Your Imagination, My Dear Fellow, is Worth More Than You Imagine

Hey everyone! Good news on the critique. A friend of mine actually wanted to sit in on my classes critique just to get a feel for them again. He was able to brush up on his analyzing skills. Critiques are always heavy days for me, and I usually end up with a headache. You get to hear so many perspectives, insights, and you just learn so many new things. Another interesting thing you get to observe is the manner in which different people think. It’s funny how we can view the world. Anyway, my video got a lot of discussion – a whole hour! Usually I end up feeling disappointed with critiques because I get nothing from it, or I don’t even realize what happened. But I did a lot of self-discovering and revealing about why and what my short films evoke.

While I was setting up I got to try a flavor of ProBar that’s new to me: Cocoa Pistachio

Neat artwork on the packaging.

I snapped a picture beforehand so you guys could see what I was talking about, when I said you could see every ingredient.

Oh my gosh; this was so yummy! I’ve really enjoyed the random chocolate chip bits in the ProBars I’ve tried. Pistachios are also one of my favorite nuts, so my expectations were pretty high – and met! It’s a mix of pistachios, peanuts, dark chocolate chips, and sunflower seeds. This bar + a cup of soymilk and an apple successfully kept my my hunger at bay for about 3 hours. But I think my body works like clockwork. My hunger usually chimes in before 3 hours or right on the dot – it’s funny. I agree with Holly though, what’s up with it just being half the size of the wrapper? Want to know some information on this bar?

Gourmet meal replacement

Unique taste of pistachios with chocolate is irresistible

Balanced blend of carbs, good fats and protein

Certified Organic, 100% Vegan

5 g of fiber and same nutritional benefits as Original Collection

As a college student, bars are such a convenience to me – as with any busy person I can imagine. So far, my experience with ProBars, is that they are very delicious, nutritious, and  satisfying!

Projecting my piece on to the wall.

Here’s the link again if you guys wanted to check it out: Who Am I Becoming

My friend that visited the class is on the right.

After our critique we got a 2 hour break and I made this messy deal…

Roasted eggplant, ricotta, tomato sauce, sautéed red onion, and basil.

The class met up again after 2 hours and we headed over to one of the school-funded art spaces to see Richard Carlyon’s retrospective. He was a dancer and artist who ended up teaching in the area for about 40 years when he thought he lost his dancer’s body.

You can get a sense of his background as a dancer by the way he places the canvases.

He also drew very interesting diagrams and made videos as well.

The class got out about 30 mins. early so I got a head start on my many errands. I took way longer than expected! I guess that can happen, especially if one of your stops is TJ Maxx. The day really felt like Autumn had arrived, so I made some comfort food, but I wanted to try something I’ve seen around the blogosphere.

Green oats!

I used the Original Amazing Grass Meal packet to turn this bowl of oats green. I also mashed in a banana, NuNaturals liquid vanilla, and coconut oil! I feel like everyone’s bowl or cup of something green tastes different so I’m going to spare the details and just say that I was pleasantly surprised! I was contemplating whether or not I should mash the banana in because “what if” it tasted like crap? Then it’s bye bye yummy banana.

I also tried Lindeman's Framboise dark cherry flavor.

I seriously forgot that it was beer and beer makes you drunk; so I got a little buzzed about 10 minutes after hahaha, then I put two and two together. Oh! And I didn’t drink the whole bottle hehe.

Anyway, so far this week it seems a lot easier to breathe. I had a photoshoot with a friend of mine – I haven’t done one of those in a long time! I feel like I need to have a creative outlet with other people so I get more dynamics going on. Sometimes working by myself gets to feel like I’m running in circles.

He has a lot of neat camera equipment.

You can check out his site here. The first picture with the blue velvet pants was from the shoot we did; and you can find a couple more over on this site. It’s so weird for me to be in front of the lens! I really worked on just getting comfortable – so I ended up talking a lot.

Let’s eat now shall we?

I used up the rest of my edamame hummus.

In this wrap is roasted eggplant, sprouts, NatureNaise, grape tomatoes, and red onions. Since I don’t have a grill press I just used a pan and heated up each side. This was so delicious!

Roasted parsnips, almonds, and another interesting sandwich!

Don't let the ordinary looks of this sandwich deceive you...

