Pass It On

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Katharina

Thank you for all the well wishes everyone! Taking it easy this weekend was a good idea, so I can feel and look well-rested for RVA Fashion Week’s casting today. They’ll be figuring out which models will work for each show. I’ve also got a photo shoot to go to later this day for my fashion photography class. Anyway, the other day I noticed that I haven’t posted any breakfasts lately, but that’s not to say that I haven’t been eating it. Afterall, it is my favorite meal of the day! Since I have class in the mornings Monday through Thursday, I usually just make OIAJ or something else convenient (i.e. bagels!) the night before and bring that to class with me.

: However, it is nice that I get a few days in the week where I don’t have to have breakfast on the go.

Oatmeal topped with banana slices, my favorite pumpkin butter, and toasted & salted hemp seeds. Toasted hemp seeds can go with anything! I’ve been trying to use up my jars of fruit butters and jams by using them as a sweetener for my oatmeal.

: Caramelized anything is fine by me!

I thought of Erica this particular morning, and was inspired to top my usual bowl of oatmeal with something special. Rather than simply slicing some apples and leaving it at that, I caramelized them. First I heated some coconut oil on a pan and then sautéed the apple slices, dates, and cinnamon sticks. After cooking them for a bit I added a splash of apple juice.

: This bit of deliciousness was topped with pistachios and honey to boot!

Now on to lunch, dinner, and some lovely side dishes.

: Honey Glazed Carrots

This was a recipe from “The Flexitarian Cookbook” that I finally got around to making. Rather than cooking them in regular butter though, I used ghee. This changed the flavor a bit, and in combination with the honey… I just wanted more.

: Parmesan-roasted Parsnips

I haven’t made a recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks in awhile! Maybe some of you can guess which book it is, but for those of you who can’t it’s Simon Rimmer’s “The Accidental Vegetarian“. I wanted to marry him because the recipes in this book are so good. He still hasn’t proposed to me, and I’m not the kind of girl who sits around waiting. But that won’t stop me from cooking up his incredible recipes!

: Addictive!

: Almost a mish-mosh, but not quite.

I had lots of scallions leftover and the first thing that came to mind was Thai food. Then I started thinking of recipes involving noodles since I have a lot to use up. I ended up making a spicy Thai peanut sauce to go with some random veggies I had on hand, fried tofu, and a combination of rice and soba noodles. I’d bring this with me to class, and by now whenever I pull out my meals my mates ask me what I brought this time. They also remark on how everything I bring smells so good. Well, I can assure you that not only do my meals smell good, but they taste good too.

: Soup for the season

This past week I made a batch of Angharad’s curried squash and carrot soup. This sounded like one of those soups I see in stores that I don’t buy because I’d rather make them on my own. I usually don’t end up making them, and I’m just left with a reminder whenever I stumble upon one of those convenient soups. This kind of soup was new to me though. I had never made a soup with summer squash, and I was wondering how well the flavors would hold up. The curry added just enough spice, but didn’t stand alone. I find that curry picks up other flavors, and goes well with so many things. Take tabasco sauce (not a big fan), for instance, it just cuts right through everything–so acidic!

: A cup of Colombian hot chocolate aka the best hot chocolate.

Why is this the best? Well, first off it’s made using a chocolate tablet vs. cocoa powder. That automatically makes it tastier. I’m going to tell you how my grandma makes it. First she pours milk (almond for me, please) into a chocolatera (and aluminum pitcher), and brings it to a boil on the stove. She’ll let me skim off the yummy layer that forms on top, which is called nata in Spanish. There is a cake that is tediously made entirely of those delicious layers called postre de natas. After the milk is boiling she puts in the tablet of Colombian chocolate and takes a molinillo (a wooden whisker) to froth the melted chocolate. Then it’s lovingly poured into a cup for whomever is dear to you, that includes yourself! In Colombia it’s typical to let a chunk of queso blanco melt in the cup of rich, frothy hot chocolate.

: I think you should try it.

: The other day I brought in a non-conventional battery to my class.

This was a for a mini-project for my time-based sculpture class to help us think outside of the box. Food can be fuel, and I remembered reading a recipe in Brendan Brazier’s “Thrive:…” that offered fast energy. I didn’t bother explaining the science behind the dates and coconut oil to my class. Instead I just let them enjoy, which they did! Speaking of energy I have a little challenge for you…

“The heart has reasons that reason cannot know."

