Tag Archives: udi’s granola

Two of the Sweetest Things in Life: Friends & Family

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22

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!

Just Checking In

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23

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

Chocolate Filled Everythings Exist

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25

Hello hello there! I’m going to start this post off the best way I know how.

Yeah I'm going to say it... this was a bomb ass breakfast!

Cold oatmeal and in the morning I mixed in a few big spoonfuls of pecan butter, cinnamon, NuNaturals liquid vanilla , and a sliced banana and pear. Holy yum every bite of this was delicious.

Hummus with a special ingredient...

Horseradish cream!

This gave it a nice kick!

Some Belgian beer to go with my dinner!

Fruitful hehehe

Roasted and seasoned sweet potatoes go well with salads, don't you think?

Then I was headed to a show!

We wanted more from the Screaming Females!

A bowl of Udi's granola, Greek yogurt, frozen strawberries and peaches, and blobs of almond butter

I also think I spy banana slices in there as well…

Noteworthy snack: Dr. Kracker's Apple Crisps + goat cheese + honey

And a noteworthy night...

Friday nights are pretty much dubbed Girls’ Night Out for me! I was wearing some of my favorite things and I was feeling on top of the world. Later that night, I guess when I had taken my blazer off in the car it somehow managed to escape because I lost it. I was so upset! I kept reminding myself that it was just a material thing, then the voice “but it’s one of your favorite things!” would creep up. What’s a girl to do? Have a friend that gets a funny feeling and finds it on the road in front of her apartment the following night… unharmed! Yay!

My Sunday was spent at the river with a good friend of mine and talking about freedom.

Matilda came too and she actually went swimming around for a bit.

I've also been hunting and gathering material for my final project for my sculpture class.

I also attended an award ceremony the sculpture department hosts annually.

Walked into the holy land...

That expression sums it up!

As soon as you walk into this chocolate shop… the tantalizing smell finds its way to your nose!

Huge jars upon huge jars of goodies lined up along the entire store!

YEAH!!!

There were even drawers with even more chocolate-covered goodies.

Katie! Where were you?!

I really wonder how much chocolate is covering each square foot of this place.

I really wonder how much chocolate covers each square foot of this place.

Look at how cute these are.

Every kind of truffle to feed the imagination...

And giant bars of chocolate... to make your own!

Eventually we made our way out of the store and also tried on some cute outfits at different boutiques. We also made a pit stop at this place I’d never seen before.

A new Greek place!

Opa! Now here’s another thing to celebrate ladies and gentlemen… it’s Friday!!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

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I just finished my dinner and that’s one thought that came to mind. During my semester I usually make things in batches, and I have my go-to recipes that I know are quick and tasty. However, cooking a special meal is something that I appreciate every time. I just got done having an incredibly flavorful meal that took a bit of time to make, but was still very simple. Eating good food makes me feel… content. I think that’s the perfect word because I feel happy yet calm. If only you could see the smile on my face hehe.

This was my dinner!

Remember how I use to think brussel sprouts tasted like farts… that is until I gave them a second chance. I finally prepared them the way I thought I would enjoy them most. Now this just opened up so many more doors. I followed this recipe to make shallot and balsamic roasted brussel sprouts. I want to try roasting them with honey, honey and lime, and maple syrup! I bet it would be nothing short of delicious. For the cannellini beans I cooked them with minced garlic, cumin, dried basil, salt and pepper, and a bit of balsamic vinegar. These were served on top of basmati rice and everything was topped off with pine nuts.

A close-up was in order!

I’m proud of myself for giving this veggie a second chance and deciding to prepare it myself. And you know what? It was absolutely delicious! Do you ever feel proud after cooking or baking something?

Super easy snack!

I think I’m doing a good job of coming up with simple savory snacks! This is a Dr. Kracker seeded spelt flatbread. I really enjoy the size of these flatbreads because they’re not as small as the Wasa crackers. You can top them with more things! The flavor is also something to be noted. I could have these plain too! It was delicious and simple which lends to  its versatility. You can make these a part of a savory or sweet snack (topping with nut butter and jam perhaps).

Another flavor...

These are the Sunflower Cheddar crisps. They’re perfect to use as croutons in a salad as well. If you go on their site you can read all of the great recommendations they have for each flavor. Back to these crisps! I love their nuttiness, crunch, and cheesiness! By the way, these are awesome with avocado!

A refreshing shake!

I tried a packet of Jay Robb’s Vanilla Rice Protein powder. I blended in a frozen banana and almond butter as well. Yummy creaminess!

Another savory snack idea!