The other day when I was browsing through pizza recipes that had ricotta cheese, I stumbled upon one called Peach-ricotta pizza. Well I made it in sandwich form, but the secret ingredient is the addition of cilantro. Since I didn’t have fresh cilantro on hand, I just subbed in Trader Joe’s cilantro dressing. Wow! I would have never thought of cilantro, but it took this sandwich to another level. It’s funny how the simple addition of one surprise can change everything; this also applies to other things on a much broader scale.

I feel like I try something new everyday!

Before I forget! I wanted to share an entertaining site I found earlier today. I was looking up ways to prepare a certain squash (you’ll find out next post), and I stumbled upon this little gem: 50 Ways to Eat More Produce. I think these ideas work well for adults and kids alike. So check it out.

p.s. Marina asked if I was studying culinary arts – I wish!!! Another friend of mine actually asked me that same question, and I think it’s a sign that I should look into it – perhaps a summer program? I’m actually majoring in sculpture, so I guess that’s why I’m so visually oriented.

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

We Eat What We Like

Remember that from the Apple Jacks commercials? Anyway, I will start off this post the same way I start off my days

Some green tea!

And another one of my favorite beverages

A refreshingly thick vanilla, banana, and peanut butter smoothie.

Oh my, I was a little hesitant to try this simply because of the unappetizing color.

In this smoothie is a packet of Amazing Grass Chocolate Meal Shake with a frozen banana and some vanilla. It actually wasn’t too shabby. I definitely could taste the greenness of it, but the banana helped balance it out.

Lots of ground flaxseed!

In the background you can see a little bag of Hazelnut Sweet Chips from Kay’s Naturals. These were so yummy! I mixed some in with my yogurt and blueberry puddle. I also enjoyed these with another treat that I’ll be sharing with you in another post. I also tried something new with my yogurt. The people at NuNaturals sent me some items to sample and review. Thanks guys!

Stevia baking blend, vanilla stevia extract, and plain stevia.

I put a few drops of the vanilla stevia in my yogurt. It was a nice addition to my blueberries, and just the right amount of sweetness. There was no weird aftertaste either. Stevia is such an interesting sweetener. I went to a garden once and I picked off a stevia leaf and I could taste the familiar sweetness. My roommates parents actually have a stevia plant, but we’re not sure how to use that. Does anyone else know?

Okay, I’m not quite sure where to start with my eats… so let me just randomly choose! I hope you’re in the mood for something Mexican.

Some mini soft tacos + pepper jack with a side of red cabbage + coconut oil + applesauce.

I wish I could eat cabbage raw without suffering the gaseous consequences. I would probably make so many different kinds of slaws.

Now let’s move on to some buns!

Zucchini with white beans and garlic.

Snobby joes with cauliflower, corn, and avocado on the side.

I baked a loaf of Irish soda bread for my roommate.

In my old place when I first moved in, I would bake this bread and it was fun because I could shape it however I pleased. However, I just didn’t feel like baking it anymore. I think it might’ve been because I felt in some weird way… unappreciated. The only person who really showed any appreciation was Kim, and I thought it would seem strange to bake a loaf for only us two when three other people were living in the house. But I promised Kim that once we moved to the new place I would bake her loaf since she loved it.

A cold bowl of Chinese sweet red bean soup with tapioca pearls and almonds.

I tried my leftovers with toasted coconut, and I loved it! These red beans are so small and adorable!

A new cereal to try!

Have you guys heard of Erewhon? They’re a part of U.S. Mills (which has so many breakfast grains to choose from). This is the Strawberry Crisp cereal, and for anyone with gluten allergies this is a gluten-free cereal. Usually, I don’t eat cereal because it’s not very filling but sometimes I just want something refreshing. The only thing I have to say about this cereal is that it could be a tad bit sweeter. I am surprised at how many dried strawberries actually come in the box. I find that most cereal with dried fruits shouldn’t even claim to have them! If you like cornflakes, then I think you will enjoy this. I know that I’m enjoying my box!

Cinnamon Raisin instant oatmeal with soymilk!

I’ve also tried another U.S. Mills product from Uncle Sam. Instant oatmeal is perfect for a college student, and anyone else with a busy lifestyle. But when was the last time you guys saw one with soymilk? That’s right! This was so delicious! They also have a French Vanilla flavor. Yum! Moreover, I got to enjoy this in a most delicious jar of almond butter with crumbled graham crackers.