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Katharina

I had planned for this post to be another one I’d been working on, but I wanted to get this off my chest and I think Blaise Pacal’s words put it quite nicely. The other day Gillian, Kailey, a few others ladies, and I were discussing the topic of justification. Specifically, the justification of food. It’s funny because this is mostly a food blog, but I don’t label myself as anything more detailed than that. I know that I get tagged a healthy living blog, which there’s nothing wrong with, but I personally don’t see myself as that. I’m just a young woman who likes to share some things that perhaps others can enjoy. I also love to cook things out of scratch, so that means I simply use food that comes from this good earth.

Frankly, I don’t like how the word “healthy” gets used sometimes. Moreover, I don’t like dubbing things as “junk”. If someone wants to “healthify” recipes go ahead, but for some reason it bothers me when people say that. It keeps that mentality of x vs. y going–because this bread is made with apple sauce instead of oil, and a cookie made with butter can get a bad rap. Take out the oil, and that may make a person feel less anxiety. There’s nothing wrong with apple sauce for moisture or for taste, but if it’s done to avoid feelings of guilt I think one should think twice then. Let’s do ourselves a favor and catch ourselves when we start comparing. Instead, let each thing simply be what it is. In the end, what do these ideas really amount to? A cookie may be pivotal because of how delicious it tastes, but as far as the end all be all of someone’s diet… it doesn’t even come close. Granted, perhaps if no one sought out an alternative option for people who can’t digest things or choose a certain lifestyle some of my favorite things probably wouldn’t exist; like almond milk, coconut milk ice cream, some gluten-free granolas, and agave. Now, I know I am speaking in very general terms here but it’s for the sake of not writing a novel. I realize there are some who have diabetes or other dietary circumstances, but I think you know what I mean. I’m discussing the mentality.

I think what has a lot to do with the issue of making food more than what it really is, is the power of words. Sure actions can speak louder than them, but words also have the power to reinforce ideas. I mean that’s why I’m taking the time to write this. Don’t we all start to believe what we tell ourselves? These ideas of right and wrong, what makes us happy, or how things “should be”. How often do you hear people saying something is better because it has less calories, less fat, or less carbs? Sometimes we get bombarded with so much information that we forget to just live. Fortunately, we have the power and choice to step aside from the noise and not let it take over. I like to call this taking responsibility for ourselves.

On my blog when I was focusing on foods that were more beneficial for my liver, I was a little weary of writing about it. The information I was finding during my research was all very interesting, but I was afraid that some would focus on that too much. I know that I didn’t take it too seriously, but I didn’t want it to become what my blog was about. Acknowledging the wonderful benefits that some foods have is such a gift, but it is not my focus. I eat what I think tastes wonderful! I eat things that I would want to share with others if they were sitting right next to me, or pass along a recipe that could bring a person back to another place or time. That’s what I love about food. I don’t feel the need to justify what I’m eating because of its nutritional value or lack thereof. I eat what I like. I like ketchup with mayonnaise, and I like cured manchego. In fact, there’s nothing in this world that can replace the complex flavors of cheese. I like white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate. I also like coconut oil mixed in almost everything, and sweet potatoes are just so good. I think olives are gross, nor have I ever really liked fish. I like sandwich bread, artisan bread, and sprouted bread. I think high fructose corn syrup is pointless as an ingredient, but has become an ethical issue and really just exists to give some people a paycheck and save some money. But hey, that’s just me. You are you, and that’s also cool!

Do you ever unnecessarily find yourself justifying why you do the things you do?

On that note, let us enjoy some tasty food, shall we?

Chocolate was on my grocery list last week.

Any Chocolove bar I’ve tried has been a special treat. Not to mention, they come with a love poem inside. So you can love the chocolate your eating, and feel loved too!

Remember this place? Ah yes, it's only natural that I went to the chocolate shop.

(Oh how I wish the weather would be warm enough to go out with bare legs!)

I'm actually containing my reaction to how surprisingly tasty this bar was.

I love crystallized ginger, but I wasn’t sure how this would taste. Adventures always involve some sort of risk though! The ginger wasn’t overpowering the dark chocolate, and they complemented each other wonderfully–you get bits of sweet and spicy ginger while the dark chocolate melts in your mouth.

I wanted to do something a little different for breakfast.

One baby step in making my 15 lb. bag of basmati rice a little lighter–”Project Clean Out” is still in progress!

Hot Rice Cereal with Dried Mango and Toasted Coconut

In addition to the recipe, I chopped up some medjool dates, stirred in some coconut oil, and also toasted some hemp seeds with sea salt. I love the nutty and roasted flavor that hemp seeds get when you toast them. It kind of reminds me of popcorn actually. Anyway, I had an inkling that it would be a tasty addition to this sweet recipe, and indeed it was.

Speaking of popcorn... I was greeted by this man at the door.

