Tag Archives: veganomicon

A Few Of My Favorite Things

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One day, when browsing through my e-mail, I noticed a personable e-mail amongst all of the Ad-mail. A reader had contacted me asking what my favorite cookbooks are. Great question! It got me thinking about a few things: a) I was happy to get a personal e-mail, b) what are my favorite cookbooks, and c) I haven’t checked out any new ones recently! As I’m writing this, I just realized that I haven’t really made any recipes from cookbooks in awhile either. However, I still have my favorite picks.

Sometimes I go to the library and browse through cookbooks.

Or sometimes I go to the bookstore. When I find myself exclaiming at almost every recipe (or sneakily jotting them down), that’s when I know it’s a keeper. Here are some of mine:

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The Bigger Picture

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Hello everyone! I have some delicious things to share with you!

Roasted green beans with almonds is one of my favorite side dishes as of late.
Roasting things in general is something I’ve been loving lately.

It doesn’t require active participation in the kitchen, so it’s perfect for making something delicious when you also need to be doing something else. Shown above is a chickpea cutlet (recipe from Veganomicon) with fig preserves, red potatoes and chickpeas fried with bratkartoffel würzer, and roasted brussels sprouts with a sweet mustard dressing. I can’t begin to explain how deliciously savory and sweet this meal was.

Let me explain…

This is a seasoning my mom’s friend sent over from Germany, and it has all of these wonderful ingredients: salt, paprika, onion, curry, pepper, marjoram, pimento, ginger, cloves, and sugar. You just fry the potatoes with these seasonigs, some diced onions and voila! You have yourself a meal to remember. Actually, this meal made me feel very nostalgic of Germany, and I thought of my two Prinzessins, Neela and Mel.

More roasting, chickpeas, potatoes, and chickpea cutlets!

But still different! I can’t remember the last time I had mashed potatoes, but I have been missing out. I simply followed a recipe in my ayurvedic cookbook for regular mashed potatoes, but I added in some other spices and garlic. Once I served it I let some ghee just melt into this comforting mash. Also served with a chickpea cutlet with fig preserves (thanks to this lady’s recommendation), roasted chickpeas and broccoli, and cilantro for garnish (and flavor!).

All together now–yum!
Taking a moment with a tranquil cup of orange blossom tea, while finishing up a crafting project.
Breakfast just elevated up to whole other level!

I was so excited when I saw this bowl at the thrift store the other day. I remember over a year ago pining over it and thinking how it was so perfect for me since breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

Many delicious breakfasts to be had with my spilt milk bowl: oats, diced apple, dates, crunchy peanut butter, sliced banana, almonds, cinnamon, and honey!
Behold, the honeycrisp! Now I know why people love these apples so much.
Funky deconstructed sushi bowl

I just threw together some cooked rice, edamame, nori, wakame, a grated carrot, vegan mayo, sesame seeds, Bragg’s, cilantro, and pickled ginger of course! Totally random and yummy.

Recently, I did a performance/video/projection piece.

This semester has been really wonderful for me so far. I’ve explored and challenged my mind, my body, and my craft in so many different ways. I usually have a hard time asking for favors, and in my dance class I’m constantly asking for favors. Let me explain what I mean. In other words I’ve gotten use to literally giving my weight to others, and taking weight from other as well. It feels great, and has helped me realize that things just go along smoother when you do share your weight. Because if you hesitate and hold back, then it makes it difficult for the other person to understand what you want to do. In the end you’re left with a balance. I guess my point is that in my classes I’ve found so many parallels that I can apply to my life, and not just in the classroom. What are some things you’ve learned recently that could be applied to the grand scheme of things?

The Extra Special Things

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Oh my goodness! I made it into the third challenge! Thank you so much for supporting me. Honestly, the amount of support and encouragement I’ve been given has floored me. I’m very much looking forward to the next challenge. It’s actually coming up very soon, but I’m trying to not let it stress me out to the point where I feel like it’s a daunting task to face. Nope, won’t go there. Moving on is incredibly exciting, yet humbling at the same time. I think it’s because I know that it’s not just all me. So yes, I just want to express again how grateful I am to everyone: the panel, my fellow contestants, and of course all of my friends.

Remember the tasty little bites I posted in my last entry?

Some of you were asking if I made them, and indeed those muffins are homemade! I just used my secret oat-bar recipe that I’m continuously experimenting with, but made them into scrumptious little muffins instead. Also, topped with coconut butter makes them extra tasty! Actually, doesn’t it make anything tastier?

Bubbling kitchen experiments?