And what’s the fruit concoction to the right?

Strawberry-Kiwi Salad with Basil

It doesn’t look too pretty, but don’t judge a book by its cover! I followed this recipe, but I didn’t have white balsamic vinegar on hand. I’m sure it made a difference, definitely in color!

I’ve also noticed a lot of you guys putting pretzels in your wonderful oat creations. I wish I had thought of that before I finished my Kay’s Naturals sample!

The last of my Kay’s Naturals goodies – and boy was this good!

This is turning into a breakfast post!

Yogurt with kiwi and strawberries and some ground flaxseed.

I also toasted some cinnamon raisin swirl bread. That slice on the left is topped with… Cacoa Bliss! I had graciously gotten these adorable samples of Artisana nut butters from Tristan awhile ago . I finally busted into some of them. Let me just say now that this is just as amazing as everyone has been exclaiming!

Army of deliciousness.

So far I’ve tried Cacao Bliss, Cashew Butter, Pecan Butter, and the Macadamia Butter. I really don’t think words can do these nut butters justice. You just have to try them! I’m so grateful to the people who sent me this generous package. Thank you for introducing me to something new and taking me on another food adventure. I think my mom would love the Macadamia Butter since they are her favorite nut.

The mothership!

Let’s see… what other breakfast goodness to I have to share?

These had a Manager’s Special price tag on them!

I just added corn and served them with apple sauce and sour cream.

No one makes latkes better than my dad though. I’ve even tried sweet potato latkes at a restaurant once, but my dad takes the potato on these!

Okay so I’ll show you guys something that’ll help you digest!

When I went to the James River the other day.

My friend Clinton sitting on a big rock.

And now for my crazy dog lady picture from when my friend, Sway, visited.

She’s so freaking cute!

A close encounter with another kind.

Special Alert!

If any of you are interested in winning samples of the Crofter’s spreads, they do giveaways regularly on Facebook and Twitter.

Twitter: Croftersorganic
Facebook: Crofter’s Organic

p.s. Last post featured an array of yummy creations thanks to Sullivan Street Bakery. I found an article on them that I thought you all might enjoy!

Super Bowl Party Sandwiches

p.s.s. Gorgeous Justine had the brilliant idea of a giveaway. Well, right now I’ve got something in the works. I’m really excited about it because I’ve never hosted a giveaway before, and what’s more wonderful than sharing?

The Show Must Go On

I’ve been missing Florida since I drove back up to Richmond. Everytime I go there it’s like my bond grows a little stronger. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Florida for a very long time, and I think I’m starting to finally come to terms with that crazy state. Luckily, I’ve been able to keep busy and not feel too broken-hearted. Packing has been on my priority list this past week.

Matilda made herself comfortable among the mess.

Look what I found!

How do I get out of here?

I’ve been catching up with friends, and my days have also been filled with nice long walks in the city. Since my dad had been in town this past week, we would meet up in the early evening and just walk around aimlessly. I also had an unexpected event happen to me. I went to take Matilda out for a walk one morning and saw that my tire had been slashed. I also noticed that 3 other cars had their tires slashed too. AAA brought my car to a tire shop and I was told that 22 other cars had been hit in the area over the past couple of days. How can people do that? I was glad that everyone who helped me through the situation made it less stressful. I was proud that I didn’t freak out and I was able to carry on with my day. This experience made me realize that I can be thankful that the majority of people aren’t that coldhearted.

Anyway, on to happier things. Like celebrations! So far this week I’ve celebrated 3 birthdays and a few other things. I didn’t realize the end of July was a popular time to be born.

On my second night back I went to stay over at one of my closest friend’s house. Her family is like my second family and I use to live with her for most of my summers during high school. So obviously I can go through their fridge and pantry without a problem. She was in the middle of making some dinner when I got there. While she was finishing up I was looking to see what they had in store for me!

Cauliflower over pasta with sauce and feta. Toast with almond butter, peach slices, and cinnamon.

First time I went to Trader Joe’s was with her and she picked up a jar of almond butter. She didn’t love it, so it’s just always sitting pretty in her fridge waiting for me to take spoonfuls!

After dinner we celebrated our reunion/wedding vows!

Mudslides!

Here’s to a happy marriage! Bahaha she said it looked like she was all up in my business in this picture.

Look what this bear got her hands on.