On the way back from my last trip to Florida I tried these new-to-me chips called “Popcorners“. They were one of the options for snacks on my JetBlue flight, and I was curious about them. I ended up liking them so much that I asked if I could have another bag! Sadly, I had never seen these chips in stores, but I wanted to try more. The people over at Popcorners kindly sent me this funny box filled with all of their flavors! The texture of popped food is so satisfying to me.

I think it's the crunch!

He decided to surprise my roommate.

A couple times actually.

Have you tried these before? Or even heard of them?

After trying all of the flavors, I’ve come up with a list that goes from my favorite to least favorite (but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it!): Kettle, White Cheddar, Butter, Cheesy Jalapeno, and Sea Salt. Now I just want to munch on them! You can find out more about them on their Facebook or Twitter sites as well. Also, their website has creative ways to use their chips in all sorts of recipes!

The other weekend I picked up a bag of Bare Fruit dried d'anjou pears at the store.

I was curious as to what they’d be like. They’re great for snacking on, but I wanted to try them with something else.

Topped with sliced almonds and leftover streusel.

Making oatmeal a bit more deliciously complicated.

I had some rice noodles just sitting in my pantry.

While searching on the CHOW website I came across this recipe which used rice noodles. I think next up I want to make Pad Thai.

Tofu and Broccolini Pad See Ew

I omitted the eggs since I’m not a fan of them. Anyway, I have enough for leftovers to have throughout the week!

In other news, I recently went to a casting call for a commercial for Richmond Fashion Week with one of my favorite persons, David!

[gigya width="440" height="420" src="http://v7.tinypic.com/player.swf?file=2kofo1&s=7" quality="high" flashvars="gig_lt=1296412375972&gig_pt=1296413371035&gig_g=1&gig_n=wordpress" wmode="tranparent" ]

I ended up not being chosen to be a part of the commercial, but that’s alright. Just giving things a shot is enough for me sometimes.

Anyway, I’d like to know your thoughts about the beginning of this post.

From My Heart to Your Belly

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Katharina

It was so interesting reading about some of your doshas! Laury had mentioned that one of her clients sees an Ayurvedic doctor who can tell what their patient ate simply by touching them. Wow! Imagine being that in-tune! I thought I’d share a link that you may find interesting, and who knows… it may help fill in some blanks: Ayurveda Info-center.

“The whole person-and the whole field of interpersonal behavior-can be spontaneously enhanced by the process of self-referral, or looking within to experience the Self. This is analogous to the natural process by which all the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit of a tree can be simultaneously nourished and enlivened by watering the root.“

I had some prepping to do last Friday, as we were having guests all the way from Germany. I didn’t want to stress out about it because first off, I didn’t have to! As I was cooking I made sure to have a clear mind, and good intentions. I just wanted everyone to be able to relax and enjoy when they ate. Not to mention, the whole house smelled divine!

: Pain D’Epice or French honey-spice bread

: This involved egg whisking.

: Anise!

: and other delicious spices and citrus zest.

: I also made a well for the whisked eggs and soy milk.

: Finger licking

: Oh that’s right! This has to go in the oven.

: Et Voila!

A deliciously sweet and aromatic bread–a bit burned around the edges but tasty nonetheless. I don’t think that many of you know that I’m quite the honey afficianado. I have honeys ranging in flavors from lavender to almond, as dark as molasses, local variations, and even artisanal raw honeycomb squares from Savannah Bee Company. It’s funny because most of these were gifts from friends.

: Then a mysterious package came in the mail.

: I have been eyeing these shoes all summer!

: I saw this as a sign to dress up and play hostess.

The guests would be arriving soon!

: And a goofy one for the heck of it!

: Our guests!

: Ivy’s sesame-coconut rice, yellow split pea dhal, and a spinach salad with avocado, blueberries, and lemon-balsamic vinaigrette.

This meal was so flavorful! My mom also made a coconut chicken curry with pineapple. The rice was my favorite though. I cooked some basmati rice with ghee and salt. Afterwards I fried the dried coconut and sesame seeds in more ghee. Once that was golden I mixed it in with the cooked rice. Wow! The ghee did so much for this dish. One of the guests said it was one of the best meals he’s ever had. Perhaps my good intentions really did work!

Yellow Split Pea Dhal

Spinach Salad with Avocado, Blueberries, Feta and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette (I omitted the feta since I’m avoiding cheese for the time being)

: I made mango lassi for dessert!

: Cheers to a great meal m’lady.

: The next morning involved the French honey-spice bread topped with ghee + a bowl of Greek yogurt, fruits, and ground golden flaxseeds.

The bread reminded me of one of the Christmas cakes in Germany. Deliciously nostalgic.

: We also bought pan de bono, which is a delicious Colombian cheese bread.

