Maggie started this thing called “truth week”, and each day she’s tagged somebody to tell the truth. Well she had tagged Mitri and then the Queen of Oats tagged me! So here goes.
The truth is that this week has been hard and I’ve done some reevaluating. I’d say my relationship with food now is a pretty healthy one, but I think this week has been a challenge for me. I’d say… my lack of funds led me to panic for a hot second. I’m use to being able to buy fresh foods and cooking each day. Well, I haven’t been able to spend money for over a week now and I didn’t mind at first because I hadn’t run out of produce. All my frozen produce is gone as well now. And that’s what got me thinking. I have plenty of things in my pantry, I just got so antsy about the fact that – oh my gosh – I have no fresh food. Fresh foods are the only things I really crave too. Weird, I know. I always have a bag of carrots on hand because they’re refreshing, tasty, and I’ve loved carrots ever since I was little. I might’ve said it before but when I was little I swore I was part bunny. I mean… I’ve got raisins and other dried fruits at least and this is only temporary. I’m hoping to get money in a couple of days and I’ll be buying some vegetables and fruits again. It got me to thinking how fortunate and picky I actually am. There are people that live off rice and beans every day. I am so fortunate to have a wide variety of things to choose from. I’ve got grains like rice and oats, nut butters, canned legumes, the package of Sunshine Burgers, Tofurky, and other yummy things. I was also able to use my soymilk maker to make some almond milk this morning. But I guess I got upset because I couldn’t have something. And when you can’t have something… you want it even more, and it almost seems like nothing else matters. So, that is my truth for today. And lots of things I have are simply luxuries, and now I really see what the necessities are. I just had to get that out of my system. Hmm… the bright side? Hey Janetha, I’m also taking part in your “clean out the pantry” challenge!
Hooray for seasonal items.
I heated up the Iced Gingerbread Clif bar and enjoyed every bite with sips of a cup of ZenSoy chocolate soymilk I warmed up. The people over at ZenSoy sent me a gracious sampler package not too long ago. I’m going to do a full review on them soon.
More Nishiki rice!
Last week I used my batch of okara (the pulp leftover when I made soy milk) to make a vegetarian meatloaf based on this recipe. I didn’t have any vegetarian “ground beef” on hand so I used a can of beans instead. I just melted some mozzarella on top and went a little crazy with the ketchup.
Quinoa pasta
I finished off my can of chickpeas and frozen spinach. Actually, a little ray of sunshine inspired me for last night’s dinner. Maya is quite the chef! The things her and her sister, Eliza, whip up make me so hungry! I saw she had a recipe for Spinach Ricotta Pine Nut Pasta. I didn’t have ricotta, but I pretty much had everything else. I just grated some parmesan on top and sprinkled on some pine nuts. Now I feel so silly for freaking out.
Breakfast this morning
I had a bowl of Farina with a ton of raisins and some cinnamons. I also decided to mix in a Banana ZenSoy pudding cup and a glob of cashew butter. Afterwards I attempted to make some almond milk for the first time.
Too watery, but I'll get it down next time.
Now I've just got to look up what I can do with almond pulp.
I went to the UPS station to pick up some packages that were sent to me, but too large to fit in my apartment complex’s box. Seriously, once I got home and opened these packages up, I counted my blessings again. On the topic of being grateful, check out Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness!
Exploding package!
The folks from Newman’s Own Organics sent me an incredibly generous package for me to sample and review on here. Wow!
I was even more excited to see that Matilda had some treats for her as well!!!!
Matilda sampled the Peanut Butter flavored treats and she gave it two paws way up!
Awhile ago I had used my last freebie coupon Tofurky sent to me. What’d I choose to get? The beer brat “sausages”! I tried it with beer mustard, ketchup, and sweet relish, and by itself! Yum yum yum. I’ve read that some of you didn’t like the other flavors except for the beer brats. I, however, do like the other sausage flavors and this one as well!
So there’s really been no cooking for me but I have been munching my way through tasty snacks! I hope you are all enjoying your Wednesday aka “hump day”.
Oh, and before I forget, I’d like to tag Holly to partake in “truth week”!
29 Comments
November 12, 2009 at 2:20 am
Aww Matilda! Molly and Henry wish they could partake in this peanut butter cookie-eating
November 12, 2009 at 3:08 am
LOVE the pic of the pooch! Aaawww!!!