A nice fluffy pita filled with chickpeas, tomatoes, and goat cheese. I wish I would’ve had a garlic sauce or something to go with this!

POM!

Not too long ago I was sent a package of POM Wonderful’s 100% pomegranate juice. Juice is such a refreshing thing during the warm months. Perfect timing, I say! Anyway, these alone are tasty and not as tart as the fruit itself. I know this has nothing to do with the juice, but I’ve always loved the packaging. The glass ones are my favorite because you can re-use them. Anyway, I have one more container left and I wanted to try it in a recipe. Anyone have any suggestions???

I finally got around to trying another recipe from the Veganomicon.

These are beanballs! They were so easy to make and were perfect for leftovers. I served them with penne pasta (I didn’t have spaghetti on hand), artichoke scarpetta (that translates to “damn good sauce”), goat cheese, and pine nuts. On the side you see frozen grapes. These are one of my favorite things to eat when the weather gets warm.

And my breakfasts are still my favorite meals!

This was a bowl Udi’s granola, Greek yogurt, sliced banana and apple, and my favorite peanut butter. Granola and yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is one of my favorite combinations.

Oh, and I re-stocked my supply of my favorite BBQ sauce.

Bone Suckin’ Sauce! I think it’s a favorite amongst many of you out there; with good reason!

It’s Pudding Time

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Hello everybody! As promised, this post is a recap of the shenanigans me and Liz were up to during my visit. As many of you know, her birthday was earlier this week! So if you haven’t wished her a happy birthday yet, don’t forget heheh. So let the celebration begin!

Liz and her family picked me up at the airport and we were off to dinner!

Two stylish peas in a pod!

We went to this chic restaurant called Red, The Steakhouse.

The olive oil and parmesan cheese dip for the bread.

So good!

Four cheese baked mac-n-cheese, potatoes au gratin, sautéed broccoli and garlic, sautéed spinach, and seared killbuck valley mushrooms. Um… yum?!

Strike a pose!

So let me just say that Liz’s mom has serious decorating skills, and their home truly feels like a home. There’s so much character in everything and I could spend days just looking at all the little treasures.

I stayed in the "Bates Motel"

AHHH!!!

Liz had some of my favorites ready for me for breakfast!

The Udi’s granola was basically a sunken island in the sea of almond milk. I sliced in a banana and scooped in some chocolate almond butter. This was so yummy! I also tried Futters‘ chocolate hazelnut butter and their chocolate pecan butter. Holy crap these were awesome!!! Not just the flavor, but there was a distinct texture to these nut butters that I loved.

Both in our zones hahaha.

Then we took Chooey for a walk on an unusually warm morning.

Liz's mom taking care of the pretty flower arrangement.

And before you know it, it was lunchtime!

Look! She's simply glowing!

Amazing fresh pita bread and a yummy dip with olive oil, sesame seeds, thyme, and marjoram.

Let me just note that I loved that every place we went to had a dip that was different from the norm.

The baba

Yum!

Falafels with a tahini sauce, spicy hummos (best hummos ever), and the garlic spinach which was sautéed spinach with toasted pine nuts and onions. This was such a delicious lunch! Definitely the kind of food I’m in the mood for when the weather starts to warm up.

After lunch we headed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Outside in the crazy wind!

Rockin' out!

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we got to see this really cool movie of all the musicians that have been inducted up until 2010. It was especially neat because you got to see all the stars’ outfits, lyrics, and other memorabilia as well.

Then we headed to the previous night's restaurant's neighbor... Moxie!

Her sweet parents!

Delicious veggies!

The best broccolini I’ve ever had, brussel sprouts, and we couldn’t get enough of the killbuck valley mushrooms!

The spread...

Liz’s mom and I ordered some tea because were tea ladies hehe. They also had this seeded bread that I enjoyed with a white bean dip and some herbed butter. After dinner we headed to one of the area’s malls.

We made a stop at the chocolate store.

Look at all of those candied apples!

I picked the biggest and juiciest chocolate-covered strawberry! Which also happened to be deformed.

When we came home it was time to try one of the raw vegan "moon pies" that Liz's friend sent for her birthday.

Deliciously rich!

The birthday girl modeling her birthday present! I'm glad she liked it hehehe.

That morning I got to meet one of Liz’s brothers and his family.

There was an Easter egg hunt for the boys.

Keeping her eyes on the road.

And look who we ended up behind!

We obviously couldn't get enough of Taza!

This girl's got a lightbulb in her because she keeps glowing haha!

Liz got a refreshing Falafel salad and a side of spicy hummos.

