Gifts From The Garden

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Katharina

The two winners of the giveaway are Billie Jean and Audrey!

I’ll be contacting you about your prizes to get them sent to you. I loved reading what you all had to say, and some of you are trying out tofu for the first time! I’ll definitely be posting more tofu recipes, and make some videos answering some of your questions about this food.

In other news, my dear friend, Lynn from The Actor’s Diet, is raising money for her next film The Man’s Guide to Love. It’s a movie inspired by her husband’s site “The Man’s Guide to Love,” which ended up getting critical acclaim. So this is where they’ve landed–from being online, to becoming a book, and now a movie! In the spirit of social media they’re raising funds through Kickstarter, and reaching out through anyone who wants to help out. Every bit counts, and of course, helping spread the word counts too! Keep the buzz going because they’re raising funds until April 19th. Contribute by clicking here.

And on the garden front…

The tomatoes are unstoppable!

Continue reading →

How Do You Feel?

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Katharina

A silly question to ask if you guys like chickpeas, but hey, you never know! Some of you told me your favorite dishes and they sounded so good. The broccoli, chickpea, and sun-dried tomato dish sounded especially delicious! I’ve been loving sun-dried tomatoes lately, and I think crumbling cashews in that mix would be it for me! Yummy.

I recently came across a real purple sweet potato recently. I’ve gotten purple sweet potatoes thinking they’d be purple on the inside, but it is their skins that are rather purple and the insides are yellow (Japanese sweet potatoes). But this time I found what I had been looking for, and I wasn’t even looking for it then. Funny how that is sometimes. Actually, that’s one reason why I don’t worry about things.

: Aha, purple indeed.

Speaking of potatoes (how often do I get to say that?), if you want to have your head go wild with imaginings then I think you should go check out The Peculiar Potato. Spuds, go forth!

: A vegetable stir-fry with Shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, purple sweet potato, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.

Then I chopped up some green onions to make it taste a little less earthy aka like the ground.

: It’s funny how I say earthy when it’s all food from this earth.

But even food from this earth can be bursting with lively flavors; take oranges for example.

: There are no oranges in this recipe though, but this definitely has lively flavors going on.

I made Brendan Brazier’s recipe for “Dino Kale Wraps.” Lately, before my meals at home I’ve been really going along with what types of foods I want considering the feelings I want to get from them. Sometimes I’ll feel like I want to feel more grounded or cozy, and I’ll have something rich,warm, or smoky. Other times I want to be able to jump after I eat. I think you know what I mean.

: This is a “jump after I eat” type of meal for me!

: Doesn’t it make you want to jump?

Angharad’s adaptation of Moosewood’s Thai Salad is a prime example actually. It’s got zesty lime juice, crispy tofu, sweet cold crunch from the red bell pepper and romaine, and the spicy creamy peanut dressing.

: Now here’s a recipe that doesn’t look very lively, but it will have your taste buds dancing!

I got this recipe from a friend I made at one of the themed potlucks I went to when I lived in Richmond. The theme for that one in particular was “keep cool”–you can imagine everyone was thinking of that on those hot summer days.

As soon as I tasted this soup I exclaimed at how delicious it was! And before my friend left I made sure to write down the ingredients. He was trying to clear out his kitchen before he was leaving for Maine so this soup might inspire you to make a something with random leftovers you may have, like rice! Since there’s no official name for the soup I’m just going to call it…

A Taste of Everything Soup Recipe by Brandon

It’s quite a long list, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the ingredients. This is a very loose recipe, so you’re just gonna have to go with your senses and estimate what you think seems right.

Ingredients

-Diced tomatoes

-Coconut milk (I used a can)

-Green lentils, cooked

-Rice, cooked

-Vegetable Stock

-Onions, chopped

-Garlic, minced

-Jalapeno, minced

-Zucchini, chopped

-Sriracha, to taste

-Honey

-Vegenaise

-Almond milk

-Shredded coconut, unsweetened

-Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Bring the coconut milk to a simmer and cook the tomatoes for a bit. Then mix in rice, and green lentils. Add the appropriate amount of vegetable stock by the kind of consistency you want for the soup. I like my soups thicker so I didn’t add too much liquid. Pour into blender, and blend. Leave that in the blender since you’re going to be adding more ingredients to it.

2. Saute the onions, garlic, and jalapeno. Then throw in the zucchini to cook. Once the vegetables are cooked throw them in the blender with the mix that’s already in there.

