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!
Hello everyone! It seems you all are excited about the giveaway. I am too! The giveaway ends June 19th so if you haven’t entered remember to check it out right over here: “Must Have Been Something I Ate” by Peggy K Giveaway! Oh, and remember that recap I mentioned earlier? Well, it’s about time I share it before it becomes archival.
It was one of my friend’s first time eating Indian food so I knew I had to take her to my favorite Indian restaurant ever. They have this incredible buffet that is constantly changing daily. If you’re trying Indian food I’d say going to a buffet is the way to go because there are so many different flavors that it’s hard to simplify and describe when someone asks “what does it taste like?”
They were my favorite before the unlimited mango lassi, but now that they have this deal… they are definitely at the top of my list! My friends and I got refills, and sometimes it’d take awhile because they were making another batch in the kitchen. Fresh mango lassi of course.
Sadly, they didn’t have my absolute favorite dish out on the buffet spread, but the owner told me that if I call beforehand and tell them what I want they can make it and add it to the buffet. My favorite dish is their paneer pasanda which is “fresh homemade cheese cubes cooked in a creamy mango sauce with almonds and raisins.” Not what you usually find on an Indian restaurant’s menu, and that’s one of the things I love about this place. Great food, great service, and so many unique dishes. We all left with happy bellies, and surprisingly we didn’t feel like giant beach balls that could just roll away.
I had found this interesting recipe on CHOW’s website. That’s where I usually find interesting ideas for things like grilled cheese sandwiches.
I roasted a Japanese sweet potato, and sautéed it with beets, spinach, and a splash of balsamic. Then I topped it with a cannellini bean puree and goat’s cheese.
Who knows where!
Hmm.. I had already gone to India K’raja and Cafe Gutenberg, but then I remembered one of my other favorite places! I usually come to Balliceaux to hang out or for dinner. It was interesting to go there for lunch, but I knew they’d still have their great and seasonally-changing menu.
Everything was deliciously fresh and flavorful! The marinated market vegetables were jicama, green beans, and something else I can’t remember. The tabbouleh was the best I ever had and very unique. The edamame was alive with flavor, and the chickpea salad… gosh I just want to remake it all! All together with warm grilled pita bread–yum!
I also got a side of greens aka super spicy vegan southern style collard greens. There was something in those spicy greens that just made me want more despite the runny nose.
He was so thoughtful to get the roasted eggplant on the side since I’m allergic. We ended up splitting our meals in half so we could each try the deliciousness!
These peaches are so juicy that you can eat them over the glass and have peach juice leftover~
They gave us a sample of their avocado dream smoothie: avocado, banana, coconut cream soymilk, and yogurt. I was honestly surprised that there was a menu like this at a gas station. Usually stopping at a gas station means it’s potty break time and nothing else. But this time it also meant “get some dinner time”.
The salad was very ‘meh’, but better than dipping cold toast into a tub of hummus. I also realized that albeit this is a salad, the volume kept me fuller longer. I don’t know why but my stomach is hard to satisfy on road trips. It’s definitely not out of boredom either because my stomach starts growling. Anyone else get super hungry on car trips?
In fact, I had it for breakfast the very next day! The delicious and satisfying combination is mission figs, fresh blueberries, and peanut butter. You’ve got the density and sweetness from the fig, tart blueberries, and slightly salt and very nutty peanut butter.
Ah it feels good to be back in Florida. I miss my friends up in Richmond, and after years of living there… well my life was up there. But I’ve been the kind of person who’s been to a lot of different places and I don’t feel like I’m tied down by “what I’m use to”. Because I can get use to anything! Except for things like violence, rudeness, constant stress, and negative things like that. And the true friends that I make will always be a part of my life in some way or another. I believe that me and my friends are connected by our souls and not by our location. There are many things on my plate right now, and that part is making my head spin a little. I just need to talk about my plans outside of my head more so that I can get some insight and clarity on what I want.
And once again don’t forget to enter my “Must Have Been Something I Ate” by Peggy K Giveaway!
Boy oh boy. These past couple of weeks have been feeling very hot! I thought I’d share some things I’ve been doing to spruce up a plain old salad, since salads and cold things are what I’m gravitating towards nowadays. It’s really neat how the foods that are in season now have this amazing ability to refresh and quench our bodies’ thirst. Juicy peaches and watermelons, cooling cucumbers, and ruby red strawberries.