That day they garnished the hummos with chickpeas!

My turn!

I ordered a falafel-hummos roll that came with pickled turnips and seasoned fries. Incredible! But what else could I expect?

Then we were off to Whole Foods to pick up some of Liz's staples and some new things to try as well!

When we came home, it was time to open up the Easter baskets her mom had put together for us!

Then it was getting close to the time of my departure. So soon?!

Chooey escorted us to the airport!

I love you Liz!

The "never let go" pose!

Now I understand why Theo is one of her favorite brands of chocolate.

And a yummy grawnola bar sample from One Lucky Duck.

Also, check out the video of us that VeggieDad filmed! I can’t help but have a big cheesy smile whenever I watch it. It just makes me really happy to think about the past weekend with Liz and her family. They are such wonderful people, and I’m lucky to have her as one of my best friends!

Living In a Daze, Part II

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22

Finally the day has come–the recap of the day of the fashion show is here!!!

Hippie food and Vogue can go together!

I finished off the last of the Udi’s Original granola (Raisins, Banana Chips, Walnuts, Cashews, Almonds, and Pistachios), with Greek yogurt, a sliced banana, Sunland’s caramel peanut butter, and drizzled coconut butter. I had to do some last minute things like waxing, exfoliating, and squeezing in some study time before the rest of my day was to be spent at rehearsal. But before I headed out, I threw together a quick lunch…

Leftovers from the Jordanian restaurant, steamed kale + butternut squash, avocado, and a sweet potato
I packed some snacks as well–bananas and a mini-jar of my favorite peanut butter.

The first run-through with the outfits.

I was a part of the first, third, and last segment so our group made the first and last impact.

Check out the killer leggings!
Then the hair and makeup team came and music started pumping!

Credit to David Lee

Quickly getting something to eat before the show…

The venue has a kitchen, so someone prepped a taco station for everyone!

Unfortunately, by the time I got there all of the guacamole was gone.

I made some great friends through the show.
And I got to hang out with some old ones as well!

Then it was time for the show to start! The room got a bit hectic and you could feel the energy buzzing. Not to mention the crowd started pouring in!!! The venue was packed and people were trying to sneak in, even. Can you believe I didn’t had an ounce of nervousness in me? I was way too excited and there was nothing that could bring me down. The moment I walked out on the runway I felt incredibly happy to be where I am. The place was packed so everyone was up by the stage, like a concert. Imagine walking out into a sea of people and feeling all their incredible energy and your own. HECK YEAH!

Credit to David Lee
Credit to David Lee

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to David Lee

Credit to Todd Raviotta

Credit to David Lee
Credit to David Lee

Credit to Todd Raviotta

Credit to Todd Raviotta

Then the after party started and it was time to dance!

With my mom!

WOO

Everybody shakin' it.

Get down James Brown!

Hey Dad!

Cutie Mom dancing the night away.

My roomie was bartending!

My dad got funky and ended up having a fan club!

Credit to Nick Ghobashi

This was such a great experience and I definitely want to do things like this again!!! It was so much fun, you meet great people, wear killer clothes, and looking back on it… there was nothing negative from this whole experience at all. It was wonderful to see everyone let their personalities shine through and exude confidence, while wearing some seriously hot outfits. And why not?! Everyone should be proud of who they are and what they have to offer. Hey, I’m still living on cloud nine!

Next day I went to my parent's hotel to check it out--Edgar Allen Poe wrote a poem in this courtyard.

It was so charming!

I was still feeling sleepy from the day before.

But we headed over to a local coffeeshop to enjoy the beautiful day.

Dad paid with his allowance money hehehe.

Delicious drinks

Matilda came too!

Mom and sipping her usual order: cappuccino.

I got some good studying in before I dropped my parents off at the airport. We also walked over to the local health food store to check out their hot bar.

My yummy afternoon snack + a refreshing smoothie I brought along.

My parents don't mind their little shutterbug taking pictures of their food hehe.

Then it was time to drop them off at the airport. Usually I get a little lonely after I drop someone off at the airport, but since I had a much needed date with one of my soul sistas, there was no reason to frown. The weekend ended on a wonderful note with a heart to heart and this amazing grilled cheese sandwich…

Fontina + Roasted Red Pepper + Caramelized Shallot + Sweet Basil + Honey

The week has been full of school work and getting things back in order, and the elation still taking hold from the fashion show. I feel so accomplished and ready for spring break! Actually, later today I’m embarking on another adventure with my beautiful soul sista–ROAD TRIP TO MY PARENTS PLACE IN FLORIDA!!! Wow–so this was a crazy long post. I hope you’re all still awake!