3. Then add the sriracha, honey, Vegenaise, shredded coconut, and almond milk if needed. Blend well. Lastly, taste the soup and decide how much salt and pepper you’d like to add, or if you want to add any at all.

This soup can be enjoyed warm or chilled.

Do you pay attention to how certain things you eat or do can leave you feeling afterwards?

A Friend is One of the Best Things You Can Be

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Katharina

Pardon my belated wishes, but I hope everyone had wonderful holidays! Usually the holiday season means a time for more reflection, and being surrounded by people that I love. Take family for instance. Sometimes they get on your last nerve, but at the end of the day you love them so much that you could just burst! In my last post I talked about how meaningful friends are. Well I thought it would be nice to dedicate a post to just that!

Back in mid-November I had a very special friend stay with me for the weekend.

Many of you may recognize this special friend of mine as the lovely face behind The Collegiate Gourmande. Awhile ago she recounted her visit in this really sweet post right over here. Anyway, her and I have “known” each other for awhile now, and we got to meet up for the first time over the summer in Miami. Now she was staying at my place in Richmond for the weekend. It wasn’t just any weekend though! We were running the SunTrust half-marathon. When she arrived a stranger beat me to a proper greeting with a kiss on the cheek haha!

The first night here, we cooked up a storm!

Voila! A homemade naan pizza topped with spinach sauce, okra, and chickpeas with a side of yellow curry spiced lentil soup

The idea for the spicy spinach sauce came from Emily, and Maya already had it bookmarked! Actually, she had a list of things we could possibly whip up in the kitchen. I love this girl and her enthusiastic spirit! The naan bread was actually from a batch I made earlier that week.

Naan bread is so easy to make at home--next time I want to make it with a hint of cilantro and garlic--topped with ghee and you're ready to bite in!

To go with an appetizing bowl of Thai-style lentil and coconut soup

Coconut milk? Check.

Scallions? Check.

Now back to Maya’s visit!

We ended the meal with a special treat...

the ever-popular Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls! These were so so SO so good! We went to bed “early” since the race was bright and early in the morning. Since I was fighting a cold at the time I had been taking care of myself the week prior to the race–Mucinex works wonders! We ended up running to the race to make sure we got there in time… you know just warming-up.

Maya had a picture taken of us with her phone after the race!

Look what I found! Tissue in hand to blow my runny nose.

It was my first race and it was such an incredible feeling. There was this force inside me that made me feel like I was on top of the world. It really made me feel positive of my capabilities despite the struggles that were very present in my life at that time. Plus, it was awesome to celebrate with a dear friend! We made our way home with those silly shiny “capes” that resemble foil a bit. After the race we took it easy for a bit, and made our way to a charming part of town in Richmond called ‘Carytown’.

That night we made a dinner fit for champions!

We roasted some green beans, and had mashed sweet potatoes with coconut milk topped with cajun chickpea cakes from Eats Well With Others. And that salad you see on the side there is Maya’s wonderful creation! A spinach salad with dried cranberries, honey crisp apples, pomegranate seeds. She even made the dressing: almond butter balsamic dressing! Oh my goodness this meal had so many flavors, and it was all divine! Just what we needed after a race.

How we do!

Aha! I found you!

We spent the rest of the night laughing and talking into the morning. She had to leave early the next morning, but she left me so many beautiful reminders. I mentioned her post earlier, but I really have to say it again. It truly touched my heart. I guess that’s just her way! A true friend you can count on? A friend that is understanding and doesn’t mind one bit? A friend that lets you know that it’s alright. That’s Maya for you, and she’s so much more.

She also left me this tasty reminder!

Which I have been enjoying on just about everything! Thank you, Maya!

I also went on a trip to NYC with my class (the bus actually belongs to one of my classmates).

The captain of the ship!

I saw NYC in a different light on the High Line.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Since this was a class with art students, naturally we scoped out some galleries and museums.

Even a gallery for the homeless to submit their art.

The sleek New Museum.

On one of the nights we all got together at our professor's friends' giant shared studio and...

Played music...

and had a delicious homemade feast!

Man, his friends sure can cook and bake! There was roasted ham, stew, pasta, vegetable dishes, best banana bread ever, pies, cakes, garlic bread, hummus… gosh so many things! The trip was a lot of fun. It was nice to see some friends up there, and also getting to know some of my fellow classmates a little better. By the way, in Williamsburg there’s a place called The Alligator Lounge that has a great deal: buy a beer and you get a free pizza! Not just any pizza, but a personal pan! So if you’re in the Brooklyn area, make sure to hit that up!