November 12, 2009 at 3:11 am
yay you got doggie treats too!!!
my neighbor situation is okay – probably b/c it’s the week (and they get crazy on the weekends). that really sucks that you can’t tell where your noisy neighbors are!!!
November 12, 2009 at 3:29 am
LOL When I saw “and then the Queen of Oats,” I thought, What?? There is another oatmeister?? MY REPUTATION IS AT STAKE. But no, it’s me… haha I’m such a dork. Thanks
At the first college I went to, I was on the school meal plan and had an extraordinary vegan station & salad bar at my discretion. But the second college I went to had far more limited options, and I was so hung up on eating lots of fresh foods, raw salads, etc. that I really began to restrict because the food wasn’t “healthy” and “proper.” “I’d rather go hungry than eat this stuff” was my irrational mindset I guess. But we should just be thankful we have anything to eat, as I am thankful now that I live with my dad and he provides me with an abundance of great foods. . .
November 12, 2009 at 3:58 am
So glad you gave us some truth. Lovely post. I do understand what you mean about panicing. I always do when food supplies get low…I guess the chef in us freaks a bit out at packaged food? Maybe. Good eats though and Newmans always is impressive with their gifts!
xoxo
Maggie
November 12, 2009 at 4:01 am
katharina, call me crazy but now i know why i call you my soul sister. the exact same thing was creeping up in my mind. because of my stomach i have to cut back on veggies and fruits and have to eat white bread and pasta and YES it did freak me out a bit and i wrote a post about this as well. But then i realized what the hell? there are people out there who are starving and would do anything just to have something to eat and here i am whining about not being able to eat insanely healthy all the time. we are crazy for only eating this super healthy food. its also an addition and not a healthy way to live right? i was so happy to read your post about this topic here as i can relate to it so much. but what’s so much more important is that we are happy.
lets be happy my little angel, we are more than just super healthy eaters right?
love you and next time you feel like this again
message me!!!!
xoxo
November 12, 2009 at 4:16 am
I think we’re all fortunate to eat fresh foods, and produce these days. I’m kinda scared for my college/post college days when I won’t have that luxury. :/ I actually told my mom the other day, that when I’m a poor, starving twenty something girl, I could live off of eggs, squash and oats. Haha.
But I also need to clear out my pantry- things always pile up, and never dwindle down.
I think that Tofurky sausage is the biggest sausage I’ve ever seen. Lol. Matilda is probably in my top 3 blogger dogs. So cute.
November 12, 2009 at 5:33 am
Your food looks amazing as usual. But your actual photography rocks, too. What kind of camera do you have? I have a Sony that is automatic, sorry not up on all the lingo, but it was an expensive Sony not like a $199. More like a $399. I dont mind investing in another camera..what do you use? I have no photography skills with regard to experience with a real camera that Id have to focus, but Im willing to learn
November 12, 2009 at 5:41 am
gingerbread cliff looks awesome!! thanks for the honesty.. i can totally relate girl
November 12, 2009 at 6:26 am
I have periods when there’s not a shred of fresh veggies in the house, because i seldom buy vegetables (my mum does). Then after a few days, the fridge would have magically restocked itself, and i would be a happy bunny again
ohhh and doggy treats! so cute!
<3 magdelene
November 12, 2009 at 8:31 am
Not having fresh foods bother me, too. I’m so used to eating everything fresh that even leftovers irk me. I try to finish everything so I don’t have leftovers. I also have quite a few stuff in my pantry that I really have to use up! Maybe I’ll join you in trying to spend less money and clear up the pantry!
November 12, 2009 at 8:31 am
I tried making almond milk as well, but I was disappointed with how watery it turned out. Let me know if you find a solution!
Wish I could try the holiday Clif bars, but I can’t seem to find them! Oh well, I’ve gotten enough bars as samples that I need to work through, anyway.
Glad Matilda got her own samples!
November 12, 2009 at 9:16 am
I always think the same thing about myself, like am i really such a picky food brat? lol…no, really i always feel quite guilty that i need this and that etc when i could perfectly do fine with less expensive items. but i think this day and age, everyone even if they dont eat healthy they go out a lot and such idk…
well i loved reading this post(still cant see your pics) ugh WordPress or my laptop i have no clue why this is? okay but love the clif gingerbread bar, i must pick the seasonal ones up, hmmm i don’t think I’ve had a clif bar in like 1/2 a year! and thanks for the shout out cutie, 
love you to the moon and back!
but we all deserve to eat the way we enjoy, and i too crave fresh produce and healthy things, so just eat what we love right?
xxx
Eliza
November 12, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Awww, don’t worry, I encounter the same kind of stresses so often. I think so many of us do. It’s so good that you are abe to open up and talk about it though. Don’t worry, things will get better, they ALWAYS do!