Living In a Daze, Part I

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Hi everyone! As the title suggests, I’m going to break up the recent days in to more than one post. I still feel like my two feet have yet to hit the ground. Yes, I am feeling overwhelmed, but that isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. Why am I overwhelmed is the question. Over these past couple of days I’ve had many triumphs, adjustments, and realizations. I just feel like I’m about to start walking on new territory, but at the same time branching my roots out into familiar ones as well. It might sound confusing, and I admit it feels that way for me too! But whatever may be in store, I’m ready! And on that note, let’s jump in!

Spiced cottage cheese oats with coconut oil and peanut butter.
Ayurvedic recipe

This chili smelled divine while cooking it. The thing I love about ayurvedic recipes is that they include an array of spices that awaken different tastebuds. Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle, but I also added some diced sweet potato and coconut oil to my liking. Check out the description on the site for the chili: “smooth molasses with pungent cinnamon and smoked licorice black bean chili feels like a campfire in northern New Mexico under a new moon.” Imagine that…

Can you spy the Chinese star anise?

Operation Sneaky “Snack” cont’d included dried cranberries, butternut squash, Greek yogurt, and…
Betty Lou’s Cranberry Crave Harmony Bar; Success!

I wanted to show you all what this Betty Lou’s bar looked like. Check it out! Every time I open the wrapper I can’t help but think that it smells homemade. You know when you’re baking muffins and the sweet smell just puts you at ease? M’mm good.

Anyone ready for Florida?

That morning I had the juiciest, sweetest mango ever! Oh my gosh, just thinking about it is making me want go back to this. I had it with Greek yogurt, Udi’s Hawaiian granola (ginger-toasted macadamias, dried pineapple, and coconut flakes), and drizzled with coconut butter. Okay, so the mango alone was delicious, but all of this together… where do I begin? Ah yes, sitting on a hammock basking in the sun. But before we continue, let me put my ice cold pina colada down.

My re-worked sculpture.

Pressed mesh wire into thinner wire to make these.

This one is my favorite; it’s just so sturdy.

This looks like I'm in prison!

Alas, I’m just stylin’ the pajamas my grandma gave me, and about to enjoy OIAJ!!! Now that doesn’t sound like prison to me. Sunland’s banana peanut butter… you were so good to me!

Mixed in with a melted banana, last of the "best mango ever", crumbled honey graham, and shredded coconut.

Glorious spoonfuls of banana peanut butter with my oats.

However, OIAJ wasn’t the only exciting thing happening that morning. No, I had to get ready to pick up my mom!

The look: slouchy button-up leg warmers with boots and tights

And not your grandmother's black turtleneck dress.

For a splash of color, I pinned on a vintage flower brooch to my coat.

We came home and I quickly put together our lunches

For myself I had a Garden Herb Sunshine Burger on a bun + ketchup + pepper jelly + onion + tomato, with butternut squash and sliced pear with cinnamon and coconut butter as well.

Nom nom

And for my mom...

This almost looks like a face! She had Ezekiel toast with fried egg whites and green “stuff” on top. The green “stuff” is a quick thing I whipped up: 1 avocado + nutritional yeast + soy sauce + turmeric + a bit of water for consistency. She also had some butternut squash on the side.

My dad picked up some goodies from a nearby local Jordanian restaurant.

Everything is made fresh, and they even grind their own spices and herbs weekly. In fact, they also make a Lebanese pita bread which involves garbanzo, barley, and other flours. My dad got a vegetarian sampler for all of us, and a spiced chicken gyro for them. The sampler included hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and dolmades.

I also got to take my mom to her first First Friday Artwalk!

It was very cold for her, but she loved all the life going on. She also got to meet some friends I’ve made in college, which is really nice! Now she has a better idea of who I’m talking about when I tell her things that are going on in my life. Anyway, this is it for Part I! Stay tuned for Part II (THE FASHION SHOW!!!) I hope you all have had a wonderful past couple of days. The sun is shining so brightly–I’m ready for the warm weather to stay!

The Savory and the Sweet

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26

Thank you all for your two cents on my last post. So many of your inputs were so helpful and encouraging. Really, I think my confidence levels have gone up a lot since I started this blog. I just get a really awesome sense of community and genuine care in the blog-o-sphere. There are a lot of times where I imagine a giant meet-up would ensue and the world wouldn’t even know what hit it. Wabam! Anyway, I have to catch you all up on something that’s totally slipped my mind–chocolate! How did chocolate slip my mind? Maybe because it’s in my belly.