I had another special visitor for Thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving we headed to the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains.

I packed us a bag of yummy things to take with us!

For me: a sandwich with smoked gouda, sauteed spinach and onions, apple slices, and honey.

For my mom: spinach, egg, honey, apple slices, and goat cheese.

Do you think she liked it?

It's such a big world.

It felt so nice to be breathing fresh air.

Coming through!

As we headed back the sun decided to come out. Doesn't this look like the cover of Big Fish?

Matilda let out a roar that the whole world could hear!

I wanted my mom to taste how special honeycrisp apples are.

Pooped and heading back home to make a low-key Thanksgiving dinner.

I made a special recipe that night from an e-cookbook that was sent to me to review.

The e-cookbook is titled “The Flexitarian Cookbook” and features many recipes from various contributors that can be adjusted to fit your dietary needs or mood whether you vegan, vegetarian, or an omnivore. The recipes sound so appetizing and the pictures that are featured are so beautiful and drool-worthy. I’ll be featuring more recipes I’ve tried from this e-cookbook, and a more detailed review.

The recipe that stood out the most for me, with ingredients like pumpkin, peaches, and pecorino.

Not even finished and it smelled delicious.

And Thanksgiving dinner was served!

Sauteed collard greens, onions, and garlic, with fruit & nut chutney.

Interesting

Our tastebuds and bellies were in for the best thing we had eaten in awhile.

Almost forgot the pecorino!

Oh my goodness. My mother and I kept exclaiming how incredible this dish was. It’s suppose to be served in a small pumpkin, but I made do with what I had (butternut squash) and it still turned out to be a phenomenal dish. The mix of ingredients (the peach being the most surprising) was spot on!

Lebkuchen filled with as much love as a cookie can handle!

This is probably the most nostalgic food and smell from Germany for me. Lebkuchen is a traditional German treat that’s similar to gingerbread. At the Christmas Market you will see tons of heart-shaped cookies hanging up, ready to be given to someone’s beloved one.

Photo taken from here

Stay tuned for the next post since it’s a continuation on the topic of friendship and also catching up! I hope you all had a wonderful week, and a great start to a new year. Until next time, much love!

The Extra Special Things

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Katharina

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?

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Katharina

Have you guys ever eaten so much fruit that you think you might become one? How weird would that be if I morphed into a papaya. I’d probably have to live in hiding though because I wouldn’t want anyone to eat me.

These would be my siblings!

These are some of the papayas from our papaya tree. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is so awesome and satisfying! Papaya has many health benefits as well: promotes digestion (especially for meat-eaters), rejuvenating properties, good for the heart, rich in vitamin C and carotene. Even the skin can help minor surface wounds heal!

So it's only natural to have this wonderful fruit for breakfast.

I had this with vanilla yogurt and Bekah’s delicious coconut chia granola (perfection).

Peanut butter + Apples

I got to try a very special peanut butter thanks to the kind people at Sunland. I really enjoyed this flavor because I could still taste the peanut butter and it wasn’t too sweet. Caramel and peanut butter naturally go together. Don’t you think? They sent me a box of goodies not too long ago…

Matilda even approves!

Hickory Smoked Peanut Butter + Mom's sweet potato and butternut squash soup with cinnamon and coconut oil

I love the crunchiness of this one! It was good but I’d like it better with something else. Later on that day I gave it another try.

Second chance!

I decided to try the hickory smoked peanut butter with spinach, gouda, tomato, and cracked black pepper. Much better! I bet it would also taste delicious with provolone or mixed with some noodles and veggies – a smoky peanut stir-fry? Let’s rewind a little and give special attention to the soup my mom made.

Yum!

She made a sweet potato and butternut squash soup. I added some black beans and cilantro in my bowl!

Also served some papaya, avocado, and methi paratha.

We finally bought a Christmas tree the other day!

Can you believe I went in a mini-skirt, sleeveless top, and sandals? Crazy!

After dinner we headed to the boardwalk to walk along the beach...

It was a nice way to wind down on a Sunday night.

I love the ambiance of south Florida!

It’s all about enjoying life and not letting things bring you down.

You could see the stars

The pier

Part of the boardwalk

My best friend and I are planning a special ceremony that'll take place before I head back to Richmond!

This morning I had oats in a jar!

I haven’t had oats in a jar in ages. I just cooked my oats in soymilk + pumpkin pie spice and the huge chunk of peanut butter left in the jar. Then I chopped up a pear and let it sit for a bit and topped it with pumpkin butter.