Ahem, and now back to the actual salad tips…
Recently, my two favorite ways of roasting them are using these two variations of the sweetly glazed daigakumo recipe:
Separating the greens from the stems makes it easier for cooking. Here are some ideas on how to prepare them.
This reminded me of the glorious mountains of root vegetables that Kelsey usually bakes.
Cafe Gutenberg’s Vegan Caesar Salad… I just had to have it before I leave Richmond. I asked for their recipe, alas it’s top secret and they don’t give it out. I understand. Atleast they had someone from the kitchen tell me some tips about how they prepare the tofu (it’s the best tofu I’ve ever had).
This Indian Inspired Red Lentil Rice Salad is seriously tasty. Especially if you’re in the mood for a fruitier salad with a little bit of tang from the curry yogurt dressing.
It’s definitely hot when the potluck’s theme is “Keeping Cool”. So we wore clothes that kept us cool, or we thought was cool.. and of course brought cooling foods.
Happy and cool.
At the end of a hot day my feet are tired, and I’ve got a layer of grime and dried sweat on me. It may sound unpleasant, but I like feeling the length of the day in my body. After a long day being out and about in the heat, feeling exhausted is just another cue telling me, “it’s time to relax.”
What do you do to keep cool on hot days?
Thank you all for the birthday wishes! These past couple of weeks have felt like a non-stop celebration. It’s strange to me, but I’m definitely enjoying it while it lasts. Or maybe it will just last forever? That’s how my mother lives life, and it’s contagious when you’re around her.
Hmm… there were so many options, but I decided on Millie’s Diner. This place is one of those restaurants around Richmond that you HAVE to try. It’s got a stellar reputation, and I’ve always wanted to go. After a grueling and sweaty bike ride we finally made it to our destination.
The menu was written on a chalkboard hanging right above our heads, so we literally looked up to it which was an interesting experience in itself.
It also came with fresh salsa and sour cream, and every plate comes with their home fries.
They sure do like their sriracha.
Everything was so tasty. Basic recipes but done right!
This tastes as good as it looks… dare I say it was better?
After my belly was satisfied I knew why Millie’s is so famous!
There was a cool band playing while they had 1970′s Italian flicks projected over them.
It was funny because when I arrived at the place I was the first one to get there. I decided to sit outside and enjoy the weather, and then I overheard someone saying happy birthday to someone else. I asked if it was their birthday, and I told them it was mine too. Then she asked me what I was doing out there, and I told her I was waiting. Next thing you know she invited me to sit with her friends at the biggest table. They looked like they were definitely having a lot of fun. Her slice of birthday cake came out and we sang happy birthday to each other, and she got me a glass of the wine she was having. A toast to Geminis and their lively ways!
Then Saturday rolled around it was time to get to work for my Birthday/Going Away party. I woke up, had breakfast, and made some pizza dough.
The pizza had basil pesto, tomato sauce, yellow squash, mushrooms sautéed with balsamic vinegar and thyme, mozzarella, and goat cheese.
I also made a cannellini dip, and served Trader Joe’s Everything crackers (if you haven’t tried them you must) to go with the dips. Here’s a list of the recipe links, except for the pizza and the cannellini dip since I made those up.
Vegan Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip
Fresh mulberries are awesome, and I kept munching on them throughout the night. The house itself was hot, but it’s especially hot when you’re dancing up a storm.
He also made fresh spring rolls filled with his garden's bounty.
Wow! I really can’t imagine that there are people who don’t like to celebrate their birthdays. All I can say is that I was really happy, and I felt so special… I just wanted everyone else to be just as happy as I was.
What’s one of your favorite birthday memories?
Thank you all so much for the kind words on my last post! The encouragement you guys give me really brings a big, bright smile to my face. The kind that comes from inside out… heartwarming.
And today I woke up to lots of heartwarming birthday love! So I just wanted to share with you some recent celebrations and shindigs.
I wanted to use up the rest of the coconut cream from when I made margaritas, so I searched for recipes. Most of them were for coconut cream pies, but I didn’t want to make that. Finally, I came across a recipe for coconut cream bread.
Eventually it was time to put the loaf into the oven!