Chai Tea Milk Chocolate

Oh yes, this indeed satisfied my sweet tooth. You could taste the various spices in this creamy chocolate bar. I actually let this melt in my mouth and just let the flavors unravel.

The much anticipated Bread & Chocolate dark chocolate!

I was so eager to try this one out since it sounded so interesting and very different from the other flavors. However, I think I built my expectations up a little too high. This wasn’t bad tasting, just sort of a letdown. It was a bit too acidic for my taste but I did appreciate the texture of the bread in the chocolate. Out of all the Theo 3400 Phinney flavors I tried the Hazelnut Crunch milk chocolate was by far my favorite. The saltiness from the toffee, crunchiness from the nuts, and the sweetness from everything else all embedded in a delicious milky chocolate, just spells out amazing!

Now the last of the Newman's Own chocolates!

I finally can say that I have tried everything that the more than generous folks over at Newman’s Own sent me awhile ago. Yes indeed. Let’s start out with the Espresso dark chocolate. Honestly, this bar was not for me. It didn’t really melt in my mouth and I was expecting there to be more of an espresso taste. The flavor did hit me… eventually, it was more like the aftertaste. Now on to the Mocha milk chocolate… that one was so yummy! It really did taste like a mocha but in chocolate bar form, which means it melts in your mouth! Yum! I think my favorite ones from the chocolates are the Mocha milk chocolate and the Orange dark chocolate.

The other day I used up the last of the bag of Udi's Au Naturel granola.

I had it with yogurt, diced apple, and cinnamon sprinkled on top. On the side I had one of my favorite combos: apple + peanut butter!

A Golden Smacker

This Betty Lou’s snack is appropriately named–the taste was golden! What is a Golden Smacker exactly? It’s a patty with peanut butter covered in dark chocolate. Now where can you go wrong with that? I absolutely loved the texture of the filling and I even spotted some raisins as well. This was so delicious and satisfying to munch on. I really savored this because it was just too good to just gobble up–even though that would be easy too! More please! Betty Lou’s also has a milk chocolate flavor if that’s more your taste.

I love lentils!

I cooked these lentils using my mom’s secret recipe and adding some twists of my own–bay leaves, coconut oil, sauteed onions and garlic. However, the rest will remain a secret mwahaha! Anyway, I cooked some rice with cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods to go along with the lentils. This hit the spot! Out of all the lentils, red is my favorite by far. And  I had plenty of leftovers; perfect for a busy week. To go along with the rice and lentil combo, I steamed a buttload of kale and had some dates + ginger + cashew butter.

I bought this jar of sweet mango pickle on sale for 99 cents awhile ago, but have yet to find something to serve it with.

With the lentils? Nay. Any ideas?

Dinner on-the-go I tried something else from Amy's kitchen!

I think it’s safe to say that whoever was around me in this class was jealous because it smelled really good, and it tasted even better! Not to mention, burritos are so convenient and not messy… unless you order a mondo one at Chipotle! Luckily, in this class I do not get in trouble for eating. Sidenote: later on in this post you’ll see my solution to packing something for the class I got in trouble in.

After running some errands with my dad (yay he's in town), I came home hungry but I didn't know what to have.

Then it occured to me that there is no wrong time to have a sweet potato. Plus, I just replenished my supply and this was the last one in the old bag. I just microwaved it and topped it with coconut butter, cinnamon, and I smeared a bit of Sunland’s banana peanut butter to be a taste-tester. Do any of you do this? Some times I’ll have something with half of it topped with one preserve and the other half with another flavor–this usually happens when I can’t decide or I’m just feeling curious. Oh, and for the record, the banana peanut butter with the sweet potato was awesome!

Inspired by chocolate-covered strawberries!

I know one chica that would love the sound of this! I cooked my oats in the rest of my almond milk and coconut oil. Then I topped this creamy bowl of goodness with April’s protein brownie batter recipe and threw in some beautiful strawberries. This all mixed together was so good. The other night I also tried a different variation of the protein batter recipe by using vanilla protein powder + cashew butter. I don’t think you can make a bad decision when it comes to this recipe. It’s so simple yet so delicious!

Leftovers + Whole Foods hot bar goodies!

When I was running errands with my dad the night before I spotted a dish that I’ve only seen and tried once at Whole Foods. I loved it when I tried it and I always checked to see if they had it. But that night, they finally did! It’s a spicy eggplant and tomato dish + I wanted to try the tofu korma. My dad brought up a lot of avocados from Florida = an avocado a day for me yay! I love avocados but they’re so expensive up here that I don’t buy them often unless I see them on sale. However, in Florida they are incredibly cheap–we’re talking 30 cents each at some places!

