Just Checking In

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Katharina

Oh hi, excuse me as I am typing this while I’m underneath a pile of wood, textbooks, novels, and more paper! Remember me? It’s only been a week since my last post but so much has been going on. Lots of getting down and dirty at the studio! I can’t wait to show you all my final piece. My critique is on Monday so it’s coming up soon! I’m actually going to start filming the video piece for my structure tomorrow. Anywho, on with the show!

Thank you all for the compliments on my outfit! A couple of you asked where I got the skirt from, and Holly you guessed it! Anthropologie of course! Am I that predictable? Hehehe. Also the backpack was a gift from my grandparents from a random street market down in Colombia.

A necklace I permanently borrowed from my mom!

This woman she knows actually makes jewelry and this is one of her pieces and there’s a matching bracelet as well. I just realized that in the picture of me dancing below I’m wearing another necklace the woman made. I love how they’re eye-catching but fun at the same time.

Oh! And a little tip for OIAJ: I like to bust out the jar when I have what my eye says is about 2-3 tbl of the nut butter left. I also cook my oats separately and stir it in little by little so the nut butter gets mixed in really well!

: I forgot to mention that a couple weekends ago I let my inner dancing queen out and ended up with wet, sweaty shoes!

Now on to some eats from these past couple of weeks. Randomness commence!

Greek yogurt + granola + lots of blueberries + cinnamon + a special nut butter...

Ohhh yes!

While I was visiting my soul sista’, Liz, I saw she had an amazing assortment of nut butters to choose from. Her favorite brand is Futters’, can’t you tell? I loved these so much and she was kind enough to ship them to me! Complete with a super sweet card that’s sitting on my kitchen counter that I see every morning. Having meaningful reminders of my friends (especially the ones that are far away) always comfort me.

Chocolate pecan butter + Greek yogurt + granola + banana slices + dried figs + cinnamon

Figs and chocolate-anything are such a great combination!

Also great on toast!

I like to cut my toast in half so I can try more spreads such as : butter, butter + marmalade, chocolate pecan butter, chocolate pecan butter + Mymoune’s Crème of Dates with Almonds.

Sadly, my coconut butter burned!

Good thing I've got a jar of Cacao Bliss as back up!

Maple-roasted roasted brussels sprouts and shallots with goat cheese

For the brussels sprouts I just sort of followed this recipe.

Since the weather has been sunny I felt like making one of my favorite chickpea recipes!

Mock tuna salad–simple and yummy

More chickpea goodness!

I followed smitten kitchen’s chana masala recipe and served it on top of some basmati rice + coconut oil. I love the fragrance basmati rice gives off when it’s cooking.

I had a frozen chickpea cutlet I made awhile back and it came in handy!

Romaine + chopped yellow onions + tomato slices + my favorite BBQ sauce + Lemony Goddess dressing + goat cheese

This doesn't even look like chickpeas have anything to do with it!

But they most definitely do. I stumbled across a beet hummus recipe not too long ago. I love beets, so naturally I gave this a try. Note: this was so so so good with Dr. Kracker’s apple crisps.

Boy do I have a lot to catch you all up on! Stay tuned for my next post, which will hopefully be sooner than later. Much love to you all.

“A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.” -Aesop

To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Katharina

- Oscar Wilde

Ladies and gentlemen step right up! Wait a minute. This isn’t a circus! But you are more than welcome to come and read.

Hmm… where did we leave off? A-ha! After my breakfast fit for a king princess I got ready to venture over to the Farmer’s Market. I packed Matilda some treats since it was going to be a long walk.

I wore a skirt I found at a vintage punk store in St. Marks.

And some red shoes for a POP of color.

Then we were off!

Looking for the goods.

I had a couple things I was looking for: kale, persimmons, and winter squashes. They only had kale so I whipped out a quarter and paid. It was funny because the lady just held the bag in her hand and she mentally weighed it. Then I just went browsing around the other booths. On Sundays the Farmer’s Market has mostly artisan and vintage items.

I love those shopping bags that say "Thank You" all over them. Thank you thank you thank you!

On the way home I decided to walk a different way and I saw some pretty neat things.

There were plants in each segment.

A sushi restaurant - I think they're trying to be a best-kept secret.

My little nugget.

Pumpkin kale soup + toast + cashew toffee

I mixed in some coconut oil and my leftover sweet & sour lentils in the soup to make it heartier. On the toast is the delicious medley jam Holly sent me, and I had some plain slices with butter. Sometimes I just want simplicity. Maybe I’m coo-coo but often times I’ll eat things plain because I don’t want to forget what it tastes like. I feel like if I forgot what something essentially tasted like then that would interfere with my knack for thinking of flavor combinations. Anyway, I also munched on the cashew toffee, and I realized that it’s read “Christine’s” and not “Christmas” (what I previously thought).

Afterwards lunch I felt like shopping. I got something so I can be a Russian snow-bunny. I got a lot of painting done as well, and went to the grocery store to get some more things.

Faux fur can be chic too!

Lazy Sundays call for lazy dinners.

I roasted some kabocha (finally found one again) and carrot slices. I put coconut oil on half of the kabocha chunks and sunflower seed butter on the other half, but I drizzled all of them with maple syrup. The roasted carrot slices were delicious and I just put sea salt on them! I also baked a Barbeque Sunshine burger. I really enjoyed the distinct flavor this one had! I definitely tasted the smoke flavoring, and it’s really interesting to see the combination of ingredients they use to get that barbeque flavor. I topped it with my favorite BBQ-sauce.

Well, right now it’s a rainy Monday morning and I’m about to head off to finally get a rain jacket! I always say I will, then don’t and then it rains. But before I go I’ll leave you all with this morning’s breakfast.

Woke up to a little love.

I tried the Apple Heart Thrive this time around. I had it with vanilla Greek yogurt (ridiculous sale price=me stocking up), apple sauce + cinnamon, Newman’s Own Organic dried apples, and crunchy peanut butter. So far the one quip about these Heart Thrive bars is that they are drier than I prefer. There’s nothing wrong with the flavor, just the dryness factor. Atleast I’ve got things like coconut oil and nut butters to moisten them. I also have to make a note about Newman’s Own Organic dried fruit. They are awesome! They’re not overly dry how some dried fruits can be. There’s still a chewiness and plumpness to them.

