Tag Archives: pumpkin seed butter

I Keep Asking Questions, and It’s a Good Thing

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Wow! I am so thankful to have such supportive and kind friends. It was also encouraging to be reminded that our most beautiful quality is our soul. And you know what else is awesome? I hear that some of you may be in the same boat, and are really interested to see how this works out. I’m excited that with my posts I’ll be able to keep you guys updated on my progress! I’ll also be incorporating some information throughout my posts. How about I start out the post with some information I stumbled upon recently that I’d like to share with you all:

“Omega 3 fatty acids, a type of unsaturated fat, lowers heart disease and stroke risk by decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, slowing down the growth of artery-clogging plaques, and lowering blood pressure. Omega 3’s have also been shown to help reduce inflammation associated with arthritis, and may possibly help with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. There is some evidence to show that it reduces depression as well. In addition to being an excellent source of omega-3s, fish is low in saturated fat, and is a good source of protein. Omega-3s are most prevalent in fatty, cold-water fish. Other forms of omega 3’s are available in fortified eggs, flax seed (linseed), and walnuts.“

I always heard my parents talk about omega-3′s, but I never really took anything to heart. Now I’m incorporating it into my food in ways that I find flavorful, and I can’t wait to see the benefits in the long run. It’s funny because I often hear people say that the way I eat is healthy. I guess it’s true, but I think a lot of it comes from growing up in a family and in cultures where people cook with real food. I remember when I first moved to the United States and my step-dad brought home packages of Hamburger Helper and instant mashed potato. Of course they have “instant-foods” everywhere, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a heavy reliance on them as I have here. Anyway, I’m pretty sure that’s when I became a picky-eater because I went from having mashed potatoes made from scratch to these bizarre looking flakes that were weak  tasting in comparison. Fortunately, now that I’ve ventured into the wonderful world of cooking, I’ve become far more adventurous with what I eat. And you all know I’m all about what tastes good! So now that I’m really trying to strengthen my liver I’ve become more conscious of what I should be doing right now to take care of it. And you know what? I’m actually finding it to be more of a relief than a stressor. For instance, I’ll look up different foods I have in the kitchen and how they may affect my liver. More likely than not, my liver benefits from it. Take peaches for example…

The magical floating bowl!

Peaches, golden flax, and pumpkin seed butter over some Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and oats.

“Peaches are great for those with gastrointestinal problems and liver conditions. As opposed to many fruits, they are very useful for digestion due to its alkaline content.“

The best mango from someone's backyard, the tastiest peach, and sweet cherries all in one bowl sprinkled with ground golden flax seeds over Greek yogurt and chia seeds.

On the toast I spread some pumpkin seed butter and fig preserves on one slice, then ghee and fig preserves on the other. The slice with ghee and preserves tasted so good because of the sweet and salty flavors going on!

A picture from a past post, but I wanted to show you again.

Ghee is clarified butter, and in India it’s highly regarded! I actually learned more about it in my Hinduism class, and how it’s considered a holy food. I found a source that kind of sums it up: “Ghee builds the aura, makes all the organs soft, builds up the internal juices of the body-Rasa, which are destroyed by aging and increases the most refined element of digestion-Shukra or Ojas, the underlying basis of all immunity and the ‘essence of all bodily tissues’.” Here’s a link with more information on it–very interesting stuff to read.

Breakfast drama queen shot!

This was inspired by Katie’s breakfast the other day. She had served the berries at the bottom, and it reminded me of those yogurt cups with the hidden fruit. Plus, I loved how it just felt like something special to start off the day. If you can’t tell those aren’t berries at the bottom. I’ll tell you what’s at the bottom, but promise not to think I’m weird? Okay, you can think I’m weird, but not because of this. The bottom is leftover pulp from one of my dad’s juices that has ginger, kale, beets, and carrots. There’s also some papaya and 1/3 of a sliced banana. A third? Well, I’ve been reducing my banana consumption since it can be chilling to the liver. However, I’ve also read that because of their potassium content, they are beneficial. Through my research I’ve come across many contradictions. I have to ask myself what the sources are, and how does it actually affect me? Afterall, we are all individuals and our bodies may respond differently. I could happily live with monkeys because of my love for bananas. On second thought, the monkeys might not love me because that would mean less bananas for them! I don’t really want to have monkey poo flung at me. So yes, for right now I’m just reducing how many I eat, but not eliminating. Thank goodness this is only temporary.

