badly affected, and I haven’t been by midtown, downtown or the outer boroughs that were more affected. People have to plan a little more right now to get around in the city though because of traffic and the lack of subway transportation. This whole thing has gotten me to observe, more than usual, people’s relationship with nature. Nature is pretty straightforward about its relationship with us… even with basic knowledge of ecology. There’s lots of talk of this storm being a result of climate change, and this is just a taste. Here’s what I wrote on my informal blog:

Strong forces of nature can look very awe-inspiring within nature, but juxtapose its affects with manmade creations and all of a sudden it becomes disaster. Today I walked with Matilda to the park, and people were taking pictures of snapped trees. Maybe they wanted to feel more a part of the damage? I’m not sure, but I have been noticing this energy of attraction.

The attraction is also mixed with those who repel any news of the storm—viewing it as a mockery. Maybe it is silly that people react in this man vs. nature sort of way with their lost possessions, schedules and conveniences. At the same time these moments call for compassion. As a human, I know we interpret things in a spectrum of ways and express however those in our species do. To negate that makes me wonder… why does one care to be alive in their present state… as a human that is?

Fact is, right now, people are a part of it.

If you’re a home cook in the area Mealku is  coordinating delivery of prepared foods (at least 4 portions of a meal) to Red Hook Recovers.

Today’s post features one of the local markets around here: Westside Market. You can tell I appreciate food by the fact that I’m inspired by a grocery store’s trademark selection. Westside Market features an extensive selection (it takes me about 30 minutes to decide what I want to get) of “Made by Maria” dishes and spreads. They even have many vegetarian/vegan options. I always wondered who Maria was. Well, turns out that Maria is real and a part of the Zoitas family, and every family recipe that comes from her kitchen is reinvented. Last item I picked up was a sweet and warming vegetable dish with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, dried fruits, honey, and spices. The ingredient list was simple, and after trying it I attempted to recreate it with my own touch.

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In A Spaced Out Box

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Good day ladies and gentlemen. I feel like it’s been awhile since I’ve posted although it’s only been a week. You know when you let more days pass by, and things keep adding up? That happens to me when I don’t update more often, because well… I cook everyday. So that means I have lots of things to share! That also means that I’m going to start condensing posts more often, sometimes highlighting one dish or a couple. We’ll see how it goes. But here’s a post that is not quite so compact, but fits quite nicely into the package.

From the night before I left for my Florida vacation…

The vacation I keep thinking about, trying to tap into the feeling I had while floating in the calm, blue ocean; just listening to the sound of my breath.

I decided to make a fondue spread for me and my roommates to enjoy

White chocolate (fortuitously scalding it a bit, giving it a caramelized flavor) with a giant diced and spiced fruit salad of bananas, pears, apples, and melon. Mustn’t forget the coconut muffin as well.

I randomly decided to pick up beets at the store…

but I love beets so maybe it’s not so random. Let’s just say it wasn’t on the list though.

Beet stains never get old to me.
I picked up the beets after I picked up the jicama, and thought they would contrast wonderfully…

and I remembered the carrots that I already had at home.

Sometimes I make things for the sake of color.

After I prepared the vegetables I had to leave to meet with someone, so I stored the vibrant vegetables in one container. However, before I left I took a bite, and thought: this needs some shredded coconut. Added some. Took another bite. Done.

One fish: two ways

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A Few Of My Favorite Things

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One day, when browsing through my e-mail, I noticed a personable e-mail amongst all of the Ad-mail. A reader had contacted me asking what my favorite cookbooks are. Great question! It got me thinking about a few things: a) I was happy to get a personal e-mail, b) what are my favorite cookbooks, and c) I haven’t checked out any new ones recently! As I’m writing this, I just realized that I haven’t really made any recipes from cookbooks in awhile either. However, I still have my favorite picks.

Sometimes I go to the library and browse through cookbooks.

Or sometimes I go to the bookstore. When I find myself exclaiming at almost every recipe (or sneakily jotting them down), that’s when I know it’s a keeper. Here are some of mine:

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Insights Can Come In Small Ways

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Hello, hello! Today a friend told me that she spotted an article I submitted to Apartment Therapy featuring my parents’ garden. I had planned on sharing some of my latest memories from their garden already, so that exciting news came in seamlessly! Check it out:

Katharina’s Food Revolution

With that in mind, I just want to express some mushy love towards my parents. Like the article said, in the beginning when I was studying I left a tiny garden behind for my parents to watch over. Low and behold when I came back, it was untouched and had dried up. It’s okay though… no hard feelings, Mom and Dad! But a few years later, my parents stepped up to their own plates and started a venture into the world of organic gardening. I think it’s an examples of all those sayings that talk about going on or making our own paths. What’s important to each of us is something that we discover through our own experiences, and we add them to our files, sometimes making them a part of our daily priorities. And the thing is… what matters to me may not matter to someone else. Hearing about the beginnings of the garden when I’d talk to my parents on the phone, and seeing its growth on each visit–especially during my last one–has been a joyful experience. From  my parents triumphantly sharing the gardens’ bounty, to hearing about all of the efforts that go into keeping an organic garden. It’s just helped bring something back into my parents’ spirits that I can hear in their voices and see in their eyes. It lies within their hearts. I must say though, that I’m glad that me and my family have a strong kinship, made even stronger by being able to share the things we care about. It wasn’t always like that either though.

Shades of red

Actually, taking a step back, I think this garden has inspired and revived a wholesome way of being within my family. Much how I meditate on the parallels between life and what goes on in a kitchen or a yoga mat, my family has been living those lessons through the garden. A garden doesn’t just come out of nowhere, unless it’s the Garden of Eden. Although things do grow in the wild, there is a caring and thoughtful energy that goes into tending a garden. You learn where the plants seem to thrive the most, next to which plants, how much to water them, when to water them, rubbing olive oil on their leaves to protect them from hungry worms, all their little secrets. Similar to how we take care and learn from  the relationships we have with people in our lives. When I would walk through the garden, checking up on the plants, I would breathe out a loving feeling. After all, they do “eat” CO2. And as I’m walking through life I see my words and actions as a bridge–a connection–to this world. An opportunity to build one.

A tiny plum tomato meets something its own size… my eye!

With tomatoes being picked by the basketful, my family was coming up with ways to prepare them, aside from popping them into our mouths.

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"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination"

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Why hello there, friends! It’s been quite some time since my last post, hasn’t it? I’m starting to feel a little more settled now here in New York. Things have been a rollercoaster to say the least. The kind with plenty of climbs and drops–stomach in your mouth kind of drops. That’s about the best blanket statement I can come up with to keep from writing a short story. Maybe I’ll do that as a side project! Actually, aside from my full-time job I’ve got a few side projects up my sleeve. Since my last post a few exciting things have happened. The iPad magazine I write for finally launched! So all of you readers with iPads out there, I highly suggest you check out “JNSQ“! It’s the first independent, multimedia style magazine for iPad. I don’t have an iPad (yet) so I haven’t had the chance to see it in action. If you do download it, don’t forget to write a review! We’d love to know your feedback.

I’m also in the process of revamping a menu for a cafe! It’s a funny story how it happened, but it was in typical New York fashion. Let’s just say that I talk a lot, which has led me to some pretty awesome opportunities. Open attitude + friendly people… that combination can lead to many things!

Now let’s see what food combinations can lead to…

Arame seaweed + tofu + radish + carrots + sesame oil 
Arame + rice + rice vinegar + carrots + sweet potato + cucumber + radish + pickled ginger + avocado + sesame oil and seeds

 I thought of what I would put in my ideal sushi roll and just served it as a sushi bowl.

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Sometimes Things Can Look Like More Than What They Are…

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And there can be beauty in that. In a way that’s what makes the seemingly simple and little things stand out. Recently, I’ve been noticing that the food I’ve been putting together has some sort of rustic or “very much like the land” look to it.

Pumpkin pie spice roasted chickpeas, Greek yogurt, banana, dried dates and pineapple.
Dates, hazelnut butter, banana, dates, pumpkin pie space, and raw cacao nibs
A mountainous landscape or just a new combination for my secret oat-bar/muffin recipe: dried apples, dates, dried cranberries, walnuts, cashews, chocolate chips, and a blend of tea masala and pumpkin pie spices.
Notice anything by now?

I don’t know if you noticed it, but I realized that lots of my foods have been resembling landscapes. Perhaps it’s been coming from the time I’ve been spending outside recently. Observing the seasons in their transition phases is always something interesting, and beautiful to witness. And now that my time with technology isn’t as readily-available (laptop situation still up in the air, but thank you to a dear friend of mine for letting me borrow his!), more time has magically appeared for me to enjoy these things.

The other day in my sculpture class, my professor took us on a field-trip (haven’t been on one of those in awhile) to a foundry and an art collectors’ private collection.