Okay so I hope you all have a wonderful beginning to a fabulous week! I know everyone must be excited about Thanksgiving break and getting to enjoy all the seasonal eats. My mom is flying into town on Thursday and I can’t wait for some mother + daughter + Matilda time! Not to mention, it really helps turn away any winter blues when I hang out with someone (my mom) that thinks I’m the coolest girl on this side of the galaxy. My mom is like a ray of energy and can make anyone feel special and cared about. She also loves herself and what’s not to love? It’s only natural that as her daughter she’s given me plenty of her infectious injections of self-love and acceptance.

What do you all have planned for Thanksgiving Day? Any recipes you’re trying out or recommend?

101 Dalmations!

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Katharina

This is why I believe the number 101 is better than 100! This is reason why I decided to have a giveaway to celebrate this special occassion. Definitely special enough!

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Original Video – More videos at TinyPic

Yeah that’s actually my contained version of my excitement! I know I’ve expressed it quite a few times what this blog and all you friends out there mean to me. So what’s my way of celebrating this special occassion? With a snip-it of what it’s like to live in my life for a couple days and a special surprise at the end from yours truly. I’ll be honest, these last couple of days have been rough. But I had a reminder of how much harder things can get when I learned some sad news relating to someone I know. It really helped me push through, and helped me to stay motivated to rise above the stress. Anyway, here’s a little glimpse starting from Saturday night…

Scarves really help out when coming up with an impromptu costume!

Warm soymilk with Nature's Path Hemp Plus granola and a sliced banana.

Warm soy milk with Nature's Path Hemp Plus granola and sliced banana.

A nice way to start a grey chilly Sunday. I swear Nature’s Path makes some awesome granolas for something that comes out of a cereal box. Usually I find those granolas to really be lacking. The two flavors I’ve tried – Vanilla Almond Flax Plus and Hemp Plus are nothing short of delicious.

I decided to go out and check my mail, since I’m special and I get mail on Sundays. I really just forgot to check the day before, but let’s pretend.

From one of my favorite and most admirable people ever.

From one of my most favorite and admirable people ever!

I had forgotten my driver’s license and cash in her purse from the night we went clubbing in Miami. I got way more than that! One time someone complimented her on her sweater and she asked if they’d like to have it. This girl means what she says. I had mentioned that I liked her keychain cover, and she remembered that.

Gio is one year old!

I did some things around the apartment and before I knew it my tummy was growling for lunch!

Penne with Artichoke hearts, spinach, parmesan, ricotta, and pine nuts.

I stumbled upon this yummy site full of pasta recipes. I was feeling kind of down and out after some studio time and some “old/new” crush heartache (he decided to go MIA), so I called a good girlfriend of mine to do some retail therapy.

Note: wearing my hair up is a big deal for me.

Note: it's a big deal if I wear my hair up.

Jeez Matilda!

But she can also be a little lady.

Picking up my friend and admiring the leaves.

Matilda welcomes all passengers!

We picked up some coffee and headed to the doggy store. I got Matilda some goodies!

Some pumpkin "pup"cakes, a spooky cookie, and a new harness (finally!)

A couple pumpkin "pup"cake cookies, a spooky cookie, and a new harness (finally!)

Then we headed to Anthropologie! And what did Matilda do the second we got there? Peed, of course! It was weird because she had never done that before.

Some things I tried on...

Being sneaky taking pictures in the dressing room. I always feel like this is forbidden.

Super cool shirt!

Here’s a new addition to my necklace collection

Why hello there!

On the drive home my friend snapped some pictures of us crossing the James River.

My friend snapped some pictures of us crossing the James River on the way home.

Appreciating the fall season.

Got home and cooked some dinner.

I vaguely followed the recipe for pasta with ricotta, basil, and tomato. On the side are some hot butter and garlic artichokes with grated parmesan. Later I prepared my meals for the next day so I could spend all day in the studio.

Ah, Monday Monday…

I had some European style plain yogurt with Crofter’s raspberry superfruit spread, cranberry cinnamon swirl toast with cream cheese, pumpkin butter, and some slices with Artisana tahini and agave nectar. Oh! And can’t forget the apple I had already started biting into. May I just add that tahini + honey or agave = the bomb.com?

Then it was off to my morning Taoism class - first day of learning some exercises with sticks.

Then I stopped by my apartment real quick to get a snack and the rest of my goods.

Graham-wiches!

U.S. Mills sent me these awhile ago and I finally got around to trying them. I got to try the Honey Graham & Vanilla Creme sandwich cookies and the Chocolate Graham & Peanut Butter Creme kind. Both were seriously so good.

Sandwich cookie powers unite!

Then it was time for my "Kick Ass in the Studio Day"

Then I took a break to go to my Literature class.

I came prepared!

I made banana dahl + coconut oil with brown rice and vanilla butternut squash mash with cinnamon and ricotta.

All mixed together.

Some of the butt-kicking that went on.

Energy bar break!

Have you guys ever tried the Prana Bars by Divine Foods? Well, I was lucky enough to be sent some to sample for a review, which I will be posting later. The sneak preview – this flavor was incredibly delicious and I could definitely taste and even see the coconut shreds. The sweetness mainly comes from the date paste and agave I believe.

After having a dance party while setting up my piece in one of the critique rooms, I finally got home around 9 pm and let Matilda out to take care of her business.

So Tuesday rolled around the corner and it was critique day. Dun dun dun.

Random breakfast

I crushed up Trader Joe’s peanut butter filled pretzels, a fun-size Butterfingers, vanilla yogurt, and Crofter’s raspberry superfruit spread. I had an orange for a vitamin-c boost since I was feeling under-the-weather.

Crit Room 3

All that stuff on the table and in front of it on the floor fit into someone's Nissan Sentra.

And my sculpture... it also had a sound piece to it.

I was so scared about this critique… nauseous scared.. I wanted to go against my perfectionist tendencies as an artist, and just experiment and go with the flow. That felt so uncomfortable, so a lot of insecurities rose up. However, much to my surprise, the critique did not make me cry, nor did I actually throw up.

So now here’s the surprise! I decided to have a giveaway in celebration of this blog’s 101st post. The prize?

Lots of goodies!