My dad also had his first ever oats in a jar.

Since his was a plastic container I didn’t cook the oats in the jar. For his I pretty much made it the same as mine except his had a banana instead of a pear and I crumbled a Newman’s Own Organic chocolate chocolate chip cookie. He walked over to me with his jar and exclaimed how good it was. Duh!!!

This morning I baked so many cookies! But I don’t want to tell you what kind they were because that’s a surprise.

Parsnip and carrot puree with spices and coconut oil

I also had toast with gouda and apricot jam. This is such a great combination. Next time I will try this combo grilled with cinnamon!

Dessert!

Not too long ago Maggie had asked if I could post some desserts I like to have after dinner. Why yes, of course! This was last night’s dessert. I went to the store and got a case of tunnel vision once I read the words “carrot cake”. Note that carrot cake and tiramisu are my two all-time favorite desserts, so into the cart went the pint of Organic Rice Divine Carrot Cake ice cream. That’s a mouthful! And a delicious mouthful it was. I also tried a Newman’s Own Organic milk chocolate caramel cup. Yum yum yum!

And now it’s time for more art! Continuation from Art Basel…

An installation

Close-up of the figures

The letter O and the co-founder of the word "okay" forming a K

Swarovski deer!

“There is no freedom like seeing myself as I am and not losing heart.”

- Elizabeth J. Canham

I hope everyone started the week off on the right side of the bed!

Another First

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Katharina

The missing flavor is Lemon Ginger (tried that awhile ago)

The lovely people over at Kardea generously sent me 4 of their bars to sample. A lot of their products are known to aide in cholesterol management. I know Cheerio’s help with that too, but these my dear readers, are the bomb.com. I’ve already decided that I’m going to try the Banana Walnut bar last because I like to save the best for last. Although, I have a feeling it really wouldn’t matter because so far out of the ones I’ve tried, they’re awesome. A lot of bars taste good, but they don’t quite live up to the name of their flavors. However, these bars actually taste like what they’re named. The Lemon Ginger bar wasn’t overwhelming at all – it was just right.

Next up was Cranberry Almond.

I’m not sure if the strange look of it is because it was delivered to me when it was really hot out. Cranberry check. Almond check. These don’t even taste like nutritional bars (in a very good way)! Just delicious. I’ll give you guys some info on these bars:

Banana Walnut, Chai Spice, Cranberry Almond, and Lemon Ginger

Plant Sterols-1 gram

Total Fiber-7 grams with 5 grams Soluble Fiber

Heart Healthy Soluble Fiber-3grams

Protein-7 grams with 3.5 grams Soy Protein

Vegetarian-Friendly (Chai Spice & Banana Walnut Are Vegan)

Kosher Certified

Only 150 Calories/Bar

No Trans Fats

Lower Glycemic Formulation

I’m surprised that these bars haven’t caught on with a lot of folks actually. They are truly delicious, and good for your heart!

So guys, what have I been up to?

Last Saturday my friend organized an eating contest at a park, and I was the judge/scooper. What’d they have to eat? Mashed potatoes! All participants had to bring in a bag. Kim also brought fake bacon bits, which was a good idea. And I kindly offered my assistance to anyone who felt they could no longer fulfill their “duties”.

Huge piles!

Kim's got her game face and Rodman jersey on.

Let the eating begin!

Serving it soup kitchen style.

Tuning out to keep from... well, you know.

The victory bite!

Tiara didn’t really look too happy, but atleast she won! This girl kicks butt.

Later that night I decided to bake around the witching hour. Well, more like 3 hours before because supposedly the witching hour is at 3 am.

Cinnamon-Raisin Biscotti

I was browing through biscotti recipes and found one that I had the ingredients for. I wanted to make lemon ginger biscotti but, alas, I had no crystallized ginger and I’m sure this was something my neighbor wouldn’t have had either. The aroma of these wafting in the apartment as they were baking and I was studying… it made my life a little sweeter.

Can you believe I baked these in my toaster oven?

Perfect sidekick for a bowl of oats.

Like my girl, Janetha, I love cinnamon. I went a little crazy with it and this is why -ladies and gentlemen- my oats are brown. I put a big spoonful of peanut butter and a little one of my Date and Almond Creme spread. To add the finishing touch to this bowl of oats, I bruleed some bananas a la Katie! The cinnamon is hogging the spotlight though.

The last of my peanut butter!