The tofu korma was the bomb diggity! It had me craving basmati rice and naan + some other delicious Indian food!

Savory snack time!

I topped a Seedlander Dr. Kracker cracker with cottage cheese, kale, avocado, s & p. This was simple, fresh, and I recommend it! I picked up some cottage cheese at the store the other day, and I’m glad I did. I’ve forgotten how practical and tasty it can be. By the way, if you haven’t tried Dr. Kracker’s crackers then you are missing out! These are so flavorful even on their own. They are a bit pricey, but I found them on sale at TJ Maxx so I figured “what the hey!”

Now presenting the solution to my no-eating-in-class problemo!

Obviously, I did not follow that rule. It did, however, inspire some sneakiness and turned into “Operation This Isn’t a Meal It’s a ‘Snack’”. I also forgot to mention that while running errands with my dad, Whole Foods had a 33.5 oz tub of Greek yogurt that was promptly put in my basket! So yes, as of late I have been relishing in that tub of Greek goodness. I also bought a set of tupperware with a twist on lid to ensure no spills! When it’s on, this girl knows just what to do! So I filled the container with Greek yogurt, diced apple, and cinnamon. Then I brought this amazing bar to crumble into, what would evolve into a delicious yog-mess. I wish I could’ve snapped a picture of this bar! You could see the ingredients, and I even spied some dried apples! I was actually worried upon opening the wrapper that the aroma would waft on over to my professor and that he would catch me red-handed. Mouth full I would say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Anyway, back to the bar. This is a very different product from all the Betty Lou’s reviews I’ve done so far. I think the packaging itself goes along with the fun and light-hearted attitude the company seems to have. And the flavor? It has everything a chewy granola bar should have! Oats, maple, cinnamon, fruits, nuts, and seeds! Now I know why it’s called a Harmony Bar! FYI: “Operation This Isn’t a Meal It’s a ‘Snack’” was a success!

Okay, so I fear this post has a lot of words and pictures and I don’t want to overwhelm anybody. Although I do have so much more to share! But no worries, there’s always a next post. Also, I have really taken your advice on making a to-do list to heart. It has made managing my time so much easier and tasks just seem less daunting. It also helps that I’m checking some things off steadily. Many weights being lifted off my shoulders = easier to breathe. That reminds me! We are over that mid-week hill and now we’re just rolling down to Friday! Actually before I end this post I’m going to sneak in one more picture because I can’t contain my excitement.

From the fashion show rehearsal!

I brought my camera this time and I still almost forgot to take a picture. I cannot express how excited I am for this! It’s on Saturday–so close!!! We got our choreography down, did a lot of run throughs, scheduled our hair and makeup appointments, and overall just had fun.

p.s. my next post I’ll be sharing my re-worked sculpture!

p.s.s. my dear friend, Katie Anne, suggested I make a cheese post and I think that’s a really great idea! So I’ll be working on that. Does anyone else have any themed post ideas they’d like to see me write?

Winter Days

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Many of you asked me about the brown rice cream in my last post. The company Erewhon makes it and you can order it online or check to see if it’s at your local grocer. It’s a really great 100% organic creamy cereal that’s a bit heartier than cream of wheat and is also gluten-free.

On the topic of answering questions, if anybody has any others for me regarding anything, don’t be afraid to ask! I’d be more than happy to answer.

The heavenly smell of the caramelized banana was wafting through my apartment.

This bowl = Oikos yogurt + Udi’s Hawaiian granola + caramelized banana + Sunland’s banana peanu butter. Let me remind you what’s in the Hawaiian granola (which is my favorite by the way)… ginger-toasted macadamias, pineapple, and coconut. I also did something special to the yogurt–sweetened it and also added a bit of coconut extract to give it an extra tropical flair. Yuuuuum!

I quickly put together this lunch before my Literary Journalists class.

The rest of the Health Valley vegetarian chili mixed in with bulgur wheat, hickory smoke sauce, corn, and mushrooms. I also had a side of steamed kale tossed in olive oil.

Something new to try...

Remember when I found the new caramel Oikos flavor in my last post? My first thought when I saw it I was disappointed because it looked like the plain yogurt. But then it occurred to me that it was probably at the bottom of the cup. Correct-o-mundo! First I tried it alone and I have to recommend this to everyone! There was nothing weird or funky about this. The caramel and the Greek yogurt blended together smoothly and tasted so yummy together. It’s sweet indeed, but it didn’t have an artificial taste.