A Sunshine Burger baseball cap so you can rep the best veggieburgers in town. A Nature’s Path Optimum Blueberry Flax and Soy bar (yummy icing). All the Prana Bars which are vegan, high-raw, and delicious. There are also some coupons and a vitamin case. Last but not least, I’ll also be sneaking in some other goodies but that’s a secret.

So what do you have to do?

1. Tell me your favorite recipe! It can be a sandwich, yogurt-mess, bowl of oatmeal bliss, dessert, whatever your hearts desire! I will recreate the winner’s favorite - and no worries if it’s not vegetarian. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

2. Link back to this contest.

3. Add me to your blogroll.

And please let me know if you do numbers 2 & 3. The contest will end on Saturday noon time EST. Thanks and good luck!

p.s. All you folks that have been treating yourself to Pumpkin ice cream, try it with walnuts!!! Speaking of sweets, I will be updating my recipe page so you can see the recipe for the scones! Enjoy your Wednesday everybody; we’re in the middle of the wave and it’s smooth riding from here.

An Italian Love Affair

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Katharina

Oh my gosh guys I don’t know where to start! So I will start with Sunday, the day I got back from Florida.

But first, I’m so glad you guys enjoyed Maggie’s post. She’s such a sweet person with a killer sense of taste, creativity, and style!

*Warning* This post has tons of pictures!

: My dad flew up with me and we went the an Asian market.

: We got some things to try… well I could only try the black bean pastries. Delicious nonetheless!

: My stomach has been in a funk so for dinner I stuck to something comforting.

I just heated up some soymilk and mixed in a pack of Uncle Sam’s cinnamon raisin instant oatmeal with soymilk. I threw in a couple more raisins into my bowl. On the side I had mashed kabocha with a little sample size of coconut oil that the folks over at Artisana generously sent me. This actually tasted better than the coconut oil I usually use. However, I’m content using the one I have (not to mention I just got a new jar of it).

: Monday breakfast!

Cranberry cinnamon swirl toast! A topped one slice with Artisana macadamia nut butter, and the other with cream cheese + some more dried cranberries. On the side I tried some of Trader Joe’s European style yogurt with a spoonful of Crofter’s superfruit spread. I loved the consistency and taste of this plain yogurt! It wasn’t too tart at all. Oof that macadamia nut butter is so good.

: Ugh stomach was still upset.

But I opened up a jar of my favorite BBQ sauce. How awesome is the name? I also got to try another Sunshine Burger thanks to the freebie coupons they sent me. This time I picked out the original Sunshine Burger. No joke, this is the best vegetarian burger I’ve tried! This one is definitely not bland and you can taste the carrots in it too! I just put some vegan mayo and BBQ sauce on top. I had a bite without anything and my initial reaction was WOW. I seriously could eat this thing plain.

: Oh! I also got a pretty new water bottle.

: The right way to get my hell day, Tuesday, started.

This time I boiled some soymilk and poured it in with a packet of Nature’s Path Maple Nut oatmeal. Awhile ago they sent me a more than generous package. This was so good! Such a great tasting bowl of oatmeal for a cold morning. I also chopped in some dates, crumbled a bit of a Cranberry Apple Boomi Bar, swirled in Artisana macadamia nut butter. Once again, the macadamia nut butter was excellent with the Maple Nut oats. On the side I heated an apple up because I didn’t want anything cold. Then it was off to go to my 6-hour sculpture class. Good news? The morning part of class was cancelled. And what did that mean?

: Ran some errands with Matilda.

: One awesome oldie and a few new goodies!

I got a purple sweet potato at the Asian market on Sunday. Ever since I’ve seen them on April’s blog I’ve been wanting to try one! I got Scuppernongs for my dad as well. I saw that butternut squash was on sale I definitely put them in my basket. Funny story with the white acorn squash actually. I thought it was also on sale and when I saw it wasn’t, I wanted to cancel the item. Then when the cashier assistant came over he said he’d give it to me for the sale price. Then he kept typing in the wrong keycode and after another try he just said, “here you can just have it.” Cool! Then I went to pick up my prescription and they gave me a freebie package and an entry to win $1,000! Double whammy!

: I made an interesting hummus for lunch.

Chickpeas + Brewed Mustard + Agave + EVOO + Pumpkin Butter = That up there!

: Bah! Tummy ache go away. But atleast it tasted yummy right?

Then it was time to go to the second half of my sculpture class.

: My studio!

I want to go to the different shop areas they have in the Fine Arts building and take pictures so you guys can see!

: I spy something yummy.

: Okay… so my belly was still in a funk but I couldn’t wait any longer!

I had all the ingredients to make Mitri’s mother’s baked ziti recipe. That’s right folks! And I was making it for me and my dad.

: Boiled pasta!

: Mixing some of the ingredients together.

: Layering

In the mean time while it was baking I had to distract myself. I usually get impatient with things that require baking because I don’t really have to do anything. So I made tutorial of how to eat a scuppernong.

Pop the pulp out!

: Dig for seeds!

Ding! Okay I think the ziti is ready!

: Yup! So worth the wait.

: Ladies and gentlemen, and now presenting Mitri’s mother’s baked ziti!

: Buon Appetito!

So I have quite the treat for you guys next post. I’ll give you hint: I have been testing my patience with more baking. And here’s an interesting fact for all you fall lovers out there. Did you know that pumpkin is actually a fruit?

p.s. candy corn devotees out there here’s a DIY recipe!

Change of Pace

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Katharina

I’m going to rewind on my eats a bit because I’ve been skipping around. Remember that pumpkin & lentil curry me and my friend made?

: This is what I did with my leftovers.

Since it was pretty thick it made a good filler for a wrap. The curry was just re-heated with some coconut oil and I also grilled an apple with cinnamon, then spread on some Crofter’s superfruit spread (pomegranates and black currants blended with red grapes and morello cherries).

: Cran-Lemon Twister

Well, this was the last ProBar out of my sampler package. I have to say, I was not disappointed with these bars. The first bite I took out of this one I literally made the “mmm” noise. It definitely has a zing and gave my tastebuds a little twist they’re not use to. Some of the ingredients in this bar are cranberries, lemon, papaya, and pineapple. There are so many other ProBar flavors I didn’t get to try, and I really want to. I guess I will be starting a new collection?

: Dun dun dun… the mandolin slicer.

I bought a butternut squash not too long ago, and I knew exactly what things I wanted to make with it!