I was transported to another era and sometimes what looked like a destroyed city.
Things that look like they’ve just taken in a lot…

Afterwards, we went to the private collection of a very dynamic husband and wife. It was such a refreshing and reminding visit to see people enjoying art on their own time. There are people who support and find beauty in what artists make. Oftentimes, some get caught up in the “joke” of being an artist, and don’t see that it can be a reality. This is sort of random, but as an artist I believe; I have faith that a person can make it. Of course, I also understand that a person can very many different routes. Some sculptors sometimes make those molds you see at dentist’s office. Who knows! Anyway, the thing going on in my life have really gotten me to reflect on the idea of beauty, and what it can bring out in us. I recently went over Confucianism. One of the points brought up was that the human spirit can feel uplifted if surrounded by beautiful things. This can nature, the arts, whatever you may find beautiful. Off the top of my head I find this in nature, fashion, food, art, parallels in our universe, and people. What do you find beauty in?

There's some to be found in the smile that leaves a dinner party with a sweet reminder.

 

Or in the beautiful friend that greets you with a thoughtful bouquet of flowers!

 

Finding beauty in nature that led me to finding a beauty in food.

Toasted hemp seeds with sea salt, pumpkin pie spice, and shredded coconut

And the nice thing is that you don’t have to look too far.

 

The Extra Special Things

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Oh my goodness! I made it into the third challenge! Thank you so much for supporting me. Honestly, the amount of support and encouragement I’ve been given has floored me. I’m very much looking forward to the next challenge. It’s actually coming up very soon, but I’m trying to not let it stress me out to the point where I feel like it’s a daunting task to face. Nope, won’t go there. Moving on is incredibly exciting, yet humbling at the same time. I think it’s because I know that it’s not just all me. So yes, I just want to express again how grateful I am to everyone: the panel, my fellow contestants, and of course all of my friends.

Remember the tasty little bites I posted in my last entry?

Some of you were asking if I made them, and indeed those muffins are homemade! I just used my secret oat-bar recipe that I’m continuously experimenting with, but made them into scrumptious little muffins instead. Also, topped with coconut butter makes them extra tasty! Actually, doesn’t it make anything tastier?

Bubbling kitchen experiments?

This adventure was quite a simple one, but hadn’t been done! I looked up recipes using the keywords: figs and apples. That’s when I stumbled upon this delicious apple-fig compote recipe. The smell was incredibly comforting; Imagine the scent of a fruity elixir dancing through the air. Well, it really felt like it was an elixir because when I served it over some oats in the morning, I was so happy to be awake and enjoying that delicious meal. I enjoyed it so much that I found myself boasting about my wonderful breakfast throughout the day.

The most delicious thing I've ever served over a bowl of oatmeal!!!

Then topped with Greek yogurt, chopped walnuts, dates, and ground cinnamon.

Seriously go make a compote to add to your breakfast, or simply to enjoy alone--you will be so happy you did!

I got myself a tub of mascarpone and used it instead of cream cheese on my bagels.

I smeared one half with mascarpone & honey, and the other half with mascarpone & fig preserves. What a special ingredient for something as simple as a bagel, but who says you’ve got wait for a special occasion to enjoy the things you love. What’s something extra special to you that you like to enjoy on any occasion? I also had a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with a medley of fruits, granola, walnuts, tahini, and honey.

I made a deconstructed version of Veganomicon's BBQ Seitan and Coleslaw Sandwich.

I was risking a bellyache by eating raw cabbage, but I love slaws and it was a risk I was willing to take.

I think my taste buds were way too happy for my belly to even notice because I felt a-okay.

Oh my beautiful beets...

I loosely followed this recipe for “caramelized beets with caraway seeds & walnuts“. I didn’t have caraway seeds on hand so I used cumin instead, and I tossed in some roasted butternut squash as well. The fall harvest is something I definitely don’t mind. What are some of your favorite things about fall?

I felt like using one of my special bowls for this soup!

The other night I made a big batch of roasted butternut squash and sweet potato soup. Oh me oh my! Roasting the vegetables beforehand really does add flavor to this recipe, and it turned out so thick and creamy–my favorite! I served it with some chickpeas roasted in coconut oil & cinnamon, and a bit of tarragon.

Gosh, I have really been treating myself with all of these tasty dishes! I’m glad that I can share the recipes with you all… well except for my secret oat “bar/muffin” recipe of course mwahaha. Maybe one day… maybe. Anyhoo, I hope you all enjoy this crisp and chilly weekend. Just thinking about Sunday makes me all giddy inside; you’ll know what I mean by tomorrow! Is there anything exciting going on for you?

Food that Feels Like a Kiss on the Forehead

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It’s September 10, and I’m feeling a bit torn. The idea of fall is a really romantic one, but I’m going to miss being greeted by the sun and being able to just walk out the door without bundling up. However, since the seasons seem to be switching places right now, the weather has been cooling off some. All in all, I will say it has been agreeable! Beautiful! Over the years I’ve observed how we all connect with the weather, and how it affects us. I’ve noticed that in places where it’s warm year-round, the people have a more care-free attitude. Whereas in colder parts of the world, the people seem to be more reserved. And the in-betweens? Well they seem to have an easier time when it comes to making adjustments. I think that the seasons play a role in regulating our moods, and how we approach life. The warmer seasons allow us to flourish, while the colder seasons help us develop our sense of being rooted. How do you all feel about the seasons?