Kelley told me about this kind of Jager she got that was honey flavored. I love honey, and she knows I love honey, so of course I had to try some. It seriously tasted like I was drinking straight up honey, but I could tell there was alcohol because it burned a little. What a yummy digestif though.

Then we had pina coladas and I made her take a shot of the honey Jager.

We just caught up on each other’s lives and passed out watching something on TV.

The next day I was celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday. I didn’t realize that she was younger than everyone we had graduated with! Anyway, the dinner was at this restaurant on the water in the neighborhood I use to live in.

I love how they preserved the nature and there are trails throughout.

The view you get from the restaurant.

Some of my beautiful friends.

This is what happens when things don’t go her way. Just kidding!

The waitress trying to tempt her to buy more drinks.

Yummy pizza!

So the pizza I ordered had pears, gorgonzola, mozzarella, red onions, and pistachios. The sweetness with the contrast of the distinctive gorgonzola was delicious! And the addition of pistachios was definitely purposeful as well. The restaurant’s speciality is seafood, so there were very little vegetarian options. However, the choices they had were exciting and thoughtful. Obviously they didn’t leave my tastebuds hanging.

Aw, I’ve missed her!

I met a lot of new people that night, and it was perfect outside. I headed home later, and I made a pact to see my old friends more often and build on new ones as well.

The next day I went to Trader Joe’s and I brought my list of recommendations with me. So far whatever I got that you guys passed on to me has been delicious. Everything is worth raving about!

Blobs of goodness.

The triple-layer hummus and corn salsa on their tortilla wraps. The PB&A mixed nuts bag is almost non-existent now. Such a great idea and so addicting!

I also went to another grocery store and found Jamfrakas bars on sale for…

Get out of town!

Later on I went to a friend’s house for a farewell get together. He’s done with school now and headed off to New York.

Bye Berto!

Lately my stomach has been feeling funky and I’m not quite sure why. I know that sometimes when you go to a new environment it can throw things off for you. But this usually never happens when I go back and forth between Virginia and Florida. So I’ve been trying to stick to comfort foods. Like breakfast for dinner!

10-Grain Cereal, chocolate protein powder, coconut oil, cinnamon, and mandarin oranges + PB&A mixed nuts

I’ve also tried some more Amazing Grass products. I think I really enjoy their chocolate flavored stuff more than the others. I’m just going to dip the regular WholeFoods bar in something chocolaty because the Chocolate WholeFoods bar was good! So good! It reminded me of chocolate covered raisins.

Nom nom nom

Amazing Meal Pom Mango infusion + ginger ale = yummy!

Hey Holly! You like my equation?

I’ll update you guys later with my weekend antics and other eats. I was reunited with one of my closest friends and she’s leaving today, but she’ll be back on Thursday! Some of my friends celebrated the beginning of a gallery they just started, and it was one of their birthdays as well. But the most exciting news is that me and Kim move into our new place on Saturday!  The kitchen in the apartment is awesome, and I can’t wait to go cray cray with the baking and cooking. I hope you all had enjoyable weekends. I for one, can’t believe it’s Sunday!

What piece of advice would’ve you given your past self?

Part 3

Overnight oats with peaches, bananas, and coconut oil.

I was missing some of my usual morning eats, so I whipped a bowl of overnight oats. Yes, when I got back to the hotel room the prior night kind of tipsy I thought about this. What can I say? The first time I’ve had this in a mug too! Okay, I have a confession to make. I used the coconut oil my mom puts on her hair, but the bottle said it was edible. I didn’t get sick, but it tasted weird. Never doing that again… unless I’m desperate.

Mom and I went to the fitness center and I made use of my iPod and podcast collection I’ve accumulated. I’ve never done this before, but I followed my YogaDownloads recordings. It was cool because I kind of felt like I was guiding my own yoga time. Not to mention, I usually start my Saturdays by going to a yoga class, so I was kind of keeping up with my routine.

Afterwards, we all went downstairs to really start our day!

Green tea with lime

I asked for a cup of green tea and they surprised with a lime rather than the usual lemon.

Then this was spotted.

I believe this was a blintz with oatmeal. Whatever it was, it was so good!

Being forced to take a picture together ugh. Kidding of course - love you Mom!

I think you guys can guess what we did next. Beach time!

My mom is going to kill me for posting this, but I think she looks adorable!