: Butternut squash fries!

I seasoned them with salt and some Old Bay. On the side I followed Happy Herbivore‘s spicy chickpea spread recipe. You must try this! It is incredibly easy to make, requires no cookibng, and is great as a sandwich filler, dip, or even alone. In the very back is the famous potato salad from Mrs. Marshall’s Carytown Cafe.

: I mixed in some vegan mayo and ketchup to make it more like a “fries” dip.

: Butternut squash mash

I was reading Lauren‘s blog one day and saw that she made butternut squash mash, and it just sounded so good! I mixed in some coconut oil, vanilla, sugar, and I topped it off with coconut shreds. I had to wait for it to cool down – this was steaming hot!

: More butternut squash fries!

I baked these with freshly grated parmesan then I grated some more on afterwards. I served it with my last ooey-gooey arepa con choclo (sweet corn cake with farmer’s cheese). But I plan on re-stocking while I’m in Florida. There’s a Colombian cafe that makes delicious arepas. But my dad said they changed the cook so they’re a bit different now. We’ll see.

: Pumpkin penne with homemade pumpkin puree

I have no idea how I stumbled upon this recipe, but I’m glad I did. I didn’t have sour cream so I used cream cheese instead. Logical substitute, right?I got to try out another Tofurky product – the Italian sausages. I really like the seasonings they used for these sausages! I’m also glad there is a vegetarian version of these out there because I feel like this recipe would be incomplete without that ingredient. Delicious and easy!

Just like Mitri, I will continue to eat my orange foods to maintain my olive complexion! I have another fall colored dish for you. I’m so use to seeing green in my vegetable portions!

: Root vegetables and chickpeas

I followed a recipe sent to me through the Kardea newsletter. This is just something I made a big batch out of convenience. I plan on serving it with rosemary infused white rice. For a more rustic dish you could serve it with wild rice, or any other grain your prefer. I bet even roasting some potatoes and almonds in this would be delicious as well.

: Matilda also got a special somethin’ somethin’ from Trader Joe’s!

I almost forgot! Here’s the food porn I promised!

: Mmm so creamy

Hmm… what to do with my strawberry Chobani?

: Breakfast the other day was like a banana split!

I heated up a Vitalicious brownie, sliced a banana, sprinkled on some cashews and sprinkles of course! Topped it off with a scoop of fro-yo. On the side I had some cranberry cinnamon swirl toast with cream cheese and 1/2 with Crofter’s superfruit spread and the other 1/2 with Creme of Almond & Dates.

: Up close and personal

: Explosion!

Holly, look it’s a yog-mess!

Today I fly to Florida! Actually, the other night when I double-checked my itenerary I realized that there was a very big mistake. My dad had booked my flight as if I were departing from Florida tomorrow and flying back there on Sunday. Oops dad! You mixed them up. He was able to work it out I guess. Anywho, I’m so excited!

: Some of you may be experiencing the harsh weather already, so don’t forget to bundle up!

: Matilda says so!

p.s. Does anyone have any penne and pesto recipes they’d like to share? Thanks a bunch!

p.s.s. Keep the questions coming! I hope to have a video up by tomorrow. Special post for Friday!

The Way to Someone’s Heart is Through Their Stomach

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Katharina

Heyy everybody! So I’ll be compiling the questions and I will answer them via video post by the end of this week. If any of you come up with a question randomly throughout the week, just comment! Moreover, you guys are all so sweet. I should read your comments everyday before I head out the door!

On Friday I played catch up with one of my bests, Kelley. We went to a local coffeehouse and talked for some hours.

Best friends since 9th grade!

Ya dig?

Then we got ready to go to our friend's birthday shindig.

I saw some old friends that I had wondered what the heck happened to them. I was so glad to see them and just hang out. There were lots of beats made- it’s crazy what you can do with technology these days. And there were a couple of freestylers and anyone else who felt like taking the mic.

Remember how I told you guys about my date being moved to Monday? Well in the short span of a weekend, I almost completely forgot that I’m going on a date… TODAY! I’ll definitely report back. I’m still excited, but things between an old crush of mine have been rekindling. Is it it just me but when one person shows interest in you, then a whole line of them all of a sudden show up? Well, this is definitely happening. My friend who had the birthday on Friday also randomly texted me the next day saying that we should get breakfast some time. This is while I was hanging out with my “old” crush. Oi vey!

: Honey Chobani

This was the last Chobani flavor I had left to try out. Honestly, I didn’t think it was really that good in terms of it tasting like honey. The texture was on point as usual, but where’s the honey??? I had gotten use to seeing chunks of fruits, that I expected there to be swirls of honey in here. Here’s what I ended up mixing it with…

: MultiBran VitaTop + banana, and cranberry raisin swirl toast with cream cheese and one half with Crofter’s fruit spread and the other half with Creme of Date and Almond spread.

I surprisingly liked another Bran VitaTop. It’s also a very versatile VitaTop because you don’t have to worry about any interfering flavors. It’s almost like a blank canvas, except it tastes good… so it’s not really blank!

Well my “old” crush ended up staying over and I made him a delicious bowl of oatmeal. I can’t even remember what I made for him, but he really liked it. He couldn’t finish it though! I think it’s hilarious that I can eat more for breakfast than he can. Actually, that’s how it is in most cases when I’m with friends, and there I am with a clean plate! My mom is also known for having a good appetite hehe. Guess it runs in the family! Anyway, so the “old” crush asked if I wanted to go to Trader Joe’s with him. YES! While I got ready he offered to take Matilda out for a walk. How sweet! He loves Matilda, but really… who doesn’t? We were heading over to Trader Joe’s, then I asked him about that store World Market. I’d always seen it but I never knew what their deal was. I’ve heard they sell furniture but then I also heard my friend say that she bought a crate of mangoes there once. As you can see, I was very confused. He asked me if I wanted to go, “yes,” then he managed to switch over 3 lanes to the right and pull into the parking lot! Whoa! I went to the imported food section and I bought something you will see later in this post. Trust me, you will appreciate it! Next stop was Trader Joe’s and I got some more new things to try out. Since Whole Foods is pretty much Trader Joe’s next door neighbor we went there as well.

: Funkay town!

So far the day was awesome! Our last stop was an Indian grocery store. He had never been. If you’re a friend of mine there is some point in time of our friendship that I will take you over to some specialty market.