Made some small changes in the kitchen eating area.

Who knew a new light, seat cushions, and new place mats could make such a big difference.

Ani Phyo's recipe for sesame snap cookies

Turned into ice kream sandwiches with Ani's coconut ice kream recipe.

Quick grab one before it's gone!

I have some leftover coconut ice kream, so I want to make her spiced blueberry cobbler recipe and top it with the ice kream. I love raw vegan desserts so much because they’re incredibly flavorful! If you have never tried one, I suggest you do. The recipes in “Ani’s Raw Food Desserts” are also easy to make. That’s actually part of the reason why she put this book together. Overtime Ani noticed that she had less and less time to make elaborate meals, so she started to come up with simple recipes that don’t require a lot of work. It’s also nice and encouraging to keep exploring these recipes after you make one and it’s a hit! That’s how I felt about baking bread. I started out simple, and then next thing you know I went from Irish soda bread to making Armenian tahini bread.

Very ripe plantains cooked with freshly ground cinnamon, yellow squash, onions, and mango chutney.

Then I proceeded to drizzle coconut oil and flax seed oil on everything. Did you know that the plantain seed expels disease and toxins from the body? It’s also good for respiratory problems because of it’s high mucilage content. And if your tummy isn’t feeling well, it can help because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Actually, some apply it directly to the skin on sores.

I'm loving it with coconut oil and ghee as well.

Rainbow Swiss chard

Pan-fried with onions, garlic, raisins, and balsamic vinegar for a little bit of time (3-5 minutes) on medium heat so the nutrients don’t get lost. Salt and pepper to taste, of course!

All in a day's work.

Do you all like the little random tidbits I’m including in my posts? Or is too much like an encyclopedia? To me it’s cool to learn all of these things, and that so much of the delicious food from nature I eat really has all of these wonderful benefits; not just for the liver! Of course, I always knew that, but not the specifics. I would also like to reiterate what I mentioned earlier in this post about how we can all differ from one another. I’m going to quote an excerpt from a book I’m currently reading: “Ayurveda is universal, it can be used by all peoples. Its principles do not change from culture to culture…(and yet) the foods and herbs used in an Ayurvedic program can vary from area to area, they need to that’s fine, healthy. Ayurveda is not limited to India and Indian foods. It is a universal medicine.” And that pretty much sums up how I feel about us as individuals. Of course, feel free to try the things I’ve been trying, but don’t just take my word for it. This is the beginning of my journey, and I’m learning things everyday.

p.s. I’m hoping to do a video post soon! So keep an eye out for it.

Looking Forward

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23

Hello everybody! Recently, I’ve made some relieving discoveries in my life lately. Most of my past days have been spent researching… (and decorating)! Researching what? Well, it all started out with a painful pimple I got last week. The day after the nasty bugger popped up I had to think to myself, “what did I have the other day that might’ve been different?” Hmm… I’m pretty sure it was all of those cookies and chocolates I had when I went to Ikea. Over the months of observing what could be triggering breakouts… stress, periods, or even foods, I realized that it was mostly processed sugars triggered my breakouts. I definitely knew hard liquors did it for me, but when the next morning I woke up with a painful pimple on my cheek I had an inkling it was the all of the sweets I had the day prior. And that’s when Detective Katharina showed up. After reading many studies, books, and articles; I came to a possible answer. Let’s just say I was enlightened. I don’t believe it’s the sugars that directly trigger my breakouts, but rather that my liver isn’t as strong. Which is why the things that the liver normally processes out, pretty much come out on my face. I’ve dealt with this problem for years, and I’ve been longing for clear skin for so long. No matter how many creams I’ve been prescribed, they never seemed to tackle the issue. And I believe it’s because the doctors really only assessed the problem at a superficial level. The body is a wonderful thing, and communicates to us in many ways. Sometimes the real source of it is further than what meets the eye. I’ve been reading a book on Ayurveda–when am I not reading something about Ayurveda–and it makes so much sense. My approach to things in general is a very holistic one. Rather than only focusing on one component, I look at how it might be connected to something else, and maybe the solution lies within that. Gosh, I have so much to say on this, but I think my upcoming posts will give me more of an opportunity to talk about this more. Perhaps I’ll make a video post… yes? I wanted to share that with you, but let’s move on to some feasting for the eyes that will maybe inspire you to create a feast for you taste buds and belly!