A friend and I have a joke that if we ever go bald we'll have one strand of hair that'll survive. And that's mine!!!

Guess what? I tried Amazing Grass’s Whole Food Energy Bar. I really wasn’t into it. But I’m looking forward to trying the chocolate one because I tried the chocolate flavored GREENSuperFood powder and I really liked it. So I gave the rest of the bar to my parents. I think they like anything I give them because they were all like, “mmm!” To each his own.

After some hours of swimming and sunning we headed back to get ready to meet up with some friends for dinner. The only real plans we had the whole vacation! I was looking forward to this because they’re such wonderful people to be around. Actually they are the relatives of my old boyfriend who passed away. We’ve only known them for about 3 years, but they treat us like family. That means no formalities, plenty of bear hugs, and burping if you’ve got the urge.

I totally forgot they have a St. Bernard!

His name is Diesel.

He was like a big baby and the perfect pillow! I think these dogs are incredible, and they said he’s related to the dog from one of the Beethoven movies. How many are there anyway? It’s like the Land Before Time series – there are so many!

It's like an outdoor kitchen! Grilling some seafood with homemade sauces.

They have about 3+ acres, and they take so much care of it. What’s even better is that they actually get to enjoy it too!

Gigantic baby!!! Watch out for that tail.

Imagine how big his poo must be! Oi vey!

They set up stations in the kitchen and on the table. We built our own salads and grabbed the mix-ins with our hands! I didn’t take a picture of mine but I made a huge salad with the veggies, chickpeas, avocado, and I mixed in some pastina. Pastina is a pasta that’s so small it looks like cous cous. Moreover, they had marinated artichokes and peppers that were delicious. I also helped myself to some sesame semolina bread with butter. Oh man, I kept popping those cherry tomatoes in my mouth – they were extra tasty. Do you guys like the goblets for the wine? I love using out of the ordinary things, just makes it more special and silly.

The real reason I was looking forward to dinner with our friends.

Debbie had baked a blueberry sour cream cake. She also shared with us that this was her first time using cardamom. When she told us this, I was even more excited to try it! It was so good and you could taste the cardamom. I mean it smelled divine, but it tasted heavenly. After dinner, we just stayed at the table and kept talking for hours. Our families exchanged crazy stories. My mom – she’s like a movie spoiler – likes to start out this one story with, “did I ever tell you the one about the serial killer we met?” Mom! You’re not suppose to say that at the beginning. Regardless, she tells the story because, frankly, you’d be crazy not to want to hear it! It was getting late, we said our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel.

Day three of our vacation was one filled nostalgia – from the overnight oats, Saturday morning yoga, and one of the best families we know. With that in mind this young lady peacefully went to sleep.

Part 4 tomorrow! It’s taken me almost a week to recap my vacation for you guys!

p.s. I’m going to save my surprise supermarket find for tomorrow. Hmm what could it be?

Marching to the Beat of Your Own Drum

Matilda told me to send you all kisses!

In my last post I wrote about doing things that suit you. I feel like this has been an interesting topic for discussion in the blogging world. People are trying out new ways of eating, and seeing what works for them. I think that’s wonderful that people are a) trying out something new, b) becoming more aware of what their bodies can or can’t handle, and c) listening to that internal cue. What I like to do is read about different takes on food, and add it to the filing cabinet in my brain – either it stays in a folder, or I apply it to my own little thang. Often times it’s hard to listen to ourselves because we’re bombarded with things telling us “this is the right way”,” what you’re doing is wrong!” Infomercials anyone? Anyway, I’ve been very curious about food for awhile now, but before I use to be very shy about trying new things. Of course part of the reason was that I didn’t cook. I just ate what was put in front of me. If I didn’t like it then I made a fuss. Okay, okay get to the point already! What I’ve learned works for me so far is… almost everything! The only dietary limit I put on myself is no meat, chicken, or fish. I wouldn’t really call my decision to be vegetarian a “limit” though, I see it as more of a personal choice. Vegetarianism has actually opened so many culinary doors for me, that’s partly why I’ve been able to stick with it for nearly 7 years. I haven’t gotten bored or frustrated! I also know that my tummy can’t handle eggs, or cow’s milk – unless it’s in yogurt form, and cheeses are kept to a minimum. However, I know that if I were to cut out dairy completely, the low level of tolerance I have for it already, would probably diminish to nothing. And I love cheese and yogurt too much! Another example for me is pasta. I use to have a horrible time digesting it. But I’ve learned that in smaller amounts, I can handle it just fine. My mom on the other hand can barely tolerate flour breads and pastas. For the most part, she is very adamant about not eating foods she knows will cause her trouble afterwards – but sometimes things just taste too good to pass up. My dad is lucky and was born with a stomach made of steel. He can handle anything! My uncle is a wonder to watch while he eats. I usually don’t watch people eat, but this is like a show I swear! For breakfast he will have a jug, yes a jug, filled to the brim with oatmeal and topped with fruits. Then he’ll have a massive plate entirely covered with rice, eggs, and fish. But his body needs that for fuel since he’s an athlete. He knows that if he were to eat less than he does, he can forget training because his body won’t run on anything less. So, as you can see, everyone is different. Food can spark curiosity in people, but sometimes it gets a bad rap. I hope for you all that food is not seen as the enemy, just remember to stay true to yourselves – and your tastebuds!