: And one of my other favorites: arepa de choclo

Our guests fully enjoyed the breakfast! Actually, everyone did.

: Beans, beans…

“Soaking reduces excess dryness, calming the air element in foods and enhancing the water element. The added moisture supports the action of agni, digestive fire, on food, making foods easier for the body to break down. This beneficial Ayurvedic practice of soaking is used with beans, peas, nuts, some seeds, and dried fruits. Soaking is most often done overnight by simply covering the food with pure water and letting it sit, covered, until the morning.”

After soaking the beans for many hours, I cooked them with bay leaves. Once they were cooked I fried some onions, garlic, ginger, cumin, and turmeric. Then added the beans and some sea salt. Simple, delicious, and very helpful for my liver.

: More legumes

I steamed some edamame, then sprinkled on some sea salt. I love eating them out of their shells.

: A bowl beaming with green!

This was a mix of kale and mustard greens. I massaged the greens with flaxseed oil, as Neela had suggested. This was very tasty and helped lessen the bitterness of raw kale. Speaking of kale, I found a really great recipe for kale and chard salad with blue cheese. Check it out!

“Kale contains sulphorane…which only becomes apparent when cruciferous veggies such as kale, cabbage and broccoli are chewed or chopped. But it’s what sulphorane does that’s important. It encourages the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer causing chemicals, especially those connected to chemically-induced breast cancer and colon cancer.“

: I also massaged watercress and green cabbage shreds in flaxseed oil as well.

Watercress is in the same family as kale and mustard greens, so they have similar health benefits.

“Watercress juice is so concentrated with so much cleansing goodness that it activates the detoxifying enzymes in the liver for detoxifying a hangover.”

Watercress juice could be a party girl’s best friend!

Another interesting tid-bit I found from an article I read by Brendan Brazier about stress-reducing foods:

“Alkaline forming – leafy green vegetables, chlorella

Enzyme rich – raw fruits and vegetables

Hormone balancing – maca (Peruvian root vegetable)

High quality, complementary protein – hemp, yellow pea, brown rice

Rich in essential fatty acids – flax seeds”

Check, check, and check! I’ve actually been adding maca powder to my oats once they cool down due to my hormone imbalance; I struggle with too much testosterone. Right now, for me, I’m trying to eat most of my vegetables steamed or lightly (3-5 minutes) pan-fried with ghee to keep the nutrients. If I eat them raw, however, I massage them in oil so it’s easier for my dosha to handle. And it looks like I’ll be enjoying more yellow split pea dhal in my future!

Without further ado, here’s my video!

Letting Things Happen and Trying New Things

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Katharina

Erewhon's Brown rice cream + pumpkin + vanilla protein powder + coconut oil + spices + molasses + brown sugar + Sunland's caramel peanut butter melted in.

Nothing’s better than a bowl of yummy creaminess on a cold winter’s day.

A sort of platter

I was inspired by this recipe. I caramelized the apples and walnuts, baked the brie and sesame Italian bread. For the kale I just steamed it till the green turned vibrant.

So delicious... the bread was crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside

Winning combo!

Greek yogurt + pumpkin + raisins + maple syrup + cranberry & walnut granola

I let the raisins soak in the Greek yogurt overnight–I actually forgot about doing that because when I saw it in the morning I thought my yogurt started to grow mold. You can imagine I was like, “how does this happen overnight?!” Then the “a-ha” moment was had and I remembered, “oh that’s right those are raisins.” So I happily enjoyed this for breakfast without worry of possibly contracting some sort of illness. Anyhow, I love the crunch of the granola and nuts mixed with creamy yogurt and chewy dried fruit. It’s a nice balance of textures.

When you're in a hurry, readymade food is a blessing!

I knew that can of vegetarian chili from Health Valley would come in handy some time in my semester! I added some of my own touches to it by melting in some dark chocolate and maple syrup. Then I threw in some peas and bulgur wheat and garnished it with cilantro and voila! On the side I steamed some kale and tossed it in olive oil and sprinkled on some salt and chopped almonds. Such an easy meal and tasty as well!

And look at what caught my eye at the store the other day!

A jazz apple!

It was just too pretty not to put in my basket.

On the go snacking...

Lately, when I’m in the comfort of my own home I’ve been snacking on a mixture of granola, soymilk, and peanut butter put it in the microwave. If you like to eat delicious things then I highly recommend this! However, sometimes I’m not at home when snack attack hits me. This is when I rely on dense and full of flavor bars like Boomi Bars. I luckily still have some from when I was sent a box to review. I know I’ve raved about them before, but I really have to do it again. Personally, I think bars with less ingredients taste way better because the flavor doesn’t get lost among the list of unnecessary ingredients. Not to mention, these are more satisfying and filling–just what I need!