You’re fabulous and amazing and I love you! That is my truth for the day.
November 12, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I’ve been resorting to eating broccoli at every meal because that’s the only fresh veggies I have at the moment! I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to go shopping. And I ran out of cottage cheese! Ugh!
Your meals look great though.. I’d say you do an excellent job of eating healthy with little produce!
November 12, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Love your honesty and creativity in this post girl!
I like fresh produce, but can also easily satisfy myself with things like white bread & ‘easy’ food sometimes:) I’m glad you made these wonderful meals with so little produce!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
November 12, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Your truth is something so many people can relate to, especially in a time like this where cash is so tight. I know exactly where you are coming from, you really do miss/want things more when they aren’t there.
And I am such a food brat too! Sometimes we’ve got to learn to make the most out of what we have though, not a bad thing to learn though, right?
I loved this post. Your honesty, and your DELISH meals. Especially your breakfast, it looks so soft and yummy.
You are so fortunate to always get these nice boxes of samples. How wonderful!
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Sending you hugs
<3Karina
November 12, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Love the Newman’s Own stash! They really do give you a lot of samples to try and review! Too cool. BTW, even though you are out of fresh foods to eat, you still seem to make the best looking and most nutritious meals. I love that about you! You are so creative and daring to put together different flavor combos. I wish you could cook for me!
November 12, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Plopping that banana pudding on top of your breakfast sounds like such a fun switch! I love Newman’s! They know how to hook a blogger up
November 12, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I know what you mean. I look in my fridge and panic if there’s no fresh ingredients to cook with. The thing I’m forgetting is that there’s still a bunch of stuff in my pantry and freezer that would make a perfectly good meal. I think having a “clean out the pantry” week is actually a great way to get those creative inner-chef brain cells going! I always come up with something.
Pats to you for being honest! Have a great day!
Kate (abakersblurbs.wordpress.com)
November 12, 2009 at 10:43 pm
You are so right. It’s crazy how we can go into such a state of panic over the lack of greens in our produce droor. We’ve all got to made compromises, and I really enjoyed how you worded that. We are extremely fortunate…
Your food always looks amazing, by the way!!
November 12, 2009 at 10:53 pm
How’d the “meat”loaf turn out with beans? I hadn’t thought of using those, but it sounds great!
November 13, 2009 at 1:27 am
hooray for cleaning things out! i have to stock up now that i have moved.. haha now i have no food! the quinoa pasta and the photo of meredith were the highlights of this post for me
that is so great that you crave fresh food. i am the same way. i never crave junk.. i consider us lucky!
November 13, 2009 at 12:30 pm
alright…you asked for it! truth week coming your way
lately, i have really trying to focus on wants and needs. i consider healthy food a need, but it helps to have perspective. most of what i crave are actually wants, not needs. taking time to evaluate has helped me see what it actually important!
love you and your fabulous concoctions – have a great day katharina!
November 13, 2009 at 5:25 pm
That is one hell of a sausage! Yeah. TWSS.
I freak out when I don’t have fresh produce as well. It just makes me feel murky and dull. Sense?
But you are right, living without these things for a few days is not the end of the world and if it forces us to be more creative than usual, well, hopefully we can embrace that!
November 13, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Hey sweetie, Oh, I have totally been there with the budget. And I know what it does to the psyche and how it affects eating. I hate thinking of you worrying about it…as long as you have food, you can be healthy. You are healthy. You are beautiful!
November 13, 2009 at 10:09 pm
[...] Recipes It’s Really Not That Bad [...]
November 15, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Aw Katharina! You are such an admirable girl. I love that you realized how privileged you really were, and that a few days without some fresh veggies will be quite alright! So true, some people DO live off of beans and rice…so be thankful for that stocked kitchen of yours!!
And I think you still made a bunch of delicious things without any fresh veggies on hand! Enjoy “cleaning out the kitch”, and have fun with cooking once you get some fresh produce back in your fridge!!
Ps I cannot wait to try those tofurkey dogs!! They sound soooo good.
November 15, 2009 at 6:05 pm
[...] As I racked my brain for more ideas, I looked at the list and well, here is my truth,… [...]