: Bags of puffed rice. Check out the mondo one!

: So colorful

After we got some more new things to spoil our tastebuds (aside from the incense *their prices are always way lower than anywhere else), we headed over to the new Indian pastry shop next door.

: INDIAN PASTRY SHOP!

He asked me if he could buy me a veggie samosa. How cute! And did he even need to ask? Of course I’d be okay with that!

: Just a couple of the things I got to try out.

GINGER SYRUP! I had no idea that the folks at Ginger People also made a syrup. Where have I been? This is what I got at World Market. Oh my goodness! When I saw this I knew I had to have it no questions asked. I also got Tofurky’s Italian Sausage – a freebie thanks to the kind folks at Turtle Island Foods. The jar of Tamarind-Date Chutney isn’t new, just restocking an old favorite. But those are the famous peanut butter filled pretzels I’ve seen on a countless number of blogs! They were very yummy – and I dipped them in even more peanut butter; Jenny you’d be proud! I also got some other sauces to try at the Indian store, but I’ll leave those for another day.

After some hours apart (haha) my “old” crush came over to watch The Lost Boys. Yes, that old 80′s vampire flick! Anyway, because my apartment is too cozy to ever leave, he slept over again. This time I was able to snap a picture of what I made him for breakfast.

: All the boys around here should be jealous!

He commented on how beautiful it was! I’ve been joking around that I will seduce him through the powerful ways of Majesty Oatmeal. I just sliced an apple, threw in some almonds and poured on a bit of the Maple & Apple syrup. However, I used a new grain that I got to try out that morning too. Have you ever had Cream of Wheat? Well this was a brown rice version. Erewhon sent me a box of Brown Rice Cream; made from organic brown rice. How could I forget?! I also sprinkled a generous amount of pumpkin pie spice I picked up at Trader Joe’s.

For me?

Pineapples and cashews! And the ginger syrup, of course.

The Brown Rice Cream looks kind of funky because I mixed in Spirutein.

The Brown Rice Cream looks kind of funky because I mixed in a scoop of vanilla Spirutein.

I really enjoyed how creamy this was. I’ve never blended oats, but I’d imagine this is what they’d be like. Another wonderful and versatile breakfast grain!

In other news, Angharad from Eating for England asked me to do a guest post for her. Heck yes! Check it out: Putting your twist on things. Guest posts are so much fun!

p.s. next post = serious food porn. Viewer discretion is advised… okay that sounds scary. I swear it’s not, but it will make you drool a lot!

Another Part of Me

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Katharina

Hello everyone! This is an exciting post for me because I get to introduce you all to a part of my life that is very important to me. As I’ve mentioned in my ‘About Me‘ page, art drives and shapes every aspect of my life. Which is why my plates look the way they do! I can’t help but consider color, placement, things like that. Obsessive? Not to me. I just enjoy making things that are aesthetically pleasing. Anyway, today was my sculpture class’s first critique of the semester. Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could get to a couple of our pieces – including mine. So, I’ll report back to you all once that’s done.

Critique days are my crazy days. It becomes my one and only real priority, so that means no cooking for me!

: Thank goodness for these babies!

The folks at ProBar gave me a nice little package not too long ago. What better time to bust out my first bar on a day where everything is just too cray-cray.

“Apple Cinnamon Crunch is a flavor reminiscent of Mom’s homemade apple pie with just the right combination of sweet apples, nuts, and a dash of cinnamon. This bar is so good it might compliment your next Thanksgiving dinner.”

I was a bit weary of this because I feel dessert-y bars are hard to pull off. So how was my first bite into this dense bar? Delicious! I believe their choices of nuts, dried fruits, and the most wonderful surprise – carob chips – were perfectly combined. This was even better with a pack of soymilk and a couple of peaches. I wish I took a picture of what the bar actually looked like! It had the texture that I love in bars – you could see every ingredient, like whole almonds and sesame seeds. However, I would call it Apple Cinnamon Chew, as it was very chewy. But maybe they thought “crunch” just sounded better. My overall review? If you are considering trying a ProBar, or aren’t sure which flavor to get – try this one!

All their bars are made from whole, organic, raw foods, and 100% vegan.

I also got to try some other new things today. I went to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods the other day with my dad, since he’s in town, and picked up some new items.

So many bars!

On Katie‘s blog I read that Clif nectar bars were going to be discontinued. I had never tried these bars, but I feel the need to know what these bars taste like. I also picked up 2 others that I’ve seen floating around blogland. I tried the MoJo sweet-n-salty bar as a snack today. Meh, it wasn’t horrible, but I don’t see myself buying it again. Isn’t there a PB&J flavor though? I do want to know how that one tastes.

Peaches born and raised here? Yes ma'am!

So much to talk about here folks.

I picked up some pine nuts because pesto recipes have been dancing around my head. Dried cranberries because summer is officially over (say it isn’t so!). I’m so excited to try these falafel patties – garlic sauce recipe hunt begins after this post. I highly recommend buying Lindemans Framboise beer in any flavor! I’m thinking… Mrs. Marshall’s Carytown Cafe for the best potato salad (no lie) + Kielbasa? Look at those sprouts! There are garbanzo, alfalfa, red lentil, and another sprout I can’t remember!

One old best friend and one new best friend in my life.

I love 365′s crunchy peanut butter. I should also mention that a jar of this is less than $2! I also bought myself a jar of Trader Joe’s Sunflower Seed Butter. After I tried it at my friend’s house I vowed that I would pick up a jar the next time I would venture out to TJ’s. It’s goodness is overwhelming, and my tastebuds are so happy whenever I eat it. This more than makes up for the other day when I accidentally burned my tongue – sorry tastebuds!

Still pretending it's fresh out of the oven.

While I was at Whole Foods, me and my dad smelled some heavenly aroma wafting through the bulk bins. We knew it was coming from the bakery! After we checked out the hot-bar, we moseyed on over to the breads. My dad got straight to the point and said he smelled something spiced and wondered what it was. Well, they told us they just got done baking a loaf of pumpkin bread. They were testing out the recipe = we are the guinea pigs. They wanted us to let them know if it had too much salt, too much sugar, any input we had. Umm… I felt like a horrible critic because my vocabulary failed me while I chewed, smiled with my eyes, and gave them a thumbs up. I saved a portion of the generous slices they gave us…

A nighttime snack!