This adventure was quite a simple one, but hadn’t been done! I looked up recipes using the keywords: figs and apples. That’s when I stumbled upon this delicious apple-fig compote recipe. The smell was incredibly comforting; Imagine the scent of a fruity elixir dancing through the air. Well, it really felt like it was an elixir because when I served it over some oats in the morning, I was so happy to be awake and enjoying that delicious meal. I enjoyed it so much that I found myself boasting about my wonderful breakfast throughout the day.

The most delicious thing I've ever served over a bowl of oatmeal!!!

Then topped with Greek yogurt, chopped walnuts, dates, and ground cinnamon.

Seriously go make a compote to add to your breakfast, or simply to enjoy alone--you will be so happy you did!

I got myself a tub of mascarpone and used it instead of cream cheese on my bagels.

I smeared one half with mascarpone & honey, and the other half with mascarpone & fig preserves. What a special ingredient for something as simple as a bagel, but who says you’ve got wait for a special occasion to enjoy the things you love. What’s something extra special to you that you like to enjoy on any occasion? I also had a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with a medley of fruits, granola, walnuts, tahini, and honey.

I made a deconstructed version of Veganomicon's BBQ Seitan and Coleslaw Sandwich.

I was risking a bellyache by eating raw cabbage, but I love slaws and it was a risk I was willing to take.

I think my taste buds were way too happy for my belly to even notice because I felt a-okay.

Oh my beautiful beets...

I loosely followed this recipe for “caramelized beets with caraway seeds & walnuts“. I didn’t have caraway seeds on hand so I used cumin instead, and I tossed in some roasted butternut squash as well. The fall harvest is something I definitely don’t mind. What are some of your favorite things about fall?

I felt like using one of my special bowls for this soup!

The other night I made a big batch of roasted butternut squash and sweet potato soup. Oh me oh my! Roasting the vegetables beforehand really does add flavor to this recipe, and it turned out so thick and creamy–my favorite! I served it with some chickpeas roasted in coconut oil & cinnamon, and a bit of tarragon.

Gosh, I have really been treating myself with all of these tasty dishes! I’m glad that I can share the recipes with you all… well except for my secret oat “bar/muffin” recipe of course mwahaha. Maybe one day… maybe. Anyhoo, I hope you all enjoy this crisp and chilly weekend. Just thinking about Sunday makes me all giddy inside; you’ll know what I mean by tomorrow! Is there anything exciting going on for you?

There Are Many Things to Admire

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Good day to you and Autumn!

My friend (also happens to be my roommate) and I went exploring the other day.

We went to a museum that had been undergoing renovations for many years. Both of us were taken away by the beauty of the Art Noveau pieces. Imagine being completely surrounded in a world where everything around you is breathtaking.

Like these stained glass windows that were built for someone’s home.

On the topic of being surrounded by beautiful things. I’m sure many of you know about Project Food Blog by now. Well, you know what? It didn’t occur to me how many connections I would making with new people! It’s really wonderful. I love that I’ve been able to check out so many other posts, and nod my head in understanding throughout. It always amazes how much people are alike, but sometimes we feel alone or like “no one understands.” Of course there are differences that make us unique, but there are certain things that I like to call “universal truths.” Here are some posts that really struck a chord with me:

Liv is further pursuing her passion for cooking.

Heather has known about her calling in the kitchen since she was a wee one!

I often find myself thinking that me and Lauren share a brain.

Amanda has got these incredible recipes that make me swear that I can taste them already!

Who wouldn’t fall in love with Kelsey?

Liren makes a great point about proudly being an emotional eater.

Gillian’s charm will never fade.

I’m always wishing I could hang out with Lynn when I read her blog.

Sophia has got this gift with words and coming up with awesome recipes!

If you’re a food blogger you’ll definitely relate to Sabrina’s post.

I love Maggie’s embracing vibe.

There are so many more wonderful entries out there, and can click here to check them out.

Let’s continue admiring beautiful things, shall we?

The other day I was in the store, and I bought the rest of the peaches that were left. I felt like I was stealing them! Here I sliced one over some spiced oatmeal, with banana slices, walnuts, chocolate almond butter, and sunflower seed butter. I’ve been missing the crunch of whole nuts! I love nut butters, but sometimes I want some crunch.

Roasted chickpeas for breakfast?

I was inspired by Brittany’s cinnamon roasted chickpea recipe and this roasted chickpea recipe as well. I basically used the spices that Brittany used, tahini, honey, and sea salt. The smell was so wonderful when roasting, and just hard to ignore! I love the coating the tahini gave these chickpeas after roasting. Chickpeas are so versatile; I thought I’d share a link with you that has a bunch of recipes on how to make them in different ways… sweet or savoury! “15 More Ways To Flavor Roasted Chickpeas“

Coincidence! I made pumpkin pie inspired bowl of oats on the first day of autumn.