This…
with the sweet addition of my long forgotten lavender honey…
All together now… yum!
When was the last time I had a bowl of “carrot cake” oats?
Oh, it’s been too long!
I spy something golden…
It’s all in the details.
Next thing you know I was transported to someone else’s living room.
Ikea’s living room that is.

It was also the day before I had my “epiphany”. But back to my day at Ikea… After hours of looking and shopping around we went back to my friend’s house.

Isn’t her kitty adorable?
And kind of crazy too!
My friend wanted to surprise her mom with a newly decorated and rearranged home!
A little more to the right…
Look what I did! Her little sister let me use her glow-in-the dark marker set.

It’s a blind contour drawing of her kitty when she was sitting on my bags, if you couldn’t tell hehehe.

Eventually I came home and I was inspired and still in my zone…
My friend had given me decorating fever!

Check out the new bowl! Banana and peanut butter is a classic combination.

With coconut? I think you can already guess what I’m going to say.

I went to the store and recruited my army.

Together, I think we will be victorious!

Here are some foods that your liver will be giving you extra thanks for: broccoli, watercress, kale, celery, artichoke, carrots, turmeric, garlic, onions, mango, beets, berries, oranges, spinach, Swiss chard, and the list goes on! Also, fresh squeezed lemon juice in warm water first thing in the morning helps produce bile. How could I almost forget! Papaya is also on that list. Hooray for having a papaya tree in my backyard! I’m so happy that there are so many foods that will help strengthen my liver.

Omega-3's are your friend.

Since I’m a vegetarian I did some research on ways I can get great sources of plant-based Omega-3′s. It’s also important to note that the ratio of Omega-3′s is higher than the Omega-6′s in your source. Some examples would be flaxseed (ground or oil), chia seeds, and hemp seeds.

Also got a new plate and placemat as well.

More importantly, what's on the plate?

Kidney beans cooked and mashed with spices and herbs like cinnamon, oregano, a bit of chili, and cumin. I served it with a fresh salad, rice, avocado, and cilantro. I also poured on some flaxseed oil–my liver said thank you!

A grateful liver breakfast... that sounds gross actually, but this wasn't!

I purchased some golden flaxseeds at the store the other day and ground them to reap their benefits. Mandiee has this all the time, and it definitely sparked my curiosity! I served it over oats mixed with another ingredient which is now apart of the “usual”. Enter maca powder, known for its hormone balancing properties. I’ve known that my hormones have been out of whack since last summer when I went through a long period of medical testing. Come to think of it, I don’t remember mentioning it on my blog. I decided to bring this issue to the forefront though because you know what? You never know who may be going through something similar, and it may help them out! Anyway, this bowl was incredibly delicious with all the cherries, blueberries, kefir, pumpkin seed butter, the whole kit and caboodle. Surprisingly, the maca powder did not make this bowl of overnight oats taste icky.

Such a delicious soup and calming as well.

As soon as I read the words “Butternut Squash Pear Soup” from Joy’s list of fantastic recipes, I knew I had to make it. Not to mention, this was incredibly easy to make. Just the simple addition of pear took this soup to another level. I also served it at a temperature that felt comfortable for the warm weather–not completely chilled and slightly warm.