While I was on the go I stocked up on some goods...

I got some new things to try!

I got the Gardein “buffalo wings” with the freebie coupon they sent me, so I will let you guys know how the taste testing goes. I’ve never had buffalo wings before so we’ll see what I think! I also finally found two items I’ve been on the lookout for. I’m pretty sure I will love the Sunshine Burger breakfast flavor because which flavor have I not loved so far? Seriously my favorite store-bought veggie burger. Lastly, luck was on my side when I spotted the new caramel Oikos flavor that some bloggers out there have also stumbled upon. I can’t wait to try this out!!

I also made a Trader Joe's stop as well--Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are basically next to each other so it works out beautifully.

I finally got some of their frozen yogurt to see what the dealio is. Well now I know and I must say that I really enjoy the tartness. Let’s see… I spy various fruits and veggies (some frozen) and some handmade flour tortillas. I also got manchego cheese–I have a recipe in mind for this.

Soon after I got home I set out to make some falafels.

I loosely followed this recipe.

I decided to bake them instead since I'm always afraid of burning myself when frying.

Then I made a random dinner.

Up close and personal baby.

I sauteed some mushrooms, red onions, and garlic and reduced it all in balsamic vinegar. Then I assembled the handmade tortilla like so: melted mozzarella, pesto, smoky chipotle and sun-dried red pepper hummus, sauteed veggies, and cilantro. I must say, this was quite the wrap. Randomly delicious.

Still image from my video. Click the link below!

Knowing it All too Well

I have some exciting things that I can’t wait to share with you all. Although this semester I’ve already experienced one of those weeks where it feels like it’s too much effort to even breathe, I’m doing and learning about things I enjoy. Not to mention, I’ve also been doing some things on the side and really immersing myself with new things and giving things a chance. I don’t think I can say it better than the lovely Neela herself, “sometimes in life you don’t know where things are going–right now it feels even better to NOT know where it’s going!” In a way that’s how I feel right now. I’m doing things to experience them mainly without expecting anything back, but I’m okay with that. Going out there and doing new things in itself, brings me fulfillment.

Inspired Eats

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Katharina

Hello hello there! I am so happy to say that these past few days have been awesome. I think it’s the whole mentality I’m trying to maintain to get me through the winter. It was actually the title for a recent post of mine, “life is what you make of it.” The winter doesn’t have to suck the life out of me (okay I’m being dramatic here), but instead I focus on what I’m doing now and all the positives of this holiday season. And all your answers really stuck with me and reminded me of so many things I have to smile about. Don’t we all?

Here are few of my reasons, inspired by some of you, in the past couple of days.

A different version of frozen yogurt

I took a container of So Delicious coconut milk yogurt and stuck it in the freezer.

Two cookies for good measure!

The night I received the package I had a couple of Holly’s homemade vegan pumpkin molasses cookies. Wow! These were so good, I’m glad she shared her recipe.

Inspired by two very special ladies.

The other day I saw that Maya and Eliza had each made a bowl of gingerbread-inspired oats. Do I need to explain? This is why I love breakfast. When I’ve had a delicious breakfast then I know it’s going to be a good day.

On my day off from classes I felt like dressing-up.

One of my favorite scarves - it makes me feel like Mozart.

And a skirt I should wear more often.

Along with some dark grey tights and red Mary Janes flats.

I had recently gotten a ton of basil.

So I decided to make a pesto. Rather than using raw pine nuts I toasted them first and it really made a difference in the flavor.

Afternoon snack

These are the Apple Grahams that came in the package Holly sent me. I’ve tried them plain, with the medley jam she also sent me, pumpkin butter, dipped in Sugar Cookie tea, and pumpkin spice soymilk. I have yet to crumble them on a nice warm bowl of oatmeal.

Almost forgot about lunch!

For lunch I tried another Gardein product. This time it was the chick’n scallopini. I really liked how they lightly-seasoned these, and they were also a really nice size. There are some vegetarian products out there that give such small portions and that can be frustrating. I decided to cook up the rest of cauliflower and chick’n scallopini in a Sweet Pepper and Coconut cooking sauce. Served with Nishiki rice. So good that even my little Moofia toy wanted some.

I recently picked up a new item at the grocery store.

What could it be? A rutabaga! I’m pretty sure I’ve never tried one before. My darling darling, Brooke, said this was one veggie I needed to try. She recommended to try them with cranberries, so of course I listened! I roasted the rutabaga and an apple with sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. I also had a Tofurky Kielbasa decorated with ketchup, beer-brewed mustard, and a bit of sweet relish. Yum! I definitely was looking up more rutabaga recipes after this.