Mashed kabocha with coconut oil, brown sugar, and cinnamon topped with vanilla fro-yo and the rest of the pumpkin bread. Just a little something to treat myself before the BIG CRIT DAY! Here are some pictures of some of the pieces:

I noticed how cool it looked when she was taking a picture of her piece from that point.

Hey everybody, it's me!

First attempt to get out.

The way I came into the world... I think. Or was it the stork?

At this point I was hoping not too much of my buttcrack would show.

Free!

Now it’s time to meet my professor!

This man is incredible! I’m not sure how one human can have so much information coming from so many different places in his head, but he manages. Sometimes when he’s talking he closes his eyes, pauses for literally a good minute, gathers his thoughts, and then decides to say something.

Oh and afterwards we learned what the title of that particular piece was; “The Fucking Part of Life” haha!

Katharina, where are these breakfast pictures you promised in your last post? Alright, alright:

Ricotta, warmed up apple chunks, topped with Zoe's granola.

Ricotta, warmed up apple chunks with cinnamon, topped with Zoe's granola + toast on the side.

Beautiful figs on toast with cream cheese, honey, and cinnamon.

Lauren, inspired me to pick up some beautiful fruits at the grocery store. She always incorporates a wide variety of fruits in veggies, and I love it!

This is the first time I blended oats with ricotta; certainly not my last!

Since we’re on the topic of figs, I’m gonna go there!

I got to try something new!

I heated up a Chocolate Fig VitaTop and served it with some fresh figs, and a cup of almond milk. The almond milk is in that cute chickadee cup in the back. Back to the muffin tops. I didn’t think the flavor was bad, it was mostly very dry though. With each bite, I kept wishing I had ice cream – something to moisten it a bit. I’m on the fence on whether or not I should recommend this products. I have another one, and I’ll give you another review.

Moving right along… warning, this is a superb bowl of oats. Superb.

Everything looks so pillowy.

What’s that sitting on top? I whirled up a frozen banana, ricotta cheese, vanilla extract, and a bit of stevia. This is much like Gena’s soft-serve, but more volumunious and creamier. It was an incredible way to start the morning with a warm bowl of oats with coconut oil. I suggest crushing some candied walnuts if you really want to take this up a notch.

I licked my blender clean it was so good.

I licked my blender and bowl clean it was so good.

I don’t think anyone figured out what the surprise green mushy stuff I made was. Well, now I will reveal to you all – drum roll please…

Edamame hummus!!!

I followed this recipe, and it came out wonderfully. I love the color and the flavor the sesame oil adds to it as well. The first time I saw this was at Trader Joe’s, and I was thinking about how ridiculously simple this must be to make. It is!

Yin and yang

Here are some ways I’ve been eating it:

My lunch looks more like a snack plate.

In a sandwich layered with cream cheese, spinach, red onion, tomato, sprouts, and the edamame hummus.

It would probably be really yummy if I added something smokey to the sandwich, or maybe I’ll test the waters like Mitri and spread a nutbutter on – sunflower seed butter anyone?

What's that?

I think Matilda approves.

Although my critique hasn’t happened yet, I’ll show it you all anyway. And let me know what you guys think!

Who am I Becoming

When Your Alarm doesn’t Go Off

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Katharina

So I’m posting from my friend’s apartment in New York right now. I swear, I feel right at home! Her new place is absolutely adorable and she actually has a backyard in Brooklyn. Lucky Liz!

I took the bus yesterday and the five minutes before my bus departed were insane. My departure time was 7:30 am. Kim walked into my room in the morning and asked if that was the time the bus was leaving, then she told me that it was 7:25. WHAT?! I rolled out of bed, threw some clothes, grabbed my food I had ready the night before and bolted out the door. I didn’t even say bye to Matilda! We definitely pulled a Little Miss Sunshine to make it to the pick-up spot on time. We were a bit late, but I still made it. Then I realized my shirt was on backwards. Now if you ever feel sleepy, this is a sure way to wake you up! The bus didn’t have a sink so I had to go almost the whole day without washing my face, brushing my teeth… nothing. I arrived in Chinatown and walked around for a bit with my luggage and yoga mat. It felt like I was starting a new life. Then I picked up a cab and it was a pleasant ride over the bridge into Brooklyn. The driver and I were talking about how nice of a day it was. We had the windows down and at one of the stoplights, there was a park right next to us and some people were laughing it up, then James Brown came on their boombox – it really felt like summertime. I told the cab driver that we stopped at the right time and both started singing along “get on up!”

I probably won’t be posting here, but who knows. My friend has a job, so I do have plenty of alone time. I sense lots of adventures in the very near future.

Moreover, thanks for all the compliments on my new place! It’s funny how I just moved in, yet I’m already out of town. I tried to get as much done as I could before I left. I can’t wait to get back either though to start decorating the common space. I’d also like to thank Holly for asking me to write a guest post on her blog. I seriously love this gal and she’s such an amazing person! It was so much fun writing it and reading people’s responses. I’m glad you guys enjoyed reading it, and I know I enjoyed reading the others’ posts as well.

The night before I went to New York, Richmond was having another First Friday. So I went with my roommate, friends, and Matilda to see what was going on in the galleries. I also ordered my bus tickets and packed my things!

The show I was mentioned in a previous post called Skull-a-Day: 365 days of skull artwork.

Check out that crazy, carved pencil!

Not only is there talent in the galleries, but on the sidewalks as well.

All girl band!

Some old guy said the word "titties" as soon as he saw this hahaha!

Cutest gallery called Quirk.

Super intense showing full of prints.

My favorite print: Be Blatent, Be Emotional, Risk Everything.

Here are a few things I’ve been doing in the new kitchen:

Fresh strawberries are so delicious! Especially with cream cheese.

Cinnamon raisin toast with various toppings. Yogurt with sliced strawberries and pumpkin butter.

My favorite combo with the toast was the peanut butter with extra raisins!

Now here are some snackies since I munch throughout the day.

A refreshing bowl of raspberries and pumpkin butter over yogurt.

My friend gave me a freshly baked scone.

So before I went to bed I had it with tea, and topped it with pumpkin butter, homemade blueberry jam and some vanilla fro-yo. Some more baked goods from a local bakery:

Half-eaten slices of zucchini and challah bread.