An incredibly creamy hummus... and it's homemade?

I added in a special ingredient to this classic hummus recipe. Actually, I added in a few! While making the artichoke hummus I kept a reader’s comment in mind. Awhile back when I posted my sun-dried tomato hummus recipe, I remembered that Phoebe had shared this greatly appreciated tidbit with me: “the secret to amazing hummus is blending your together the lemon juice , oil, garlic and tahini in the food processor to make an emulsion, before you add in the chickpeas, then (this is the secret bit) you add a tablespoon or two of plain greek yoghurt, its typical of turkish hummus, and absolutely delicious!” So I did just that. You must take her word for it!

A "snacky" lunch

I finally decided to pick up a box of Mary’s Gone Crackers when I was at the store the other day. The fact that they have flax seeds in them is just another incentive! Have any of you tried them? I was thinking of getting the black pepper or caraway flavor, but I opted to stick to the original since it was my first time trying them. I just steamed some kale and broccoli, cut up a carrot, some cherry tomatoes, and marinated artichokes. Served with artichoke hummus and flax seed oil drizzled on everything! Honestly, it’s amazing because I can already see changes in my skin, and I’m not the only one commenting on its noticeable clarity.

Since I like to keep things light, airy, and fun–not dark, dreary, and dull; the mentality of focusing on what I can have versus what I can’t have will make this easier. No strict regimen for me! Not to mention, I’m so excited about clear skin and new recipes that I think my positive outlook will help greatly on my little journey. By the way, if you have any recipes that you’d like to share that crossed your mind when reading this post, please let me know! Just because I’m going to have to be more concentrated on certain foods, doesn’t mean my eats have to become boring and routine. I like to add that “spice to life” no matter what may come my way.  Plus, in the end I know that once I reach the light at the end of the so-called tunnel, it’ll all be worth it. Afterall, it’s not something that is going to take forever.

What do you have to look forward to?

p.s. any advice is always greatly appreciated!

Not Quite a To-Do List

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Wow! Thank you all so much for the kind words. Now there’s only one thing I ask of you… consider it your excuse to look extra cute! How about wearing something today that makes you feel your absolute best. Trust me, you will shine!

On a random note. Apparently while someone was searching for “at this point my buttcrack was showing” my blog was their answer… Anyway.

Looks as refreshing as it tasted!
A bowl of orange slices, mango, pumpkin seed butter, coconut flakes, and sunflower seeds on top of my oats.
Something was missing though… a-ha!
I couldn’t help but notice how colorful my mom’s eggs looked that morning.
Speaking of my mom… I leave the spinach soup to her since she makes the yummiest.
But I’ll leave the split pea soup to me!

I pretty much followed 101 Cookbooks’s vegetarian split pea soup recipe except I added thyme and carrots. I really recommend that you add the extra olive oil when serving. It really does tie this easy peasy dish together.

So comforting and yummy.
And then a bit of sweetness to polish off the meal.
And this fig preserve tastes so good with pumpkin seed butter!
Last Sunday was Colombia’s Independence Day.
At one point there was a huge ball being tossed around by the crowd.
It started to rain too, but it didn’t last too long.
After the rain passed I looked up at the sky and I snapped some pictures of the cool light post.
She is seriously one of the best friends anybody could ask for.
We saw the legendary Grupo Niche play! The crowd and the band were all dancing.
Afterwards, we spotted part of the band.
Hola chica!
Two mamacitas waiting for their arepas de choclo…
Make that three mamacitas–these are one of my favorite things to eat ever!

These are like latkes to me… in the sense that everyone knows I get the most (in this case biggest and cheesiest), and everyone is okay with the fact that I take bites of theirs mwahaha!