I tried to do this blob of peanut butter justice by making a bowl of PB&J oats. Holla at the peanut butter queen, Jenny! As I was saying goodbye to one jar of yummy goodness, I said hello to Crofter’s Blueberry Superfruit spread. Ah so good, and I could see the tiny blueberries in there. I don’t bother with jellies that don’t even have an inkling of a fruit, but Crofter’s spreads are jam packed with real fruits. Did ya catch that?

I’ve really been inspired by everyone’s blogs lately, and last week I was reading Sophia’s blog and she had posted a recipe that seemed way too good to just look at.

Kabocha Soup with Bacon and Goat Cheese

Unfortunately, the fake bacon bits that were brought the eating contest were finished off, so I couldn’t sprinkle them on! So I made the best of it and blended in some ketchup, smoke sauce, and Worcestershire. How do you say that word anyway?

A big mug of soup, cinnamon + coconut oil + almond milk + brown rice, tomato slices + roasted red pepper hummus.

I kept the skin on so that's why it's green... I also thought I could do a swirly affect with the cream.

Hey Sophia… this was awesome!!! I love this girl’s blog. Not only does she have a refined taste for things that taste delicious, but she also shares a piece of her mind and heart with her readers in every post.

Oh... and this mug is absurdly HUGE!

There are so many bloggers to talk about in this post. I had the chance to actually meet a fellow blogger yesterday. If you guys don’t know her already, I met up with Brittany from Eating Bird Food. It’s always neat to see when you guys meet up with other bloggers. Some of you hit it off and became partners in crime like Brooke and Kailey! Holly and Angharad too! All the meet-ups just seemed like so much fun. Brittany and I agreed to meet up at Ipanema, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant. I was so excited when she suggested we go there – hell yeah girl! I love that place, and a couple of my friends work there as well.

The only menu in the place is written on the chalkboard.

This place reminds me of Germany because you walk down, like walking into a Ratskeller. A Ratskeller is basically a tavern below street level and it’s the city hall’s basement. When Brittany walked through the door I immediately though, “oh my gosh she’s so pretty and adorable!” We looked through the menu and when we decided on what we wanted, we made our way into one of the booths.

Indian pizza

Service was rather fast that night! Oh gosh, I can’t remember exactly what this entailed, but I’ll give it a shot. I ordered an Indian pizza with a curry sauce, zucchini, cauliflower, red onions, and paneer. The sauce was strangely zesty and for some reason I was envisioning a red or orange curry sauce. It was good, but I probably wouldn’t order it again. The side salad’s dressing was yummy though! I tried some of what Brittany ordered as well. She got their Thai carrot soup, which resembled baby food haha! But it was very tasty. She also got a spinach salad with pears, gorgonzola, and pecans. That combination is always a winner in my book.

It was getting late and after talking it up, we asked for our checks. Brittany, it was so nice meeting you! You’re so kind and polite – can’t wait till our puppies meet! And next time, I’m taking more pictures!

She also gave me a baggie of tomatoes grown with TLC.

These are delicious by the way! I love popping little tomatoes in my mouth. You take one bite and BOOM there’s a burst of flavor.

Well guys, I’m going to save some stuff for my next post. I tend to get carried away with my posts, and I don’t want anyone to be overwhelmed with my kitchen adventures haha! Since I mentioned so many other bloggers in this post, I think it’s appropriate to spread the word on this bit of exciting Blogworld news:

Foodbuzz has announced its 1st-Annual Foodbuzz Blog Awards!

The categories are:

Best Overall Blog

Best New Blog

Best Wine Blog

Best Cocktail/Spirits Blog

Best Baking Blog

Best Food Photography Blog

Best Visual Blog (graphic design)

Best Writing Voice

Best Healthy Living Blog

Best Green/Sustainable blog

Best Family Blog

Best Recipe Blog

Best Blogger Humanitarian Effort

Best Community Blog Effort

Most Humorous Food Blog

They’ve also got another section!

Blogger you’d most want to:

1. Take to dinner

2. Cook a meal for you

3. Be your personal Sommelier

4. Create you a cocktail

5. Watch on Food Network

6. Watch on Iron Chef

7. See open up their own restaurant

8. See their blog made into a movie

So go out there and vote everyone!

It’s Wednesday everyone! Is it just me or did it feel like the end of the week on Monday and Tuesday? Well, now we’re finally getting there!

TasteSpotting

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Katharina

So I submitted something after La Belle Vegan said she was on TasteSpotting. I’ve seen the site before. Go check it out! The chickpea dish I made yesterday is on the first page.