I cooked the usual oats with pumpkin puree, in the morning I cut up some dates and crystallized ginger cubes. Then I topped it off with the pumpkin pie spiced roasted chickpeas, more almond milk and spices, brown sugar, walnut nut butter, and tahini. Oof this bowl was delicious! I love starting off a new day with yummy things like this.

I made another great recipe from “The Veganomicon”

It’s been awhile since I last cooked a recipe from this book. I had gotten a head of cauliflower at the store with intentions of making a curry, so I went through my cookbooks in search of one. I decided on the Red Lentil Cauliflower Curry, but de-veganized it by using ghee. I just can’t get over how wonderful ghee is! This recipe called for a surprising ingredient: parsnips! Cooking curries is such a great experience since they are so aromatic. So far I’ve served this with basmati rice, sweet potatoes with curry-ketchup (pictured above), and now I’m wanting to try it with naan bread.

The other day I made the best burrito I’ve had in awhile… make that ever!

I prepared some black beans with rice, onions, sweet pickled mango, garlic, sweet pepper jelly, cumin, cinnamon, and ketchup (hey I had no tomatoes on hand!). Topped it with diced avocado, corn, cilantro, and Greek yogurt (or sour cream if you have that).

Got to wrapping.
And with that, I was off to class!

Who knew I could spice up a burrito’s flavor so much? Thank goodness for curiosity because this was indeed the best bean burrito I’ve ever had. What’s something that recently made you wonder and try something new?

p.s. the last day for voting for the first Project Food Blog challenge is tomorrow so make sure to get your votes in! Fingers crossed!

p.s.s. I just had my first critique of the semester for the video I made. You can watch it by clicking this link, and let me know what you think! Thank you.

Who Does Your Future Belong To?

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Hello hello! Greetings with another post–a much anticipated one at that. I haven’t been on the computer much lately, but you know what means. I’m brimming with things to share!

Lately I’ve been feeling like my pumpkin kabocha has turned into a carriage.

I’ll explain what I mean later…

Because a steamed carriage just doesn’t make sense, but it definitely tastes good!

I steamed it with thyme, and ground all-spice. I didn’t know that you could steam herbs! I guess in reality, you can really steam anything, even nuts.

This may explain why my palms and the bottoms of my feet are rosy.

I was inspired by Averie’s sweet-and-sour honey lemon tofu. However, instead of baking the tofu I fried it, but I followed her cue and used mango chutney and lemon. I sprinkled on some sesame seeds and cilantro for the final touch.

A great idea!

I took Mel’s advice on spreading Nutella on the brötchen. Although this wasn’t Nutella per se, it was close enough as it was, after-all, chocolate hazelnut butter. This was so delicious and went perfectly together! I decided to simply spread a date on one of the halves.

Alongside came a bowl of Greek yogurt with chia seeds and a medley of fruits.

Getting ready to go out for Wednesday ladies' night!

The dress...

The shoes...

And a picture courtesy of my iPhone hehehe

I think I may be one of the few people who drinks a glass of wine and doesn’t get sleepy, but instead dances their butts off long enough to get some blisters. Anyone care to join me? I guess you don’t have to get blisters though!

A delicious breakfast to revive me sounded really nice at the time.

Actually, when does that not?

In the mix: overnight oats with dried cranberries and chia seeds, a diced pear, cinnamon, chocolate almond butter, and puffed millet

Another bar variation!

I can't believe that this bar tasted like a delicious, fruity wine!

I used a mix of oats, puffed millet, and puffed corn for the grains in this bar. I also added some grated chocolate, dried fruits, pecans, and more mixed nuts to the continuously evolving secret recipe.

And a pick-me up lunch!

I made a sun-dried tomato cauliflower mash, since my mom has never tried this vegetable in that form. Eating anything mashed is such a comfort food for me. Maybe because it’s like baby food… but tastes way better!

I highly recommend this recipe!

I recently received a newsletter from the Vegetarian Times and saw they had a recipe for smoke baby portobello sliders. The picture looked appetizing alone, and I happen to get some portobellos on sale at the market. This was sweet, smoky, juicy, savoury, and just wonderful to bite into. The herbes de Provence gave it a great sweet, flowery, and Italian flavor. I love how portobellos really suck up the flavors of the rubs and marinades because otherwise they would be too earthy for me on it’s own. I actually prefer my mushrooms cooked unless I’m dipping raw ones into hummus or my favorite BBQ sauce. I also suggest that if you try this recipe, use a bread that isn’t whole wheat. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t imagine these flavors going well with a grainy bread.