Yumyumyum
I also spotted some free coconut water samples as well!
Brain freeze!
Remember those chocolates I got from the Lindt store?
Silly me forgot to show you how pretty they looked inside.
Another yummy chocolate I had picked up.
Hellooo, anybody in there?
And something we’ve had for awhile…

My family got this chocolate cabernet sauvignon wine sauce at a vineyard the last time we were all in New York. I’ve featured other sauces from this vineyard on my blog, such as the amaretto cream sherry, black raspberry vinegar, and sherried wine BBQ sauce.

This took my usual bowl of oats to new heights–astronomical perhaps!

Super chic and and sweet Claire was kind enough to bestow this fun award onto me! If you haven’t checked out her blog, you definitely should! It’s brimming with beautiful, fresh pictures from food to fashion! She also has an interesting story that inspires me.

The rules are as follows:

Tell 10 little known facts about yourself and then pass it on to 3-5 other bloggers!

I love filling things out like this! Looking back on my answers sometimes gives me a good laugh, that’s for sure.

1. Practically every night, all the way into high school, my family would gather around my bed and we’d read books to each other before we went to bed. This means my parents actually know what the Harry Potter stories entail.

2. I believe that our astrological signs are relevant to our tendencies. For example, I’m a gemini–an air sign. One of the most annoying things to me is when I feel like someone or something is tying me down or clinging to me. I like to feel free. I love people, but I also like to do most things on my own.

3. Lately, I’ve been trying to decrease my availability especially through technology. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Facebook and cellphones. But I do think that a lot of people have become so dependent and addicted to these things. It really bothers me because I don’t think that’s how life should really be lived. Life should be lived mostly in the moment.  Remember when the only people who knew your whereabouts were either your parents or the very people you were with? The last thing I want to hear when I’m having a heart-to-heart with a friend is my phone telling me I just got a text message. This is partly why I have a watch. A stylish excuse to not carry my cell-phone around with me everywhere? Check! Who knows, maybe this is something a gemini would do hehehe.

4. Doing things the old-fashioned way gives me reassurance. It’s helped me get a deeper sense of appreciation for things since I know the labor that goes behind them. I take care of my belongings because I want them to last. I’m pretty sure I’m the only person amongst my friends who’s owned a garment steamer since my first semester in college. Moreover, it’s very grounding and satisfying to know that what you make and have is a labor of love, care, patience, and effort.

5. I love tea! Anyone that hangs out with me knows that. Which is why I’ve been gifted all sorts of delicious teas through the years. Thank you, friends! I’m not the only one in my family that’s a tea lover though. My mother and I know that one of us will turn on the kettle after we finish a meal. It’s just nice to sit at the table for awhile longer, talking, and sipping on something delicious and comforting. Come to think of it, I just realized that even during the summer months I still drink my tea warm… unless I’m drinking it outside then I prefer my cup iced.

6. I wish I had continued taking ballet classes. I dropped out when I was around 15, but I still have a pair of ballet shoes that fit my Egyptian feet. Of course, I don’t need to go to a ballet class to dance! No, oftentimes I’ll randomly turn on some classical music and pirouette around the house, giving my parents a show.

7. I’m a dreamer. Practically everything I do has some imaginative source behind it. Sometimes I come up with wildly detailed “what-if” stories on the spot. Or even when I choose a perfume for the day I ask myself, “what kind of woman do I feel like today?” When I am feeling especially sophisticated I spritz on my Prada fragrance. If I’m in a whimsical mood I choose Fresh’s Lemon Sugar scent or Nanette Lepore. If it’s just a day of classic me I reach for my signature scent, Marc Jacobs.

8. I can imitate accents very well. Maybe it’s because I learned three very different languages at such a young age. Stressing certain pronunciations comes as second nature to me.

9. Speaking of languages, I want to go to a part of the world where I’d feel completely lost in translation. Somewhere in Asia or Africa would be ideal! My dream places would be India or Egypt. I’ve been able to communicate and understand effectively in the places I’ve traveled to because of language similarities. For instance, in France I can get by because I know Spanish and a bit of French, and in Holland I make due with my German. Of course there’s English, the universal language. Side-note: I never understood why my classmates in high school never wanted to learn another language, and they’d just whine and say, “why can’t they just learn English.” I would always reply matter-of-factly, “they already do!” Anyway, I want to go somewhere so different from anything I’ve ever known.