This was a special bowl of oatmeal...

In Brooke’s survey one of the questions was, “bowl of hot cereal you have been wanting to try.” And I answered a banana rum cake-inspired oatmeal. Lynn thought it sounded good too, so I decided to make it! I made my way to the liquor store and got a miniature bottle of Captain Morgan’s spiced rum. I did not prepare my oatmeal as I usually do because I additionally cooked it with a couple spoonfuls of spiced rum and a bruleed banana. I topped it with a sliced banana, some pecans, New Morning Honey Grahams, and a ZenSoy banana pudding cup.

I even mixed spiced rum in the banana pudding!

I wanted to be drunk for my Taoism class! Kidding of course!

I hadn't worn this blazer in ages!

Lunch was surprisingly yummy.

I wanted to try out something different for the wee bit of kale I had left. It was just enough to help make this sandwich (I just boiled it). I assembled the sandwich with French Meadow Bakery’s gluten-free sandwich bread, cashew butter, kale, and pumpkin butter. This was a new combination I thought of and wanted to try out; I think some onion jam would’ve definitely sealed the deal, but this was delicious as well. I had some of the leftover hummus from Brittany’s sandwich recipe – perfect for the broccoli!

Bright and early on a Saturday!

Since I have to wake up really early on a Saturday morning (and I hadn’t gotten home on Friday till 4:30 am), I just want as much sleep as I can get. So when I woke up I quickly put my breakfast together. I tried another 18 Rabbits flavor that was sent to me; that morning I decided to try the “Nibble a Sultana” bar. I had it with a container of vanilla Greek yogurt, a diced apple, and cinnamon. I’ve seen sultanas baked with apples in little tarts. This bar didn’t have that same perfect granola-y flavor the other one had. It was okay, but I probably wouldn’t buy it for myself.

Carrots and rutabaga mash + sandwich

With the rest of my rutabaga I followed Brooke’s advice again and made a mash out of it! I stumbled upon this recipe and I knew it would be nothing short of delicious. However, I ended up sprinkling on some pumpkin pie spice and mixed some coconut oil in as well. This had me licking my bowl clean. The sandwich was inspired by a local coffee-shop item on their menu. It had my homemade basil pesto, Gardein chick’n scallopini, roasted red peppers, and goat cheese. Wow! Do any of you ever recreate restaurant recipes?

I just had to!

After going on a long walk excursion with a friend I came home to work on my project.

And I got kind of side-tracked...

Okay, really side-tracked!

Then I finally got back to work.

Then, next thing you know dinnertime rolled around! I had become so focused that I had totally lost track of time.

Yin and Yang

I made sweet and sour lentils and had it with leftover Nishiki rice and coconut oil.

Korean-Russian Carrot Salad

I’ve had this recipe saved for a really long time and totally forgot about it! This tasted very different from what I usually eat, sweet and spicy, but it was a very pleasant change.

Later that night I ended up going to some of my friends’ art exhibit and met up with another friend. Afterwards we went to a birthday celebration and eventually I came back home and I woke up with two thoughts on my mind. “I have on last night’s makeup” and “April’s pumpkin French toast sticks.”

An example of a perfectly delicious Sunday breakfast.

April’s recipe also calls for a peanut butter frosting. I changed it around a bit and made it vegan by omitting the eggs, and used Pumpkin Spice soymilk (highly recommended!!!) and a thickening agent. I used two thick slices of Rudi’s 100% Whole Wheat bread. The toppings include: diced apple, more pumpkin pie spice, and some Apple & Maple syrup. This breakfast was such a great way to start a beautiful day.

Well now I’m off to enjoy the sun and walk to the Farmer’s Market with Matilda. I hope you all had a relaxing and fun weekend! I’ll leave you all with a clip from a new hit TV series aka a video recording I made:

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Original Video – More videos at TinyPic

Much love!

Snack Health Bars that Won’t Leave You Hungry

Posted on October 11, 2009 by Katharina

I hope you all have been enjoying your weekend so far! I know that I have, but I’ll be giving you a re-cap on another post. Let’s just say… love is in the air!!! I also did a little special somethin’ somethin’ at the very end of this post!

: The people over at gnu foods sent me a generous sampler package.

Each Gnu foods bar boasts providing almost 50% of a person’s daily value of fiber. How do they do this without making something taste like straight up bark? As the wrapping says, “flavor & fiber together at last.”

High Fiber

Only 130 – 140 Calories (varies by flavor)

Fruit Juice Sweetened

Made with Organic Whole Wheat Flour

Made with Aluminum-Free Baking Powder

Loaded with both Soluble and Insoluble Fiber

Vegan

Kosher – OU-D

: You could smell the flavors of the bars when you opened the wrapper.