I also thought that maybe a smoothie with some leftover pulp from juicing + the usual ingredients would make my lethargy go away.

Unfortunately, I was feeling under the weather pretty much the whole day, until I took an afternoon cat-nap.

Another portobello recipe!

I found a great recipe in the Veganomicon, Portobello Salad with a Spicy Mustard Dressing. This was delicious, and I don’t think I can ever get over how great the texture of this mushroom is.

So this is how my Friday started out...

A nice but very wavey day at the beach--perfect for the surfers!

The waves here are just good for simply riding… unless there’s a hurricane. That’s another story! A lot of people get arrested because they’re not suppose to be out there when the weather is that bad. Their dangerous, but their probably the best that Florida can get!

Then it was time to continue the dancing from the other night!

We went to go see a new talent signed to one my favorite DJ’s (Steve Aoki) label, Dim-Mak records. It was so much fun and so many things went our way that night.

While trying to find parking in South Beach and as soon as I said "someone please pull out just for me".. reverse lights came on and we had a spot!

That’s when I knew that things would go my way. We headed over to this place…

Got there, got through the ropes no problem

We payed, but then somehow one of the doormen knew we payed called us back and had the cashier give us our money back because “we were with Norman”. Whoever Norman is…(?) thanks! After dancing our feet off we headed back to the car and met a friendly stranger. Actually, at that late hour… almost everyone is friendly. I can’t tell you how many people I walked by that put their hands out for a high-five. I loved it! Anyway, friendly stranger encounter brings me to the next day.

First I had to get refreshed with this perfect summer breakfast.

Somehow I managed to wake up in time for my favorite yoga class.

Overnight oats topped with Cacao Bliss banana "soft-serve", macadamia nut butter, coconut shreds, and sprinkles of course.

I love the crunch those little sprinkles add!

After yoga class and lunch, I got ready and dressed!

It’s about time I made a debut with this blouse! Oh my goodness, this top is insanely vibrant and a new favorite. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many ooh’s and ahh’s from a single item of clothing. It was funny because at one point when we were heading up to the W Hotel, I saw these women looking at me, and making the motion around the shoulder and literally gasping with a smile. Which makes sense because guess what was going on this past week? Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week! I headed to the W Hotel to catch some of the action.

Of course I brought one of my partners in crime!

A glorious hallway filled with beautiful swimwear.

A suite with a great view is the perfect environment to get work done, right?

As soon as we got there, they generously offered to make us some drinks.

I’m not the biggest fan of tequila, but one of the guys promised that it would be the best tequila I had ever tasted. He was actually right! No foul face was made, and I was happy with my slice of sweet orange dipped in cinnamon to have afterwards. Then a very handsome (that’s an understatement people) gentleman offered to make me another drink. Uh… you had me before hello!

The view from the balcony was so nice.

See you soon!

It was a really nice evening, and I got to meet a lot of new people! I think the best part was that it encouraged me even more to pursue my dreams. Whatever it is, whatever I want… I can make it happen! Oh gosh I’m biting my tongue right now because I still have lots to share! Until next post, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Yes, I think Henry David Thoreau had the right idea!

Magic in the Kitchen

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Hello everybody! Yesterday was a pretty upsetting day for the German team and everyone rooting for them. I was sulking around for awhile, but I decided to bake and my friend came over–Sex and the City marathon! I don’t know what it is about the World Cup, but my heart goes into it. I’m going to be sad once the games are over. Every four years this tournament becomes a big part of my life, and I find that my conversations are about the games or somehow find their way to that topic. Moreover, I loved reading all of your answers on my last post about style. And thank you so much for the compliments! I can tell that one of those shirts is “my new favorite thing”. I also saw that many of you commented on how nice the pictures look. Well, one thing I’ve been taking more into consideration is lighting and composition. The third eye never closes! It’s funny though how these little changes are noticeable. Anyway, here’s some candy for your eyes!

Vanilla Macaroon Granola... you are so good to me!

When I was at the bulk bins the other day I went over the granola selection to see if I spied anything new and interesting. Then I saw the words “vanilla macaroon” and I nibbled on a bit to see if I approved. Yes, very much so! Oh! And those little raspberries came from our garden. It was so exciting to see that our plant was finally producing fruit.

Sleeping baby got a new bed.

This is something I definitely have to make again!