10. My best ideas have hit me while I’m sitting on a toilet. It’s true! Sometimes people will ask me, “wow, where’d you come up with that?” My response, “actually I was sitting on the toilet one day…” I’m not joking!

At first I thought this list would be a daunting task to complete, but once I got started these little things popped up into my head! Now I’m going to pass this on to three people… hmm who should I choose?

Katie

Lynn

and Mel!

Two of the Sweetest Things in Life: Friends & Family

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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!

From Yours Truly

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

And so are these granola bars!

Breakfast on the go!

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

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

Perfect for sandwiches as well!

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

Pumpkin seed butter + maple syrup sandwich

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

Filming a video for my final piece.

Guess what this is!

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

What a lovely breakfast, don't you think?

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

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

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

We now interrupt this post with some fashion!

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

My what long handle you have!

Perfect for OIBAJ (oats in a BIG ASS jar)

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

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

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

Detail shot of the mica flakes + paint on the raft

I think knots in wood are beautiful.

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

A Cabinet Full of…

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You were so good to me!

You better believe this OIAJ was fantastic! Sunland’s caramel peanut butter with apples and oats? Like caramel apples minus the stickyness that gets on your teeth.

Another jar...

This time it was Sunland’s dark chocolate peanut butter. This was so delicious! I sliced a banana and put in a handful of raisins. I thought to myself “hmm… what are somethings that taste good covered in chocolate?” I always forget about raisins!

Just for the sake of having something to feast your eyes on.

More more more!

This time I got to use a jar of Blue Diamond’s crunchy almond butter. I also spiced it with my tea masala. The jar was too small to fit the peach slices and mango chunks so I just took bites of each as I ate the OIAJ. Hopefully I continue to be a lucky girl with the OIAJ. I’d actually like to try sweet potatoes in jar–saw the idea over at this cutie’s blog!

Sandwich on-the-go: avocado mixed with hummus + tomato + onion

Favorite outfit last week!

This is what I was wearing actually when I almost got hit by a car and flew off my bike. My knees and legs got cut up and bruised but atleast no pants were ripped!

Tried a new veggie burger...

I’ve seen many of you rave about Amy’s veggie burgers so I knew I had to give them a try. This is the Texas veggie burger in a ciabatta roll with Bone Suckin’ BBQ sauce + vegan mayo, onions, and lettuce. I think the veggie burger was definitely yummy tasting.

Afterwards I met up with an old friend at the river!

The warm weather has been off and on. We were lucky that day to get lots of warmth and sun.

Ze river

What the heck are those green things?

Well those are pumpkin seed butter balls. I just took 1 cup of pumpkin seed butter, lots of cinnamon and honey, and mixed it all together. Then I left them in the freezer to harden. They have a distinct flavor but I think the honey and cinnamon helped balance the pumpkin seed butter flavor. Plus, I really love the color!

Well, this semester is quickly coming to an end and I’ve had lots of projects/assignments, exams, projects in progress, celebrations, and life in general going on. Even though I’ve been really busy, I’ve loved it! This is going to sound weird but I feel like I’m being eaten by the creativity monster. Hehe don’t worry it’s a good thing. I also know the warm weather makes it easier for me to just go out there. I hope everyone is doing well and also enjoying life.

“Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.”

Getting Creative in the Kitchen

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Ta-da!Banana-Raisin Pumpkin Seed Butter Muffins

A couple months ago I kidnapped a big jar of pumpkin seed butter from my parent’s place. Sadly, the taste didn’t really sit well with me but I figured there had to be some way I could use this! I have seen plenty of peanut butter cookie, muffin, and bread recipes, so why not this little humble seed butter? That’s when these little muffins came about.  Next time I make these I want to use maple syrup instead of sugar–I think it will greatly lend to the taste. Experiments are so much fun! A little side note: seed butters are great for anyone with nut allergies!