The bread doesn’t taste much like coconut, but that’s already noted in the recipe. This is more like a brioche, which would be great for French toast!
I say, “when in doubt Cafe Gutenberg it is!” If you ever find yourself in Richmond, this is the place to go.
Oh my mother and her salmon. There’s not a day that goes by for her without it.
This was a like a deconstructed banh mi, and the tofu was glazed in this delicious chili ginger madness sauce. So fresh! I also found out the secret to their incredible tofu. I usually order the vegan caesar salad, which also comes with Twin Oaks tofu, but I wanted to try something different that day. I’m glad I did, but the vegan caesar salad will always be my top choice.
And I stole some of his fries! Then dessert time came around. When I was little I learned the difference between spelling ‘desert’ and ‘dessert’ because of the two s’s–like two scoops of ice cream.
Now that is definitely a dessert with two s’s!
Much love to you all, and I hope you have a wonderful day… and perhaps some special moments. Now I’m off to celebrate with some birthday shenanigans!
Thank you everyone for the congratulations! And yes, I am very much looking forward to the future, and sharing it with you. The graduation ceremony is this Friday–whoa I can’t believe it. As for the coconut busting… I think you guys should give it a shot. Maybe let your inner Towanda out (anyone seen “Fried Green Tomatoes”?).
As I was walking up the stairs to my friends place I noticed something magical.
My friend had invited me over for lunch since she had gone to the farmer's market--look at the bounty!
She also brought back bread.
The woman who makes this bread actually grinds the wheat right before she bakes it, so this loaf was incredibly fresh!
Deliciously fresh, from the farm, and from the home.
The beets were simply steamed and drizzled with balsamic, caraway seeds, and sea salt. We made a dressing out of the cilantro with olive oil, balsamic, minced garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Lastly, the salad incorporated all of the different veggies she had gotten. For the bread we dipped it in a mixture of olive oil and black pepper.
At the store this drink caught my eye.
I remembered seeing this on a few blogs, and thought it was interesting. This KeVita drink tasted a lot like kombucha, and I went back to try another flavor: mango coconut and lemon ginger. I haven’t tried the lemon ginger, but I really enjoyed the mango coconut. The original coconut flavor didn’t do much for me though.
The nice thing about my step-dad being here is that we've been going out to eat.
I’ve talked about it on here a couple times, but I have a hard time justifying things when it involves spending money. I have no problem with necessities, but things like going out to eat are hard for me to do. I definitely enjoy it, but I guess I feel like I need my parents “okay”, since I’m financially dependent on them. I know that they wouldn’t say no, but I guess that’s the overly-practical side of me. But enough of that because the thing in life is that not every moment needs to have a reason. There are times to simply be. Let things happen. As Pablo Neruda wrote in the poem “Keeping Quiet“, “life is what it is about.“
We went to another local dining spot called The Urban Farmhouse. I remember going there when it first opened back in February of last year, and it was nice to see that this place is frequented a lot. With inviting doors that are as tall as the cafe itself, and an open kitchen… you feel like you just want to sit back and relax. And then you pick up your plate of delicious food!
He got lox and cream cheese with fresh dill.
The salmon was so vibrant! Maybe because it’s caught the old-fashioned way with a hook and line.
Someone that works there highly recommended their strawberry and spinach salad to me.
“Fresh organic strawberries and organic baby spinach sprinkled with healthy, fresh roasted almonds and lightly tossed with our Honey Lemon Dressing“ I ordered some tofu to go with it, and a bread roll from The Flour Garden with some of the creamiest butter ever. They also have a big jar of the best animal crackers, so of course I got a handful!
Mmm roasted almonds make all the difference.
I've been inspired by the beautiful salads I've been having while dining out.
Here I made some yellow split-pea crisps to sprinkle on top of a very colorful salad. I just chopped up some red cabbage, summer squash, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and an avocado all over a bed of romaine. My dressing of choice for this salad? A dressing named for a goddess.
We also went to one of my favorite local restaurants, Ipanema. One of my friends was working there that evening so it was nice to see him, and he gave us his personal recommendations.
Housemade fettucine with roasted garlic, peashoots, arugula, pecorino romano, and pumpkin seeds.
This was delicious and worth waiting for the pasta to be done. Actually, I didn’t mind waiting at all. It was a beautiful day and we were munching on polenta fries with kalamata ketchup. I actually went on bought myself some pumpkin seeds after having this. I loved the idea of using them instead of pine nuts.