This particular one, Espresso Chip, smelled delicious to me. I love the smell of coffee brewing in the morning! Since I’m not really a coffee drinker, that smell is a luxury to me. I felt that the bars were very straightforward. They tasted like the flavors of each bar. There are no gimmicks; what you see, is what you get. However, there is the exception of the Peanut Butter Bar. That one was lacking in flavor. I was very disappointed because I love the taste of peanut butter, and that I felt that was completely missing. The Lemon Ginger Bar definitely tasted like lemon and ginger, however I thought it was too overpowering. My favorite bar was the Cinnamon Raisin Bar. I felt like I was eating a chewy cinnamon raisin cookie, only this one contained a lot of fiber! That’s another plus side to these. They’re moist but not sticky.

: Check it out!

The available flavors are: banana walnut, cinnamon raison, orange cranberry, chocolate brownie, peanut butter, espresso chip, and lemon ginger.

The people over at Pure Bar also sent a sample box of their bars. I was very excited to try these out since I had seen them floating about the blogosphere.

: Wild Blueberry

This bar wasn’t bad, I just didn’t feel too crazy about it. But I did appreciate the bits of nuts I would bite into. All of the bars have the traces of the various fruits and nuts.

: Ohh look at that smirk.

This was the Chocolate Brownie flavor. The combination of cocoa and dates was very much appreciated by these tastebuds!

: Apple Cinnamon

Holy moly I thought this one tasted like apple pie! Very yummy. I also loved the Cherry Cashew and Cranberry Orange flavors. I would definitely buy those flavors again, but the Apple Cinnamon is at the top of my list. The one flavor I didn’t like was the Choco Trail Mix. I thought it tasted neither like chocolate nor trail mix. I just didn’t get it. Moreover, I’m impressed that these are all raw! And for all of you that must follow a gluten-free diet, these contain no gluten – making them safe! Overall, I’m impressed with how much substance these bars have. Personally, if I reach for a bar I go for a dense one – and these definitely fit the bill.

You can also print out a coupon on their website and they’re also available at Trader Joe’s!

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Original Video – More videos at TinyPic

I think it’d be fun to a do a FAQ post where I would answer your questions via video. So if you have any, just leave them in a comment! Enjoy the rest of your weekend party people.

Fluorescent is the New Black

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Katharina

My week has been stressful, but Holly’s post about Ups and Downs reminded me that even when life gets tough, there’s always a bright side. A highlighter yellow bright side!

I made a little personal project for myself last week. Matilda and I go for walks around the city, and I always find myself looking down at her and smiling to myself. I wonder… what’s it like for her? Walking through grass must be like walking through a cornfield for us!

: Matilda has mastered the art of being okay with doing “nothing”.

Click the link below to see the little video I put together.

Matilda’s Walk

: Fresh peaches

: Finally feeling like I’m back in business.

FOOD PORN ALERT! This creamy bowl of muesli had it’s fair share of cinnamon, peach slices, coconut shreds, and almonds. Can we all say yum? Now all together… YUM!

: Cheap ice pops!

So I bit the top off before I took a picture. I just poured some OJ into my ice pop molds. The next time I made these, I added some soy creamer to make them kind of like a Creamsicle. Which reminds me… Stoli Vanilla + Orange soda = THE BOMB!

Highlights of my week so far

I was looking through Craigslist the other day and read these words, “ANTHROPOLOGIE INTERNSHIP.” Click! Oh my gosh, guys… it’s screenshot time!

This was exactly what I want to do as a "practical" job after I graduate, but in New York.

This is exactly what I was planning to have as a “practical job” when I graduate, but in New York!!! Speaking of “displays”, my room is coming together. I still have some things to hang up and crafting projects I’ve been meaning to finish.

Matilda being a watchdog.

All she does is growl at everything and everyone that passes by.

Studying where I sleep... this is supposedly and ineffective way to study. Supposedly...

Check out this mess!

I don’t think you can see this – unless you have super sonic vision – but on the little chalkboard by the crazy mask I wrote “boys suck.” Well, they don’t really. I just think I must’ve been on another planet when girls learned how to flirt and stuff. Or maybe it’s just the fact that we’re from different planets anyway!

When I was grocery shopping the other day I saw that winter squashes were on sale for 69 cents a lb. What’d my eyes fall upon? The elusive kabocha and I met again! I’m thinking I should go back and get another one, and some other delicious winter squashes. Hello? Last time I paid $1.50 per lb. for the Japanese squash! I’d be crazy not to take advantage of this super deal.