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Flour 1 cup

Quick Cooking Oats 2/3 cup

Sugar 3/4 cup

Baking Powder 1 Tbl

Pumpkin seed butter 1/2 cup

1 Mashed banana

Milk of choice 1 cup (I used Almond Breeze Original)

3 Tbl raisins

Brown sugar

1. Pre-heat the oven at 400F/200C for 15 minutes. Grease with little cooking spray or line the muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.

2. In a large bowl combine together the flour, oatmeal, sugar and baking powder.

3. In a small sauce pan, over low heat, melt pumpkin seed butter and banana in milk, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

4. Once the pumpkin seed butter mixture is cool, incorporate it into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Then mix in the raisins.

5. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan filling it to the top of each cup. Then sprinkle some brown sugar over each muffin.

6. The above batter was enough for 12 small muffins. I took out mine from the oven around 15 minutes, but I think 13-15 minutes should be perfect. I felt that in this recipe the smell of the muffins is an indicator of the doneness in addition to the toothpick test.

Now here are some ways I’ve enjoyed them!

With fruit and caramel peanut butter.

Warmed up with coconut oil then crumbled in yogurt with dark chocolate peanut butter.

I’ve also enjoyed them with a glasses of almond milk, and with maple syrup and ginger syrup drizzled on top.

Breakfast the other day involved the last of the leftover whole wheat yogurt pancakes.

And a bowl of Greek yogurt outshone by the blend of berries, chopped dates, pomegranate arils, and sliced almonds.

One of the pancakes had blackberries and chocolate chips.

I spread the usual coconut oil on the pancakes; but this time I sprinkled on some shredded coconut and sliced almonds, then drizzled on some ginger syrup.

For lunch I quickly assembled this sandwich: dark chocolate peanut butter + dried figs on wheat & oat bread.

After my Literary Journalists class I headed over to the boutique to sign the model contract and find out a bit more information. Sadly, I won’t be able to go on the trip to New York with my sculpture class since the fashion show is on the same weekend. But it’s okay… since I have no classes on Fridays I’m hoping I can head up there soon anyway! After I signed the contract I headed over the lab to work on a DVD to go along with a package I’m putting together for my best friend. I’m so excited about it! Yesterday night I wanted to make something special for dinner. I attempted my very first recipe from my new cookbook, Veganomicon.

I love the smell of onions cooking!

Onion rings

Toastyyyy

Et voila!

Pumpkin Baked Ziti with Caramelized Onions and Sage Crumb Topping

Since this was a vegan recipe it called for a veganized ricotta–cashew “ricotta” to be exact. I also didn’t have oregano on hand so I used tarragon instead and it gave the ziti a wonderful sweetness. Another substitution I had to make was butternut squash for the pumpkin puree. I couldn’t find a can of it for the life of me so I just made my own puree out of butternut squash. The smell as this was baking was heavenly, and the taste was even more divine. I knew I was choosing a great recipe from the very start! Do any Veganomicon owners have any recipe suggestions for moi?

I hope everyone’s week is going well–we’re halfway there!

Catching a Breath

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I have been a busy busy girl lately! So let’s jump right in!

Smoky Chipotle and Roasted Red-Pepper Hummus

An interesting mix: Kale, Potato, Tofurky Kielbasa, tomato, and cilantro

When I was frying the potatoes I thought my mom had given me the Bratkartofeln seasoning, but then I realized it seemed different. She had actually given me a salad seasoning! So I decided to throw in some other spices like curry and mustard.

Then my friend picked me up and we headed to the new two-story XXI!

We spent hours in that store and here are some things I tried on…

A pretty one-shoulder top

Super cute skirt alert!

Then we finally got home and got ready for a night of dancing!

Crazy girls on the loose!

We met up at our friend’s place for some honey wine and then headed out. The place had a ridiculous line that actually went around the block so we decided to go somewhere else. Just going with flow! Who knows what the night could behold.