This was a spicy curried sweet potato and tofu dish. I sautéed some onions, then fried the baked sweet potato and tofu in coconut oil with some freshly ground spices and curry leaves. Next, I added the spicy coconut milk mixture I made and let everything absorb it. Towards the end was when I added the spinach till it wilted, salted to my liking, and sprinkled some toasted coconut shreds on top. Voila!

Something else orange in my life, recently!

When I was at the market the other day I spotted a kabocha! I haven’t seen one or had one in months. Maybe even since last year? Anyway, I was so excited that I practically hugged it in my arms instead of simply putting it in the my basket.

I wanted to make something special.

I was inspired by Amanda’s Pumpkin Chili Mexican Scramble recipe. I grinded up some spices often used to make garam masala (as far as flavor goes, grinding spices yourself is the best). I fried the spices first, then I sautéed the onions and garlic. After that I threw in the kabocha with some water and let that cook. Once I could stick a fork in the cubes and the water was absorbed, I threw in diced red and yellow bell peppers.

What could this be?

On the side I mixed together a “scramble” concoction with: tofu, garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, turmeric, and black beans. That mix went into the pan as well with some coconut oil. I had almost forgotten the two ingredients I definitely wanted to use for this dish–hickory smoke and vegan worcestershire sauce. The deal was pretty much sealed by then and I knew I was going to be serving a delicious Friday night dinner to my family.

Bon appetit!

For the finishing touches I threw in a diced tomato, cilantro, crumbled corn chips, avocado, and cottage cheese (you could use sour cream, but I didn’t have any on hand). Magic in the kitchen! And now for some more magic…

I used the banana bread recipe from the "Veganomicon" to make muffins instead.

I changed the recipe a bit by using coconut oil instead of vegetable oil, and using half rye flour and half whole wheat. I love the flavor coconut oil lends, and I wanted to see how baking muffins with it would turn out. Scrumptious, delicious, and it reminded me a bit of Lebkuchen because of the rye. I have some more recipes in mind using rye. They taste so yummy plain, with coconut oil, peanut butter, ghee, and…

Crumbled over my breakfast.

I’ve been putting chia seeds in my breakfasts every morning now, and I also got a new protein powder: Jay Robb’s vanilla rice protein. I just wish it weren’t so pricey! I tried a few to see which one I liked the most. I’ve come to realize that there’s no escaping the slight texture change that a lot of plant-based protein powders give. Also, notice the different colors? When you can’t choose, just choose them all! I went ahead with pumpkin seed butter, peanut butter, and Cacao Bliss to top the melting banana soft-serve.

I cant tell that these muffins will be frequenting my breakfasts.

Another batch of bars!

This time I used a variety of nuts: pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds. For the dried fruits I used banana chips, dates, and dried cranberries. Of course the usual coconut shreds went in the mix. I also added some honey. Other than that I kept the recipe the same pretty much since I liked how my second batch turned out. I plan on going to the store and getting some chocolate chips and who knows what else!

Oops these got a bit burned, but they taste good anyway.

Perfect for snacking on-the-go

My mom has been loving the weekly batches I’ve been baking.

The other day when me and my dad went shopping we stopped by the Lindt store.

It’s great because it’s basically like a buffet of chocolates. You can choose from all of their Lindor truffles and European specialities, then just pay by the weight. Not to mention they were having a sale going on–10 bars for $15! I chose their Tiramisu petits desserts, and the dark chocolate Mozartkugel. On the topic of sweetness, how about I leave you off with this one… tomorrow is Friday!!!

A Million Reasons to Celebrate

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How to survive a summer of days where the mornings are also steaming hot…

A medley of fruits: blueberries, peach slices, and banana chips over a crumbled homemade bar, Greek yogurt + peanut butter swirled in.

And all of my bowls of oats lately have been cooked and then put in the fridge to cool down. It’s funny how I crave different foods, textures, hot/cold depending on the seasons. Sometimes it really varies from day to day, or meal by meal. Like lunch for instance, I don’t mind having something warm, but I’ve noticed that I’ve been letting my food cool down for a bit just in general.

Perfecting these bars still!

These are way better than my first batch. I made some changes like using macadamia nuts and cashews, dates, banana chips, and a flaxseed mixture.

When in doubt, go with egg noodles!

I couldn’t decide what to serve with the chickpeas and mushrooms with mango chutney, so I opted for these noodles. Not only are they super quick to cook, but you get to bust out the chopsticks!

My mom was curious about spaghetti squash...