My step-dad ordered the chile-braised jackfruit huarache with pinto beans, salsa verde and crema mexicana with spanish rice.
He let me try some of his dish as well, and it was very tasty! My favorite part was the crema mexicana.
My friend got us a slice of apricot almond cheesecake to sample.
This is the place I go to with my friends when we want to have delicious desserts! A friend of mine loves their pies so much that for her birthday she ordered a whole one. I brought back a slice of their Mexican chocolate cake for my roommate to enjoy while she was busy writing paper after paper for finals. Luckily, she let me try some (I was hoping she would!) and it was very interesting. A little bit spicy, and kind of had the texture of a pudding.
The other night I pulled out the cast-iron skillet.
I had a butternut squash sitting in my kitchen for awhile, and I’ve had this recipe for these multi-grain butternut squash fritters bookmarked for awhile as well.
Beau said he finished his batch by eating them like a pancake with butter and maple syrup.
Yummy indeed.
What was the last tasty thing you ordered when you went out to eat? Or have you been craving something from one of your favorite restaurants?
Hello hello everyone! I’m so happy that you all enjoyed my “orders”! I think if bosses gave out orders like that well… no one would ever complain. Did anyone try making any of the recipes yet? Because I’d love to hear about it if you did. On another note, I hope the week has been kind to you, and perhaps filled with exciting surprises. My evening last Friday was filled with lots of the like. Ahh yes… I have quite a dining experience to share with you all.
Last Friday, during Richmond's Restaurant Week, my step-dad and I went to a wonderful little restaurant I've had my eye on.
Secco Wine Bar is the kind of restaurant that gets creative with food, and knows its food… and wine and beer if you’re so inclined! They’re the kind of place where you sit and imagine what the minds behind the menu were thinking. So that when you are served and take your first bite… you have an “a-ha” moment. A place where food is meant to be enjoyed, and your company is most likely sitting in their own pleasurable experience as well. Enjoyment all around! We opted to sit down in the casual lounge seats along with two to other women who sat in the seats next to us. What a great set-up to make new friends because that night we did! We delighted in our casual conversations, and the night just seemed like the perfect way to unwind from a busy week.
This pretty much sums up our relationship hahaha!
Meet our charming waiter!
For Richmond Restaurant Week, the participating restaurants had come up with a three-course menu. And without further ado, our first course…
Behold this masterpiece: a salad of spring vegetables & greens, Caromont Farm fromage blanc, pine nuts & meyer lemon dressing.
A moment of silence...
I didn't know where to start with this beautiful plate, that was equally delicious.
This was such a refreshing salad–everything seemed to be floating on air. From the mild onion flavor of the chive flower, to the freshness of fromage blanc I was present for every bite. The moments felt as beautiful as this salad.
My step-dad ordered a smoked duck terrine with spring onions & dried apricots, dressed frisée with hazelnuts & mustard seed.
After taking our precious time enjoying our first course, and discovering new flavors it was time for our second course; in which we got to select two dishes from the menu.
Sformato with aged gruyere and Japanese spinach, sorrel sauce
A sformato is basically an Italian quiche. I was a bit nervous about this dish because my stomach tends to raise its fist at me when I eat eggs. Luckily, it didn’t seem to be too eggy, mostly spinach. Most importantly, it was a simple and tasty dish. It was funny because later that night when I went to the store I saw sorrel leaves for the first time. How appropriate to see it after I ate it.
And my step-dad ordered a seafood sausage... this may sound funny but I've never seen a sausage look so clean.
He kept exclaiming how delicious it was. After we were done with our plates part two of our second course came out.
Asparagus fritter, roasted morel mushrooms with fresh thyme, pickled spring garlic
Brimming with goodness on the inside, and deliciously crispy on the outside.
I was expecting another eggy dish, but I think it was called a fritter because it was fried. This was so full of flavor, and I made sure to make the last bite the very best by saving a bit of everything. Ahh… And who could forget the third course: dessert!
Pistachio gelato and pistachio brittle with lavender-plum cake
One word: divine. In my dreams gelato would never melt unless it’s into a cup so I could drink it as a delicious elixir. Then I’d garnish it off with this very brittle!