I stayed over my friend's place and he dropped me off in the morning and as a thank you I made breakfast: baked oatmeal!!!

I don’t think he’d ever had anything like it before.

I pretty much spent my Saturday cleaning and baking.

I made April’s famous bread. Whenever I see it on her blog I always think about how good it looks! I didn’t have flaxseed however, but she said protein powder would work as a substitution. So I made a protein powder blend of: chocolate, vanila, and hemp. So moist and yummy!

Enjoyed with coconut oil, granola, almonds, and soymilk.

And with coconut oil and Almond and Date Creme (look at the whole almond on the left!)

Dinnah time!

Take notes when I tell you what I did with the veggies. I boiled the kale, roasted the butternut squash with cinnamon and cracked black pepper. Then I sauteed some red onion and mixed the veggies together. For the finishing touch I drizzled on some Apple & Maple syrup and sprinkled on some sunflower seeds. I also got to try another flavor of Popchips. That time around I tried the salt and pepper potato chips–yum! I really liked the little kick the pepper gave it. Definitely not lacking in flavor. I’d also like to report that the sour cream & onion Popchips are my favorite and the runner up is the cheddar! I was disappointed with the barbeque flavor though. I also tried the parmesan & garlic which was interesting but I think it could’ve been kicked up a knotch.

Then I got dressed up to go to a "dress up as your favorite decade" ska show.

Actually, Saturday night involved lots of good music. First I went to some friends’ house show and I was left in a trance because of how dreamy all the music was. Then I went to the themed ska show and got funky! Not only did I get funky but they also held a “Best Costume” contest. Whoa! Unexpected but I just went up stage and brought out my inner old Hollywood glam-girl. Guess who got the crowd roaring and ended up winning? It felt so awesome being on stage and listening to everyone really loving it! So much fun.

Diamonds are a girls best friend.

I wore some vintage clip-on earrings given to me by the boutique's storeowner back when I was in 10th grade.

I was going for the glamorous days of the 1940's.

And a little sneak-peak of the future--black polish.

Continuing on... honeydew melon and pomegranate arils are so refreshing.

Winning sandwich combo + roasted butternut squash tossed in coconut oil, pumpkin pie spice, and brown sugar

Sandwich: Smoky Chipotle and Roasted Red-pepper hummus + avocado-yogurt & cumin + tomato + red onion + cilantro

Breakfast for dinner

I made a bowl of “carrot cake” cream of wheat + dates + crushed cookie + pecans + coconut oil

Thank goodness for these on busy school days!

I tried a new Probar I picked up while I was in Florida–knew these would come in handy. I hadn’t tried Art’s Original Blend before, but I will definitely be trying it again and again. I love biting into Probars because they are so chewy and dense with chunky ingredients. I mean… check out that jumbo carob chip! A blend of some seriously yummy things, how could one go wrong?

Funky town sandwich: pumpkin seed butter + honey and the other slice smeared with preserves.

Many sandwiches have been had over these past couple of days, but I'm not complaining.

This particular one stands out though because I used roasted butternut squash (tossed in coconut oil and spices) + Sunland’s caramel peanut butter + a bit of cottage cheese. I highly advise you try this ASAP. I think any nut butter will work, so no worries if you don’t have a specific one on hand. In fact, I plan on trying this out with cashew butter next!

Phew! Okay so that was a lot. Today was my sculpture class’s first critique and I plan on posting the video I made on the internet soon. I’ll let you guys know when I do that! Moreover, tonight I went to a model call for a runway show that will showcase local talents and what not at a local art gallery. Oh! I also had my first Seminar in Hinduism class. I’ve always been really interested in Indian culture and I know religion is a very big part of it. Last semester I took a Taoism class and loved it; now I’ll be learning about Hinduism. I think it’s important to introduce oneself to new ideas because you never know what you could be missing out on. Life–for me–is a journey that also involves spirituality and it’s something that I really enjoy expanding upon. It helps me feel more alive.