Okay, so enough of that! On to something visually digestible.

Check out those huge kernels! This type of corn hails from Bogota, Colombia.

I thought this deserved it's very own plate.

I followed this recipe to make Black Bean and Rice Cakes with Chipotle Remoulade and Roasted Corn Salsa. I was surprised that my attempt at making cakes actually worked!

Mixing it up with a black plate.

Over the French green beans I made a quick sauce out of Dijon mustard, almond oil, some sugar, roasted garlic, rice wine vinegar, and s&p. It tasted wonderful with the green beans! Oh, some 411, (my dad wasn’t aware of this) remember to boil your green beans!

The other day I got a knock on the door just as I was about to leave to make my delivery. “UPS!”

A package from Amazing Grass!

I got some more goodies to review. So far I’ve tried one of their GREENSuperFood packets. At first I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it, and I was preparing my army of tastebuds for defeat. My army was surprised with another victory! I mixed the powder with orange juice, so I know that combination is a winner. However, I couldn’t imagine just mixing this with water. Blegh! They have flavored varieties as well, but I haven’t tried those yet. I, of course did my taste test in the convenient cup they sent me. Thanks guys! You can check out what they have here. I’m looking forward to trying out more things. I have a trip coming up this week, and I think these will come in handy since I’ll be kitchen-less and on the beach the whole day. I’ve got to balance off the piña coladas and Stoli cosmos with something!

Speaking of my trip, I’ll be leaving on Wednesday afternoon and staying here for some nights. I’m so excited. My family and I have gone on little weekend trips, but we haven’t been on a real vacation in a long time. Even though we’re only two hours away from our vacation spot, it’s still going to seem like we’re away from it all. I can’t wait to wake up, and the only thing I have to do is whatever I feel like doing. I’m definitely going to indulge! Indulge is such a seductive sounding word isn’t it?

Two nights ago dad juiced again, so I had some more leftover pulp to work with. What’d I decide to do this time?

I baked a loaf of carrot cornbread.

After seeing Gena’s Guacanara recipe, I couldn’t help but come to the realization that the pulp – being mostly carrots – would be a wonderful addition to a marinara sauce!

It gave so much body to the sauce.

The pulp is basically all fibre so it’s very filling! It ended up reminding me more of a bolognese sauce since it was so thick! I opted to serve these on top of some corn noodles and with some balsamic baked tofu. And on the side I came up with a little something that tasted so much like pizza! It was so easy and quick to put together it could be a perfect snack.

A mini-bagel with muenster cheese, avocado, and some of the "sauce" I made.

Mom approves!

Remember how I mentioned Edy’s Yogurt Blends?

A few scoops of Tart Honey with pineapples and some Zoe's Honey Almond granola bits.

Diva bowl!

After dinner I decided to give myself some more nourishment and put on a French green clay mask.

Another trick I learned in beauty school is to brush masks on with a flat paint brush.

Yesterday I went on an adventure with my dad. We were on the prowl for kabocha, which I will now call the elusive kabocha! I was also on the look-out for some fresh figs. I really want to make a bowl of oatmeal inspired by Eliza and Maya with these little beauties! Alas, I found neither, but I did find some other wonderful things, which I’ll be sharing with you guys tomorrow. Much like Napoleon I don’t accept defeat easily, so the search is still on! Vive la recherche!

I hope you all enjoy this beautiful Saturday and the holiday!