I LOVE coconut milk!

Some yummy cashews.

I tried some “exotic cashews” by Kazana Whole Foods. The flavors were Sweet-n-Sour and Himalayan Secret. Both are so good! I love cashews, but these cashews had some flavorful oomph to them.

I also tried some new condiments.

There’s this brand called Terrapin Ridge that makes some incredible sauces. I highly recommend their Carrot, Ginger, and Miso Salad Squeeze. The other day at the store I saw a bottle of their Brewery Mustard on sale, so I got one to try. Definitely tasted the beer, but I definitely did not mind! The jar of peanut butter for dipping my giant carrot in.

I was able to use the stove in peace as well and made one of my favorite things to go on top of pasta – lentil bolognese! I follow that recipe, but I didn’t add in the celery and I replaced the marjoram with tarragon.

The tarragon gave it an incredible sweet aroma.

Yum!

Boxes make for great impromptu tables, and kale chips make even better sides!

Leftovers are way better! I also added some coconut oil this time and it was awesome.

Some decorating I got done before I left for New York.

So my butt is sore from sitting, and I need to get my day started. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend and the upcoming week. Take care friends!

I’m strong, I’m tough, I still wear my eyeliner

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Katharina

Cute doggy boutique.

The other day I took Matilda on a search for a new harness. The one she has right now has been tattered and torn thanks to her crazy antics. I still haven’t been able to decide which one I should get for her. There are some that I’ve seen online as well that are just so darn cute! Anyway, here are some pictures of Matilda modeling.

Making herself comfortable? Not a problem.

Center of attention much?

Now on to some food!

More toast!

In the bowl is just some plain yogurt, banana slices, ground flaxseed, crumbled honey graham stick, and a spoonful of strawberry jam! I grilled the toast this morning with some more banana slices, cinnamon, and coconut oil.

After some walking around the neighborhood and visiting a gallery with my roommate, Kim, and Matilda I made my lunch. By the way, the exhibition at the gallery I went to is awesome. It was a 365 day project called Skull-A-Day. I’m going to go back and take some pictures. Not to mention that gallery is super cute and I die a little everytime I go there. In a good way of course.

Leftover basil rice, avocado, tomato, and white beans. All drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Leftover basil rice, green pepper, avocado, tomato, onions, and white beans.

I season it with Adobo seasoning and black pepper.

After lunch I made my way over to the new local coffeeshop I was telling you guys about before.

I ordered a peach iced tea.

And Matilda wanted some of her sweet potato treats, or maybe just to sit on my lap?

Then I bumped into a friend who had been in Mexico for the past month. She told me about some of the crazy things that are happening there right now. She’s always been very concerned with the well-being of humanity and she’s like a super woman. Her and a friend are actually going to start a female co-op and they’ll be hosting all girl dance parties and such! Dancing? I’m there!

Matilda gets so much love! But that's because she gives it too.

Matilda gets so much love! And she's got a lot to give too.

She definitely gave Grace a big sloppy kiss on the chin after this picture was taken.

Afterwards, we headed home and I made some dinner. I knew what to do with the white beans I had, but the only thing missing was the pita bread! I tried to make a sort of “pancake” with my 10-grain cereal. I totally failed, so I just mixed it in with my beans.

10-grain cereal with the beans, pasta sauce and hummus, and locally grown green pepper!

10-grain cereal with the beans + avocado, pasta sauce and hummus, and locally grown green pepper!

I mixed the beans with red wine vinegar, basil, and some salt. I think I prefer the 10-grain cereal with savoury things, because whenever I try to make it for breakfast… it sucks! So now I know. A lot of you guys say how nice my meals look. Well truth be told, they do before I dive in!

Damage is being done.

Hey Mom, look what I did!

It’s going to be nice to actually have a designated eating area when I move into my new place. Where I currently live has no place to sit and eat besides my room. Well, there’s the kitchen and living room but they’re so messy… so don’t even get me started there. Oi vey!

Anyway, shall I squeeze in one more foodie picture? Okay okay if you insist! For breakfast yesterday I had…

Uncooked oats over rose water infused yogurt, sliced bananas, coconut shreds, PB&A nuts. I'm forgetting something... AHA! Cinnamon and some nutmeg+confectioner's sugar.

Uncooked oats over rose water infused yogurt, sliced bananas, coconut shreds, and PB&A nuts. I'm forgetting something... AHA! Cinnamon and some nutmeg+confectioner's sugar.

The other day I was walking Matilda and during my walk I bumped into my ex whom I haven’t seen in over a year. It was totally random and not awkward. It made me realize how I’m so past that whole situation… he and I had a weird and unpleasant history. I just am not over the fact of how random that bump in was. Some of my friends would see him around campus a lot but we managed to never cross paths until the other night. Anyway, it started drizzling, then raining so I headed back home with Matilda in my arms. I was also glad that I looked good that day!

When I got home, I turned on the stove to heat some water. Then I put the tea back on the top shelf and something fell. I looked behind the shelf to see what it was. I didn’t see what had fallen, but I did find my lost pan and my antique tea warmer that had mysteriously disappeared. Unfortunately, the tea warmer was broken.

It’s funny how things can happen.

Moreover, I’m going to be putting together a FAQ page. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers do that, and I think it’s a neat addition to someone’s blog. So if you have any questions… ask away!

E-mail: onthepolkadot@hotmail.com

p.s. I hope you all had an exciting weekend! I know for me the excitement continues because I’ll be moving into my new place tomorrow!!!

Dog Days of Summer

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Katharina

First and foremost, I’d like to thank you all for the encouragement and insight on my interest in studying abroad. As some of you may know, I am originally from Germany, so studying there would not be a problem. However, I might choose somewhere other than my motherland since I love traveling and getting to know other cultures. What’s more exciting is getting the opportunity to adapt to them! But, Neela, we can still take a train and find an awesome city to conquer together! We’ll have all the men at our feet while we shop, right?