Comforting bowls for breakfast

I recently got an electric pressure-cooker and I decided to cook up some soybeans I had on hand for when I want to make soymilk. I was thinking of ways that I could incorporate them into sweet and savoury meals. For this breakfast I served them with oats, frozen banana slices, plumped raisins, dates, cinnamon, almond and coconut butter, and honey for good measure. This was such a yummy combination, and I liked the texture the beans gave–nor crunchy nor mushy, but in between.

A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

This reminded me of a congee actually. M’mm congee. I made a lotus seed congee last time the weather was cooler, and I remember loving the flavor and comfort I felt. “In traditional Chinese medicine, foods are prescribed for their effects on organs, blood, yin, yang, and Qi, the major players in our physical and emotional health. Foods such as rice, seaweed, sweet potatoes, and bananas nourish our yin, which in turn hydrates and nourishes organs. Think of a parched plant; after a good watering it becomes more tumescent. Eating yin-enhancing foods nourishes the body in a way that simple drinking water cannot.” Perhaps this is why I feel more at ease after having those kinds of foods.

Almost the same mix-ins, but this time I let everything sit together for awhile.

I also opted to use a combination of the homemade sunflower seed butter and almond butter. What an excellent choice! I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the sunflower seed butter I made reminds me of a certain candy I’ve had before. Speaking of sweets…

Chocolate was on this weeks grocery list!

Last time I was by the chocolate store I was with Matilda. Then someone had opened the door and the dizzying smell of chocolate swirled its way to my nose, and I looked down at Matilda in hopelessness. It would be torture for her, not to mention they wouldn’t  allow her inside in the first place! Yesterday I was by the chocolate store, and I purposely left Matilda behind because this mama needed to get some “grocery shopping” done.

After spending over an hour at the chocolate store with my friend I finally decided on some that I wanted to take home.

Remember those “truffles” I made? Well I picked up some white chocolate hot cocoa powder so I could make a different variation! I also picked up some other chocolates that were new to me, and one that was and always will be dear to my heart. Kinder Schockoladen are what grilled cheese sandwiches may be to some of you. That and Milka Schokoladen bring back memories. I’ll never be “too old” to enjoy these… heck, I’ll never be too old for anything!

I took a friend's advice and added something special to this sandwich!

Fi had mentioned that she likes adding apple chutney with hummus, so I figured I would give it a try. I made a sandwich with some shredded mango chutney, “What Do I Remind You Of” hummus, red cabbage, and cilantro. This lady knows what she is talking about! The combination of hummus and chutney will leave you wanting more, and by all means go with your gut feeling!

I've recently discovered my favorite way to eat collard greens.

Sauteed with onions, and cherry or sun-dried tomatoes. Then when you’re done, dress it Italian vinaigrette.

I made myself a khichari of split mung bean soup, basmati rice, and ghee

I was feeling like I needed to just comfort myself, and I’ve found that this recipe I found in the “Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners” book helps me feel at ease. “Persons recuperating are often recommended khichari, a combination of rice and mung beans, because of their ability to provide a good level of nourishment without overtaxing the digestion.” Do any of you pay attention to when you feel like your body needs a bit of a “break”? When I’ve been out and about, doing new things, trying new things… my body finds a way to tell me to slow down and take it easy.

For more information on the tri-doshic mung bean, click here!

And since I mentioned ghee, I figure this is a good time to let you all know that I actually made this ghee. It’s really very simple, but it’s one of those things that one might find themselves buying despite how easy it is to make. Another example of that would be hummus!

It's key that you get unsalted butter, and it's recommended that it be either local or organic.

Melt the sticks of butter in a heavy-bottom pan.

Bring to a boil, then put it on low-heat.

It's important to keep stirring so the bottom doesn't get burned; do this for about 15 minutes.

Then get your strainer and containers ready!

I let the ghee sit for a little bit to cool down. Then I strained the clarified butter into the bowl, and I strained it a second time into the jar.

The finished product!

After it cooled down, I put it in the fridge and it hardened–which is totally normal. I am so proud of myself! Ghee is one of my favorite things when it comes to food. Its taste is incomparable, and it’s awesome in salty or sweet dishes. If you haven’t tried ghee yet, I highly suggest it. It will take your meal to another level, I promise.

Well everyone, this felt like a post that