I’m gonna recap a little starting all the way back from… I can’t remember anymore, but it’s worth noting!

Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Peaches

On Friday I had my best friend over for dinner. I made Cauliflower Dal with Panch Phoran.

Ze ingredients! All combined make an incredible meal.

I followed Happy Herbivore’s recipe for Fire Roasted Channa Masala. The chickpeas were kept company by some garlic broccoli and a methi paratha. I ended up putting a dollop of plain yogurt on top of the chickpeas because it was, I admit, too spicy for me!

Sweet Saffron Yogurt

Now here’s some non-food related stuff! I’ve taken it upon myself to spruce up my parent’s place a bit. I usually end up doing that, since I enjoy decorating a whole lot and I’ve got nothing better to do. Well maybe except soak up the sun. I went to the thrift store with my friend the other day and found some really cute things! Some are actually for my place up in Richmond.

A bread pan for my parent’s place! Some plates and a mug for my place in Richmond.

I also got a wicker cabinet and the colorful frame and photo. The rest of the stuff in there was just me doing what I usually do. What that is… I’m not sure!

This patio set (seat cushions not included)

I’m imagining the patio set over in this part of the backyard against the wall

with the wicker cabinet hanging over and putting a simple vase with some fresh flowers. I’m also going to paint designs on some of the fallen coconuts. It would be such a romantic set-up.

Oh my gosh how could I forget?! I went to this healthfood discount store today and… DRUM ROLL… I found the So Delicious sandwiches in all the flavors I wanted to try! They even had the ones made with coconut milk. Of course I bought a box of the Coconut ones made with coconut milk and biked home as fast as I could. My consensus? I’m pretty sure all of those “ice cream” sandwiches are incredible and edible gifts from above.

Now I’m off to make Susan’s Ethiopian-inspired red lentil soup.

Ps Enter here to get a chance at winning some delicious Coconut Bliss!

The company we keep…

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Katharina

This morning I was definitely in the mood for something comforting. So I decided to make a warm bowl of oatmeal. I tried to mix it up a bit though.

I added a new ingredient – Watkins Butter Pecan Extract. I also added in a banana, coconut oil, and some unsweetened coconut flakes on top. To accompany my oatmeal I had a toasted wheat cake (a Philipino treat), fruit salad topped with yogurt, and Twinings Chamomile Green Tea.

Remember how I told you guys I was going to be cooking for a small gathering? Well I decided to make a yellow lentil and coconut milk soup.My dad made a five-vegetable curry. I didn’t get to take a picture of it though! Our friends also made some gnocchi and a yummy sauce! It was a tomato sauce that was slightly sweet and zesty. We brought food and of course my doggy, Matilda! She had no idea that she would be making a friend. After dinner we went to go see Tango Undressed performed by some dancers of the Miami Contemporary Dance Company. I wasn’t crazy about it, but it did make me want to take up dance again. It’s incredible how the human body can move. After the show we went back to our friends’ place to have coffee and cookies. They actually had vegan cookies as well. It was funny actually because they told me those cookies are for me. Then I saw them put more cookies out on a dish and I asked, “what’s wrong with those?” They thought I was vegan! It was so funny. Anyway, here are some pictures.

“What’s going on?”

This guy had a totally retro ride and what I call a Cuban grandpa hat. Notice the shrunken head hanging from the rear view mirror.

Matilda’s new friend, Simba!

Today I really went all out in the kitchen. I made huevos rancheros with some modifications. I followed this recipe to make polenta crackers, instead of using tortillas. This is the first time I’ve had eggs in a really long time. I’m not the biggest fan of eggs, nor is my stomach. But my mom saw the recipe and kept bringing it up, so I took it as a hint.

Polenta crackers

The huevos rancheros and a sliced pear on the side. Look at the little heart I cut out! I decided to sprinkle the pear with cinnamon.

For dinner I made up a recipe. Soba noodles with a squeeze of lime juice was the foundation. I roasted summer squashes, onions, and pineapple in a teriyaki sauce, and cooked some chickpeas in the same sauce.

This was incredible! Do you guys like the new placemats?

My mother and I went on a little shopping adventure today. We also did a lot of home decorating and picture hanging.

We also got Walkers Shortbread Raspberry Thins and Caramel Cream coffee by Flavor Xotics. The coffee smelled so delicious!

These followed after dinner along with coffee. What a nice way to end a Sunday.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I can’t believe it’s already the middle of May.

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: soup