So I went on a food adventure and tried lotus seeds for the first time! I made a lotus seed congee, and I changed it around everytime I ate my leftovers.

: Served hot! So hot there was steam coming off this.

: Broccoli and carrots in a peanut sauce + coconut milk + basil.

More Thai inspired veggies!

: This bowl had cinnamon, coconut oil, and warmed up Crofter’s Superfruit spread since they have dark cherries)

: I also saw that avocados are on sale for $1.50 each.

Speaking of avocados, an old friend of mine said I have really nice, full hair and that it must be because I eat avocados and olive oil. It’s also all thanks to nuts, and coconut oil (eat and put on my hair). Then the other day he said my hair is like Fara Fawcett’s hahah! Lately, it’s been flipping out by itself. Then he said “girls would kill to have that.” Oh, please feed me more compliments hot friend!

So this “old friend” of mine is also an old crush of mine. When I was at his house the other night, he pulled out a jar of Sunflower Seed Butter from Trader Joe’s. Oh my goodness! I think my eyes popped out of my head because he asked, “what?!” The flavor was overwhelmingly good and totally unexpected. I urge you all to try this if you haven’t already. I know at least one thing that’s going in my cart next time I go to Trader Joe’s. Oh and we went on a nice bike ride together! This is where we met up:

: The “compass” aka the center of campus, but it was totally empty then.

The moon looked eerie that night.

Then we just rode around the Victorian neighborhood called “the Fan”. I’ll take a picture of that for you guys. It’s so nice! Then we went back and watched this musical called “Shock Treatment”. It’s by the same guy who did “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Well, basically we got all cuddly during the movie and he had so many nice things to say about me. Garsh!

Sophia, his cat.

She realized I was taking pictures of her!

I thought I was over my friend… and I was. But I’ve started crushing again. Not sure if he’s good news though. He’s got this je ne sais quoi, and all the girls fall for it. Even girls that usually don’t go for his “type”.

Anyway,I tried out a new recipe from Happy Herbivore for “tuna” out of chickpeas. Holy moly! I’m making a recipe card for this one for sure!

: Served in a toasted bun.

I spread some mayo + tarragon on the bun. I love the subtle sweet flavor tarragon has.

: It even looks like tuna!

I threw in some raisins for some added sweetness.

: I also tried the “tuna” on some new bread I got from a local bakery: spelt!

I love it! I use to go to this bakery after school back in highschool, and I would have them build me a sandwich. They also make awesome cookies, and other breads. I can imagine this “tuna” recipe would taste awesome on their Honey Wheat loaf + sprouts!

: My missing ingredient is back! Hello avocado!

: Banana, coconut milk, and coconut shreds

There’s a grocery store that has bananas on sale for 29 cents a lb. on Tuesdays. Lots of bananas = banana pops! I am now addicted to making my own popsicles. Anybody have any recipes they’d like to share? Or ideas?

I’ve also seen that some of you guys add coconut milk to your oats. Well, I had an opened can sitting in my fridge… I think you guys can guess what I did next!

: Refreshing bowl of muesli with coconut milk & shreds, vanilla, and a blob of Cacao Bliss.

This looks so creamy and delicious! I can imagine some graphic designer going crazy over how “simple” it looks ahaha.

: Another bowl of muesli with coconut milk topped with Gena’s banana soft-serve and Creme of Date and Almond spread. The raisins are hiding somewhere in there!

Lastly, my most exciting highlight of this week so far!

I’ve been trying out some U.S. Mills products:

: A yummy bowl of their gluten-free Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice helped my late night studying not seem so bad

By the way, this brought me back to Cocoa Krispies and loving how the milk would turn into chocolate milk!

What’s that you say? You would like to try them too? Well, here’s your chance to receive a generous gift courtesy of U.S. Mills:

1. One product of each brand (Erewhon, Uncle Sam Cereal, New Morning, and Farina)

2. a Patagonia T-Shirt (available in Adult L, XL & Kids L)

3. and some coupons

How do you win?

In the comments section of this post, let me know the flavors of each brand you would like to try and your favorite way to eat cereal or use cereal. Maybe you simply enjoy it with milk, but I know some of you have some creative ideas up your sleeves!

Make a comment by this Saturday, September 12 at noon EDT, and I will randomly pick a winner (please only comment once). The winner will be announced over the weekend.

Spread the word about this contest by linking back to this post then e-mail me at onthepolkadot@hotmail.com, and that’ll earn you another entry. Good luck everyone! It’s my first giveaway eee!

In Motion

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Katharina

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Original Video – More videos at TinyPic

I hope you guys enjoyed my first video post!

Katharina's Food Adventures

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