Then it hit me--combine a diced jazz apple with the caramel Oikos...

And another idea hit me!

I wanted nuts but also something crunchier. Solution? Top it all off with vanilla & almond granola. Caramel apple much? This was refreshing and full of flavor!

For my to-go dinner I used a Sabra to-go cup and mixed in some pesto and cumin.

Thanks to my friend for giving me these Sabra to-go cups--mixed in some pesto and cumin.

Trader Joe's handmade flour tortilla + pesto & hummus + veggies + cilantro

I had to go to photoshoot that night for a Valentine’s Day ad for a hip restaurant around here. I’ll let you guys know when the pictures come out! It was very different to be the one in front of the lens, but so much fun!

The other day when I saw hot cocoa in Holly's post I made some that night and I stumbled upon something I miraculously forgot!

Maya’s homemade marshmallows she sent me awhile back! How did I forget I still had some left? Well I knew just what I wanted to use them for. I already knew they were delicious alone and with hot cocoa, so I wanted to incorporate them into my favorite meal of the day. I made a bowl of oatmeal with chocolate protein powder, hot cocoa mix, coconut oil, and topped them with the lovely marshmallows. On the side I also had a sliced apple with Sunland’s caramel peanut butter.

They started to melt right in!

I made a tzatziki sauce with of Oikos plain Greek yogurt + other various ingredients.

The recipe can be found here! I also added in a bit more garlic because I’m a lover.

Such a refreshing lunch... in the middle of winter!

I made a falafel wrap and a salad on the side–both topped with fresh and creamy tzatziki. The falafels I made the other day were definitely winners!

So. Good. I literally stopped everything to just sit and enjoy every bite of this wrap.

More snacking on the go!

I got back in touch with autumnal flavors with the Maple Pecan Boomi Bar. I was asked to go shopping with a guy friend of mine. He said he needed a lady’s expertise to find the right button-down shirt. Too funny!

Strike a pose!

And then I was asked if I could be treated to coffee. Yes please!

We both ordered soy cappuccinos and I dusted mine with the dolce spice. Not sure what it is, but it sure smelled good!

I love foam!

After finding the perfect button-down and some other things we headed back home, but he had to make a quick stop at Trader Joe’s. What?! I got to go twice in one week! One of the cashiers swore he saw me riding my bike on a road I know I probably wasn’t cruising down recently. I’ve been told many times that I have a doppleganger walking around. Hmm?

I woke up to this today!

Matilda had on three layers for her morning walk.

Check out my super stylin' babe!

Blinded by the light!

A whole new world.

She kind of looks like a little old man hehe.

Matilda is so tiny!

At some point Matilda let us know that walking time was over so I picked her up and ran back home to warm my poor baby up.

Then I started to prepare a hearty meal for us--perfect for a snow day.

Such a comforting meal.

I just started to cook things that I felt would be delicious together. I cooked some bulgur wheat. Then sauteed onions and garlic with curry and cumin. Then I added the water and red lentils, bay leaves, diced tomatoes, green peas, hickory smoke, vegan Worcestershire, and red miso paste. After it was all done simmering I mixed the bulgur wheat, lentils, and swirled in some coconut oil for the final touch.

Here is some exciting news that I have to share with you all. Remember in my last post I talked about being very busy but enjoying what I’m doing and trying new things? Well recently I went to a model call for a local boutique around here. They’re hosting a fashion show featuring local talents and what not. I decided to give it a try and people of all sizes could come! I seriously thought I wouldn’t get a call back because I was lacking that “model attitude” when I did my walk, but maybe they saw something in me because I got a call back and I’m in!

I hope all of you are enjoying your weekends whether you’re snowed in, bundled up, or soaking up the sun even! Tonight I plan on going bar “crawling” through the snow with some friends. Should be fun!

Hope You Had Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Part II

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Hold on to your seats ladies and gentlemen we’re blasting back a little bit further into the past!

Granola girl is back!

I had this bowl of Udi’s Au Naturel granola with the apple grahams Holly sent me, spiced applesauce, Sunland’s caramel peanut butter, and vanilla yogurt. This granola is really good if you want to keep it simple or basically, it would go well with anything! The Au Naturel flavor is basically a wildflower honey sweetened granola.

Looks like I couldn't help but take a bite of the tortilla before I took the picture!

I just stuffed it with black beans, peach salsa, sour cream, nutritional yeast, and cilantro.

Whoa mama!