On another note, since I haven’t been posting that often, let’s get down to business folks. Right now I’m sitting at a new coffeeshop that opened up where I live. They’re concept is really neat -

“…offers the best in delicious, organic, fair trade coffee, served up by our excellent baristas, using state-of-the-art equipment. To go with it, we’ve got a fantastic menu, packed with both sweet and savory fare and using the freshest organic ingredients. And while you’re savoring the coffee and the food, we invite you to jump on our free wireless, and to enjoy entertainment, classes and activities.“

The coffeeshop is actually an extension of a local healthfood store that really pushes the idea of supporting local farmers and making less of an imprint on our environment, while taking our health into consideration.

Let’s see… where to begin? Oh I know! The first and most important meal of the day. It also happens to be my favorite!

: Toast for breakfast!

I was always jealous of my roommates toast always smelling so good. How come mine didn’t smell so good? I think it’s because I usually have the super grainy kind of bread. The other day when I went to the store, I knew I was running really low on cereal, and I knew yogurt was on sale for $1.88 for 32 oz. Then I spotted the one. Meet my new love, cinnamon raisin swirl toast. Well, not really a new love, just a forgotten one. This morning I smeared some whipped butter on one slice and coconut oil on the other. Then I sprinkled on some extra cinnamon. This time I was the one making the roommates wonder where that heavenly smell was coming from. One of the toasts even got Hello Kitty burnt on it. In the bowl I had plain yogurt, sliced banana, homemade blueberry jam, flaxseed and a crumbled honey graham stick. Thank JB for reminding me of how yummy blueberries and banana are together!

I was also inspired, yet again, by the hilarious Jess! For real girl, keep doing your thang. You’ve got an ability to make people smile and laugh!

: A wrap that I would like to say was muy delicioso!

In the wrap was a random veggieburger, Trader Joe’s corn salsa, mayo, and carrots. On the side I steamed some cauliflower and doused it with nutritional yeast and red pepper flakes. Spicy!

: I also munched on this!

I discovered something wonderful at the bottom of this bag. Besides some of the sugar granules that managed to sprinkle off the nuts, I found raspberry jelly bits! More PB&A goodness right there.

: Mini wraps!

I was low on groceries so I checked our freezer and I found some chick’n strips that I think have been forgotten. So here’s what I decided to do… I heated up some wraps on the skillet (notice the burn marks). Then I spread some Triple-Layer hummus, topped it with spinach, chick’n strips cooked in tamarind-date chutney, and smeared some Duke’s mayonnaise all over. I didn’t exactly wrap these babies… I just folded them over and got to work eating. I know mayonnaise makes some people cringe. But there are so many varieties now: cholesterol-free, vegan, light, and even with added omega-3′s! Today I was mulling over a menu and I read “sun-dried tomato mayo”. My food processor and I will soon get to crackin’. Now if I could get my hands on some Delouis.

I found another wonderful item at the local grocery store the other day. I browsed through the bakery items and found just the thing!

: I had them slice it for me.

Once I’m at my new place and I feel more freedom to do things in the kitchen, I’m going to start baking my own bread again. When I first moved into my current place I would bake Irish soda bread weekly. However, I felt like my baking skills were being taken advantage of and I stopped baking things all together. This is why when I go home to Florida you might notice that I take full of advantage of the kitchen and my love for cooking and baking. I’m going to stop thinking of buying good quality items as a splurge. It tastes better and it just makes me feel more content about my meal. Why not make everyday special, you know?

: A big salad with baby spinach, Hanover tomatoes (THE BEST), avocado, roasted chickpeas, and a sweet honey dijon dressing.

I roasted the chickpeas in ground cinnamon, powdered onion, honey, and a bit of soy sauce. This smelled so good! Alongside my salad I had some slices of bread with the Three-Layer hummus and a baby slice with avocado!

: Something similar for lunch the next day.

However I buttered my bread and put some minced garlic on it then grilled it.

: I scooped some of the chickpeas and tomatoes on the toast and it was so yummy.

For dinner I wanted to use the chickpeas for something other than a salad.

: I wanted something a bit more filling, but still refreshing.

I steamed some rice with basil. I dumped the rest of my chickpeas in my bowl of rice and mixed in chopped raw carrots and tomatoes. While the rice was still steaming I stirred in the essential coconut oil. Can’t go a day without it! This was exactly what my tummy was hoping for!

: I also had a cup of Chinese Green Monkey Tea.

I have some exciting plans coming up next week! Besides my move-in date being tragically postponed till Monday, my friend, Liz, will be arriving on Wednesday. Get ready for some serious adventures you guys. This girl has got spunk, sass, and all that jazz. She’s a New Yorker, what can I say? She’s staying till the 9th and I’ll be heading back up with her. I haven’t decided how long I’ll be staying though. So if you guys have any recommendations of places for me to go to (not limited to foodie things) let me know. Oh! And if anyone wants to go on a date that would be nice too! I like to call them dates because it just makes it sound more exciting hehe.

: I want some Lucky Candy! Anyone want a piece?

If you haven’t checked it out yet there’s a very interesting contest going on at the Special K Treatment. Go take a look before it’s too late!

Also, Mia was kind enough to honor me with a blog award. I’ve never received one before so this is definitely something special. And thank you so much! Now I have to fulfill the duty as a lovely blogger and pass it on to other lovely ones.

Oh gosh, do I have to choose? I totally suck at this kind of thing because I love everyone’s blog that I follow, or else why would I be reading it?

Neela, Mitri, Nicole, Kelsey, JB, Cate, Gillian, Katie, Brittany, the Brookes, Jess, K, Janetha, Emily, Jenny, Monica, Lauren, Lynn, and Holly. Okay I went over 15… and I could keep going. You seriously are all so wonderful and I can imagine you guys are just as radiant, if not more, in person as you are in your blogs.

p.s. For all you chia people out there, I stumbled upon this recipe that’s perfect for the summertime.

Chia Fresca

1 glass of lemonade

1 tsp Chia Seeds

1. Combine chia seeds and lemonade. Shake or stir. Allow to sit for 10 minutes until chia seeds swell. Enjoy this delicious and healthy chia fresca.

2. Chia fresca can also be made by soaking the chia seeds for 10 minutes separately in a glass of water. Then combine the chia seed gel with any flavored water or juice for an exciting different flavor of chia fresca.

Bet you didn’t think Chia seeds could be had as a refreshing lemonade, huh?

Take care all and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week. I’ve got to refill my iced tea and Matilda’s water bowl because it’s just one of those hot summer days!

Katharina's Food Adventures

Tag Archives: toast