I was so delighted when she asked me about it! Each time I cook spaghetti squash I’m wowed by how this vegetable can really look like that stringy, long pasta! I remembered seeing a recipe in the Veganomicon that used this squash: spaghetti squash Mexicana with tropical avocado salsa. This alone sounded yummy! I opted to take them up on the suggestion of using papaya for the salsa. Afterall, we had a whole bunch from our backyard.

This is a recipe that you can adjust to your likings

I accidentally let my hand go with adding the spices–oops! I loved all these flavors though. It was so fresh (perfect for summer) and you can use the salsa for other dishes or even just as a dip for chips! And now my mom knows why a spaghetti squash has its name.

Another fresh idea... like a banana pie

Inspired by raw desserts--I love how flavorful they usually are.

This isn’t completely raw, just inspired. But if you do want to make it raw you can omit certain things or use vanilla bean instead of vanilla extract, for example. I made a crust by mixing medjool dates, cashews, walnuts, cinnamon, and unsweetened coconut shreds in a food processor. Then I whipped up some cashew cream and mixed in the banana, honey, a bit of lime juice, coconut milk, and vanilla extract. Then I started layering: crust, filling, and then topped it with banana slices, coconut shreds, and cinnamon. You want to let it sit in the fridge or the freezer so it solidifies. You pull it out when your patience has dwindled down to nothing, and enjoy!

This plate of food may be mistaken for a palette of vibrant paints!

I baked some sprouted tofu with leftover herbed bread crumbs, olive oil, and soy sauce. I sautéed some squash, red onions, mushrooms, and dates. Served it with jasmine rice, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, chopped scallion, and avocado slices! This was so random, but delicious and awesome to look at before I dug in.

Now this dish isn't nearly as nice to look at.

But it doesn’t mean that it tastes bad! Hey, Indian food doesn’t always look the most appetizing, but in my opinion I think it’s the most delicious cuisine out there. Anyway, I cooked some amaranth in a chipotle broth, then added black beans, sliced mushrooms, onions, garlic, spices, hickory smoke, brown sugar, vegan Worchestershire sauce. I also added some flax oil in the end since I’m trying to incorporate more omega-3′s into my diet. After seeing my mom’s amazing glow and all of the salmon she eats, I want that too! I’ve also started sprinkling toasted hemp seeds on to some things (today it was on some nachos), and chia seeds as well.

The girl with the goods!

Remember when I tried the ChocoVine way back when? Well I saw it at the store the other day and it was on sale! I mentioned it to my dad, and he actually confessed that he had been eyeing it for quite some time but wasn’t sure if he would like it or not. Uh Dad… they’res only one way to find out, duh!!! And if it so happened that he wouldn’t like it well there’s a little young lady that would happily finish the bottle off for him! Oh and we can’t ignore that jar of peanut butter. It’s my favorite peanut butter in the whole wide world and it just made sense to get the “big-as-my-head” size instead of the regular one. I definitely look like the happy bear that found the jar of honey whenever it’s opened!

No I didn't finish that big jar quite yet!

This was another jar of the same peanut butter that I had. Instead of using oats though I used a 10-grain hot cereal mix. So would this be called 10G’s-IAJ? Aka 10-grand in a jar? This sounds like something Jay-Z would enjoy, oh and me too. Jay-Z, care to join me for breakfast? Oh, and I found a book the other day called Extreme Beauty in Vogue. It’s so inspiring and wonderfully bizarre. You can find out more about it here.

Speaking of Vogue… here are some recent purchases I made that I can’t wait to wear out and about!

I love the neckline.

And let's talk about the back...

Perfect for the summer when the last thing I want to wear is... clothes haha!

A breezy silk top... weakness.

And a beautiful scarf marked down from $100 to $9--clearly that deal needed to be taken advantage of!

These are called "Broken-in Boyfriend Shorts"... I can pretend.

The "Hello! I still have arms in the winter" top.

And this shirt for the win!

I think my style overall is pretty eclectic, and I can’t quite pinpoint it because I just get what I really like. One thing that I have noticed though is that I’m a sucker for sheer things, silk, beautiful detailing, uniqueness, and I unintentionally don’t own a single pair of jean pants. Someone once asked me where my style comes from, and this is what I said, “My style comes from different past eras, nature, and what I think the future would look like.” I guess this is why I consider it eclectic–all over the place! I’d like to know how you would describe your style!

I think you can guess where we went for the recent Argentina vs. Germany match.

I love going out to watch the games because everyone around you is as into the game as you are! Lots of hands flailing, cheering, clapping, and thinking out loud… very out loud. Oh! And I can’t forget plenty of chocolate cappuccinos and black forest cake with fresh whipped cream m’mmm.

I believe this game is going to go down in the history of soccer!