I hadn’t had banana soft-serve in forever! Size does matter when it comes to this – the bigger the banana the better (you get more)!! My toppings: coconut milk, Artisana Cacao Bliss, and Bekah’s scented almonds. YUM to the 10th degree!!! I’m talking love in exponential amounts.

Have any of you guys ever taken or heard of Zumba? Well this is a dance class I go to whenever I’m down in Florida. My mother and I love to dance and all of those classes have so much energy and happiness from everyone that you can’t help but have fun. There are even some professional ballroom dancers that attend the class. Everyone in that class just lets loose and gets down. For real!

With some friends from the old dance academy.

And with Wilson, one of our old instructors!

We also did the hora!!!

The dance instructor was touched by the students' card and gift to her.

Santa Claus came!

There was never a boring moment in that class!

After the dance class my best friend came over and Matilda got some presents! But I guess she really liked the necklace I got.

I went to go meet up with a friend for coffee.

Keeping it natural.

I tried Udi’s Muesli that morning – muesli is one of my mom’s favorite breakfasts. This was a really good muesli!!! There were lots of dried fruits – which I find to be lacking in a lot of pre-packaged cereals.

Agave-Lime Grilled Tofu with Asian Slaw and Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Another recipe from ‘The Conscious Cook’. The best mashed sweet potatoes ever!!! You mash it with a cashew cream, butter, and chipotle pepper. Everything in this dish was incredible and complimentary to each other. I love when a meal touches so many different kinds of flavors. This took my taste buds on a delicious ride.

Pistachios

My dad came home form the store with a container of pistachios! I love these nuts, especially with dried cranberries and golden raisins. I really want to make a pistachio butter. Has anyone tried pistachio butter? Do you like it?

And I FINALLY wore the shorts my mom got me on her trip to Germany.

They gave me two coffees but I had only ordered one! Maybe I should've played the lottery that day.

I've known her since I started middle school!

Later on we went to Target and they had me try on the new Rodarte dresses. I didn’t know Target had such cute things!!!

My friend up at school sent me a little box of treasures!

And the ring lights up!!!

Tempeh Creole

Dinner that night was something special. I made another recipe from ‘The Conscious Cook’. I love the variety of flavors this book has. I usually stick to using the same spices and seasoning when I cook, but this was different from what I usually use. I served it over some brown basmati rice and with a colorful pepper medley on the side.

Breakfast is a calling!

Looks like I had English muffins for breakfast that morning. One slice with butter and the other with pumpkin butter. I also tried the egg nog flavored yogurt with a lot of cinnamon sprinkled on top. Does that count as “sprinkled” still? It looks like it was actually doused! I also had apple slices with caramel peanut butter = delicious.

Yummy snack

I know some of you are always keeping your eyes out for new snack ideas. Well I found one that is not messy and perfect for when you’re on the go! Not to mention it tastes really good. I tried Udi’s granola nuggets! Let me quote them , “Snack-perfect granola chunks made with honey, oats, and lots of nuts.” They contain almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds. I tried the little nuggets with Wallaby’s Downunder Mango Tangerine flavor.

And now we’re going to blast somewhere else into time.

Personally, I like raw collard greens better than cooked.

I tried cooking them the other day but I wasn’t too keen on the flavor. Anyway, these collard greens made for perfect wraps for the leftover Moroccan stew. There wasn’t much liquid left so I didn’t have to worry about stuff spilling out. I also had some Mestemacher bread with mashed avocado, tomato slices, and horseradish sauce.

Check it out!

Look at what my mom made!

We had to use up a bunch of veggies that we had in the fridge so this was a mish-mosh of things! She even cooked daikon radish! I’m not sure what she put in here exactly but I’ll tell you what I do know – besides that it tasted delicious – cauliflower, yellow squash, daikon radish, mushrooms, yellow onion, turmeric, fenugreek, coconut milk, and other things!

Another nighttime snack

A bowl of fruits with coconut milk is something I’ve been eating daily while in Florida. That night I remembered that I still had some Fig Newmans! I love the chewiness of these fig cookies.

So that was the time traveling adventure! Now that we’re all back up to speed, I have a story to share with you all. This was shared with me over Christmas dinner and I thought it was inspirational. They told me about a writer who was diagnosed with cancer but wasn’t going to give up without a fight. So what did they decide to do? They had heard of “laughing clubs” in India and other countries, so they got their wife to go to the library and find a bunch of comedies. Everyday the two would wake up and watch a funny movie. Eventually he was able to cure his cancer with laughter. So never underestimate the power of bursting out in an uncontainable laughter or even just a giggle will do. What’s a miracle you’ve had in your life?