My step-dad got a very northern Italian dessert: cheese, bread, with a drizzle of honey.
If you clean your plate down to the very last finger lick you can spy... well, if that's not a compliment to the chef then I don't know what is!
After we spoiled ourselves with wonderful food and new friends, we went for a leisurely walk around historic Carytown. The next morning I had to get up early for a fashion photo shoot! I wanted to give one of the Super products a try: the 3-Minute Facial! I thought it was appropriate for the day.
I started to feel the tingle from the ginger.
“Ginger has warming properties that stimulate circulation for radiant, glowing skin.” So this would help hydrate my skin and make it glow… just what I need before I was going to step in front of a camera! My face actually did feel and look refreshed, even for an early morning. This isn’t a product I would use on a daily basis, but rather for days when you feel like you really need a pick me up or maybe there’s something special and you want to look your very best!
What do you do the night before or morning of a special day? Anyone have any special rituals?
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!
Greetings everyone! Today is the start of another week, but it’s not just any old Monday. Oh no! Today is the day that voting for Project Food Blog opens. You can check out my profile here, so don’t forget to vote hehe. Also check out all of the other entries as well! I’ve been awaiting this day with much anticipation.
Can't you tell?
A watermelon caught my eye at store, and I had to make sure that I got to have some of this refreshing fruit at least once while the weather is still warm! I’ve also been eating things that are a… “happy medium” between summer and fall. For example…
Baked oatmeal with figs and banana, then topped with almond butter and Coconut Bliss ice cream.
Warm soups like this quick Cuban black bean soup recipe from my "Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners" book.
I threw in some rice, diced avocado, tomato, and cilantro to make it complete. I love simple recipes that satisfy my taste buds!
A delicious smoothie made without ice, since I'm kind of sensitive about harshly cold things.
Whenever I go out to eat I always ask for water with no ice, please. Anyway, the Chocolate Almond Smoothie recipe from Brendan Brazier’s book, “Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life” (that’s a mouthful) immediately caught my eye the first time I skimmed through the recipes. When making this, I noticed that there was no added sugar. It called for medjool dates though so I was interested in how it would end up tasting. Verdict? I’m definitely going to be making this again!
The other day I met up with some classy ladies at a great local restaurant.
I don’t go out to eat often, but when I do I like to eat very well! And by well I mean incredibly delicious. The last time I went to Cafe Gutenberg was with another friend from New York, and we got to enjoy our breakfasts seated in a comfy nook with pillows overlooking the market. I remember the food being so tasty, and I figured it was time I pay this place another visit. I remember in high school coming here and ordering steamed milk with a shot of mint syrup (TRY IT!). Anyway, the menu makes it hard to choose, boasting things like pumpkin spiced waffles with whipped cream, scramble on a corncake (which I had ordered before, veganized with tofu), sandwiches using artisan rolls, and plenty of delicious cheeses. They also have vegan options for much of the menu as well, such as vegan biscuits and gravy. Can you tell that this place puts thought into their menu?
My dates decided to split some appetizers so they could try different things.
The hand cut frites with fresh herbs, parmesan, and truffle honey.
Sounds good, but I think these fries were actually just herbed and had salt and pepper.
Nonetheless, these were so good!
We all can attest to that!
Beets served with goat cheese, house baguette, and greens.
How beautiful! Two of my favorite things on one plate: beets and goat cheese!
Fondue! Steamed vegetables, house baguette, and Vermont cheddar gravy.
The green onions and wild mushrooms were my favorite things to dip!
I felt like ordering an entree so I got the vegan caesar salad with a house baguette on the side!
I usually don’t order salads when I go out to eat unless I’ve heard great things through the grape vine, or it just sounds too delicious to pass up. Hearing only great things about this salad, I had to try it. Oh my goodness! It’s not the kind of salad that sounds undeniably incredible, but it definitely tasted like one! I never had tofu that was actually so rich in flavor, nor had I ever tried hearts of palms! Maybe the tastiness of the tofu had to do with the fact that it came from the local food commune, Twin Oaks. The lemon-caper dressing was perfect for this as well, especially mixed with the juices that burst out of those little grape tomatoes. The house baguette definitely helped in soaking up every last bit of this wonderful meal. All of us were so glad that we went there to eat, and moseyed on out feeling wonderfully spoiled.
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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!