I tried to capture the cheering, but really... the entire restaurant was filled and I could only remember to take a picture after the outbursts.

Auf gehts Deutschland!

Oh my goodness, I am still so happy about their victory. I can’t wait till Wednesday when Germany plays Spain! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend and celebrating in one way or another. So many reasons to celebrate, right? Happy Independence Day, America!


Deconstructed

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To make my bowls of oatmeal interesting I like to deconstruct dessert recipes.

And the way I remember that dessert is spelled with two s’s is because I’d like two scoops of ice cream. What flavor? Cherry amaretto ice cream, please. I whipped up some banana soft-serve, pitted a handful of cherries, drizzled it with amaretto syrup, and topped it off with Cacao Bliss. The amaretto syrup gave this bowl of oats a zing.

Hello delicious wake up call!

Remember how I mentioned that I realized that I didn’t have a birthday cake this year? Well look what I found! Chocolate cherry amaretto ice cream cake. And it just so happens that it won a raw ice cream cake contest.

On the topic of ice cream... what else is there to talk about?

I stumbled upon my soul sister and her dad’s favorite ice cream! This little lady’s recommendations never disappoint, so of course I put the pint of Mocha Almond Fudge coconut milk ice cream in my basket. Verdict? Oh my gosh. There are just enough almonds, each bite has that yummy fluffy mocha ice cream, and the swirls of fudge seal the deal. Pint start with a ‘p’ so I can make alliterations like… personal pint.

Something else deconstructed?

I was browsing the Veganomicon cookbook when my eyes wandered on to these words “samosa stuffed baked potato.” You all know how much I love Indian food! I’m so use to making deconstructed recipes for breakfast that I don’t usually think of making them for lunch… or dinner for that matter.

I took away the potato's vegan status and spread on some ghee.

Oh and I can’t leave out my mom’s dish! The night before she made a curried coconut milk vegetable dish that had me eating spoonfuls from the pan she had just cooked it in. I decided to mix in some cooked lentils the next day.

I don't go to the movies often so this was a nice change.

My mom’s friend had special tickets to watch a movie before it would be released in this theatre and she asked if we wanted to go. We gladly accepted her invitation and watched ‘The Solitary Man’. It was a pretty good movie, but I didn’t like the ending. The theatre I went to is one of my favorites because of the interior and comfy seats. If you don’t feel like finding your own parking spot you can always opt for the valet parking. What can I say? This is the state where people go to retire!

Inside the movie theatre--check out the ceiling!

On another night me and my mom went to support some friends that were dancing in a show.

She never ceases to amaze.

And neither does he!

Complete with samba dancing as well.

Making dinner milk rolls from one of my favorite cookbooks.

I love making bread! My favorite part is kneading it, and after that I love the smell that wafts through the house when it’s baking. Then of course there’s the satisfaction of biting into the fresh bread you made.

They remind me of the Brötchen we would pick up daily from the bakery in Germany.

My mom said they tasted even better! She’s such a mom hehehe.

Yum! This is just asking for some butter.

Speaking of Germany…

Yours truly got ready for a day that would be filled with many German things.

Note: I straightened my hair for the first time in years!

What did that day behold?

We went to a German restaurant to see their first game in the World Cup 2010!

Deutschland is my motherland and where my heart belongs, so when they beat the Aussies 4-0 I felt very proud!

I'm not a big beer person but I tried their heferweisen and I liked it!

Another goal? More beers on the house!

They still make the best potato pancakes I've ever had--three or four rounds of these were ordered!

Ever since I was little, it just has always gone without saying that I get the most potato pancakes or latkes.

I'm not typically a cake person, but I do think they're beautiful and there are the exceptions of tiramisu and carrot cake.

However, this berry black forest cake was amazingly incredible! Our table ordered this cake to go, and about five more slices to have at the table, plus a chocolate mousse cake for the super chocolate lover (my mom’s friend’s husband). Victory was ours and we ate like champions as well!

In honor of the World Cup 2010 being held in Africa I decided to make use of a box I found in my parent’s pantry. So what does a box have to do with the World Cup?

This box!

Fufu flour! It’s a fun word to say and it’s even more fun to eat. What is fufu exactly? “Fufu is a staple food of West and Central Africa. It is a thick paste usually made by boiling starchy root vegetables in water and pounding with a mortar and pestle until the desired consistency is reached.”

It's traditionally served with a soup... or rather in a soup.

It came out lumpy--oops! But still safe to eat.

I made a peanut soup to go with it, and mark my words when I say… TRY THIS! Here’s the recipe for the peanut soup, but I made some changes. Instead of a green bell pepper I used a red. Also make sure to use real peanut butter to get the most flavor. I used my favorite kind and the crunchy peanut bits actually added a smokiness to it.

Did I mention that you eat this with your hands?

Are any of you keeping up with the games? Favorite teams?

Also, what are some of your favorite deconstructed recipes?

Satisfaction Guaranteed

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21

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!

Treating Yourself Like Royalty

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23

Since it’s NEDA week I wanted to write about treating ourselves not just with respect, but with love and kindness. Honoring yourself. Harboring negative energy towards others, and especially yourself, is a waste of time. Life is too fleeting to dwell on things. So what does giving myself the royal treatment mean to me? Living life beautifully and to the fullest. Accepting the good and the bad without getting my head wrapped tightly around the latter. Just being. Being who I am and not feeling shame. Never contain your spirit–just let it be free! Moreover, I love to surround myself with things that make me happy: friends and family, the arts… creativity, imaginations, comforting smells, spirituality, and delicious food. The list could go on, but I don’t think we’ve got all day. But here’s how I started my Wednesday!

Crumbled goodness

That particular morning I decided to try Betty Lou’s Apple Cinnamon Fruit Bar… let me just call it an apple pie because that’s what it tasted like!!! Note: All of their fruit bars are “gluten-free / low-fat / vegan / wheat-free / soy-free / corn-free / dairy-free.” You can definitely have these fruits bars alone but I had it with yogurt, a diced apple, and Sunland’s caramel peanut butter. I also spread some coconut oil on the bar before I crumbled it because I’m Katharina and that’s what I do. “In conclusion”, this breakfast was superb! Can you tell that I’m enjoying working my way through the amazing  Betty Lou’s sampler package? I really can’t thank them enough.

Then I got ready for Crit day 2.
Check out the pockets!
Acting like a diva is a sure way to wake anyone up!

My professor actually gave me an extension on my piece because he could tell that I hadn’t finished developing it. RELIEF! I was not looking forward to the critique because of that. But thank you all for your kind words on it!!! I will definitely keep you all updated on how the piece ends up transforming. I’m also working on a video right now, and my next sculpture piece.

Thank goodness for leftovers because I came home a very hungry girl after the crit.

I had the last of the Amy’s cheese & pesto pizza. However, this time I decided to throw on some cooked butternut squash. Adding my own twist to pre-packaged food is something I usually do, but I wanted to give the pizza itself a try first.

Tried some new granola bars!

Nancy, over at Granola Gourmet, kindly sent me a sampler package of two of their bars: brownie and spiced orange cranberry. These bars contain no sodium, no wheat, nor dairy. Moreover, they are also safe for diabetics since they have a low glycemic level, and they boast 391 mg of Omega 3′s per serving. So what’d I think?

Brownie: It was definitely rich and chocolatey! I was expecting it to be dry but it surprisingly was not. I also enjoyed the chewy and dense texture of this bar. I also advise drinking this with a delicious glass of milk.

Spiced Orange Cranberry: The orange flavor in this bar was very prominent. I felt it undermined the cranberry flavor and I couldn’t quite make out what was spiced about it. However, the moistness was very nice to bite into, and it didn’t crumble everywhere!

The recipe I was making called for grated nutmeg.

And water chestunuts.

I popped a few in my mouth while prepping. I just love how crunchy they are! Now, what the heck was I making?

Butternut Squash with Carmelized Onions, Chestnuts, and Sage Breadcrumbs

This was one of the recipes from the Veganomicon that popped out at me when I was browsing through it for the first time.

Digging in!
This snack tasted deliciously decadent.

The other day I also attempted to make April’s famous protein brownie batter. This is one chica I definitely trust when it comes to recipes. And it’s amazing because she comes up with so many of these! I used chocolate protein powder and banana peanut butter to make mine. This was so decadent and satisfying to eat. I think I’m going to try vanilla protein powder with cashew butter next.

Dinner is served.

I had the casserole, a chunk of focaccia, raw kale, and olive oil + balsamic vinegar + cracked pepper for dipping!

It was time for the delicious butternut squash casserole to get in my belly.

This recipe was delicious but next time I will follow their advice and serve it with some holiday cranberry sauce. A tinge of tangy-sweetness would definitely bring this to another level. I loved the textures in this! The crunchy water chestnuts, the soft butternut squash and cannellini beans, and the perfectly caramelized onion all topped off with an aromatic sage breadcrumb crust… yum!

Life is so much more enjoyable when you love your mind, body, and soul. So this is me wishing you a positive outlook on the beauty that you possess.