Celebrations and the Wonderful World of Fast Meals

Hello everybody! Let me start off this post with a review. Awhile ago I was contacted  by the kind people over at Farm Rich to try out some of their frozen snacks. Taking a look at their site, I was excited about the choices so I happily accepted! Not to mention I love snacking. I went to the store to redeem my coupon and I chose the mozzarella bites. I was sad to not see as many choices as I had seen on the website. Another thing to note is the price. I noticed that these were expensive, and I really couldn’t imagine myself shelling out that much for snacks. There is a bright side though! I did like these little bites! They’re even better if you serve them with an awesome marinara sauce or in my case, artichoke scarpetta. Look at how ooey-gooey the mozzarella is–yum!

Mozzarella bites!

What are these egg-shaped balls?

Delicious Armenian red lentil patties. Here I served them with tamarind-date chutney, diced onion, and flat-leaf parsley. The recipe is easy and doesn’t take much time to make.

I had this Amy’s tamale pie as a yummy nighttime snack while baking…

Baklava!

It was one of my best friend’s birthday recently so I made her one of her favorite desserts. This lady has great taste. I have never made anything with puff pastry before so this was definitely fun. Since she’s quite picky about what makes good baklava I was a bit nervous. I’m the same way when it comes to my two favorites: tiramisu and carrot cake.

Delicious and birthday girl approved!

We went to a local sushi place to celebrate.

Best miso soup ever and mine had lots of tofu.

Bean Curd Roll

Oshinko Roll

I learned a neat trick from my friend’s boyfriend: mix a bit of wasabi into the soy sauce for dipping. I also announced to everyone at the table that if someone didn’t like pickled ginger they could pass them over to me!

Group shot--sans birthday girl!

Afterwards we headed to a bar/restaurant that happened to be having “Psychedelic Night” with really awesome color oil projections. I was being a social butterfly that night since I ended up knowing a ton of people at the place.

The leftover chopped pecans + honey sauce from the baklava baking extravaganza was perfect for topping a bowl of oats.

Busy lady = boxed meals!

I prepared a box of Annie’s Shells and White Cheddar. I added some cooked chopped spinach, pine nuts, garlic salt, and black pepper.

Now I’m going to fill out a survey that the hottie boombalottie, Ayla, passed on to me!

Favorite cookie?

Okay… I have a few.. Bountiful Vegan’s lemon snickerdoodle, Samoas, Immaculate Baking Co.’s pumpkin gingerlies, and freshly baked chewy and moist spiced oatmeal cookies

Favorite way to eat oatmeal?

In a jar!

Favorite snack?

Lately I’ve been loving snacking on these apple-banana muffins I made (put some of my hemp protein powder to good use) with maple syrup, apples and bananas + peanut butter

Favorite sandwich combo?

Tricky tricky! I’ll just say mango chutney and sharp cheddar grilled on pumpernickel bread. Oh gosh I also love banana + Nutella sandwiches.

Are you a vegetarian?

Indeed I am

Favorite vegetarian product?

Sunshine burgers!

Favorite yogurt?

Greek and Danonino (one of my favorites since childhood)

Favorite fruit?

I can’t just pick one you know… mango, bananas, dark sweet cherries, papaya, gala apples, and dates

Favorite dried fruit?

Cranberries, pineapple, and bananas

Favorite veggie?

Romaine, carrots, butternut squash

Favorite comfort food meal?

Mom’s secret red lentil recipe

Favorite restaurant?

I don’t believe I have one… I have favorites depending on the cuisine, but my favorite cuisines are Indian, Thai, and Mediterranean

Favorite beverage?

Hmm… I don’t really have one but I really enjoyed a nice refreshing pack of coconut water today!

Favorite way to take your coffee at home?

I don’t usually drink coffee, but I like it black

Favorite cracker?

Animal crackers!

Favorite dessert?

Tiramisu and carrot cake

Favorite condiment?

Bone Suckin’ BBQ Sauce–thick style baby!

Favorite way to eat tortilla chips?

With guacamole, black bean salsa, cheese, and sour cream

Favorite fast food restaurant?

There’s this fast food place in Florida called Pollo Tropical and they make really great yuca fries!

Do you watch food network?

Not really… I rarely watch television

Favorite food network show?

I’ve seen Ina Garten’s show and I liked it!

Favorite salad combo?

Romaine for sure, some great cheese, onions, tomato, pears, and a slightly sweet vinaigrette

Do you like Panera?

Sure, I like their bread bowl soups actually.

Favorite bagel?

Cinnamon and sugar bagel with cream cheese please

Do you like cream cheese or peanut butter on your bagel?

Cream cheese!!!

Favorite bar?

Granola bar = 18 Rabbits, etc. = Boomi Bar

Favorite peanut butter?

Whole Food’s 365 crunchy peanut butter (and it’s cheap!)

Favorite almond butter?

Blue Diamond crunchy

Favorite cereal?

I love Kashi Go-Lean Crunch!

What milk product do you use on your cereal?

It depends… either soy milk or almond milk

Favorite nut?

Pistachios

Favorite candy?

Watermelon Jolly Ranchers and Werther’s Originals

Favorite ethnic food?

Indian!

Favorite tea?

Coconut Almond and Richmond Blend

Favorite indulgence?

German chocolate

Do you like margaritas?

I don’t care for them

Favorite margarita?

I don’t have one

Do you like pickles?

Why yes I do!

Are you into spicy food?

Not really spicy

Do you like banana peppers?

Yes! I love them.

Favorite way to eat a banana?

With chocolate hazelnut butter or peanut butter

Favorite way to eat an apple?

With peanut butter!

Favorite apple variety?

Gala!

Are you good at eating with chopsticks?

Indeed, I don’t have to ask for a fork.

Favorite fruit juice?

I love peach nectar

Favorite alcoholic beverage?

Root beer + Stoli vanilla

Favorite tropical fruit?

I love so many of them! My dad is flying up this weekend and packing a delicious papaya from their own tree!

Hands down favorite food ever?

My dad’s latkes… actually I’m torn between his potato pancakes and this German restaurant’s (with apple sauce and sour cream of course).

This was a lot of fun! I am going to tag some lovely people: Lauren, Sophia, Mitri, and Gillian!

So it’s a new week and I started it out by walking around feeling like a zombie all day. But today was a hectic day in terms of my academics and I’m glad it’s behind me. Stay tuned in my next post to see my piece for my final critique of the semester! Hope all is well my dear friends.

I’ve Got Questions; Have You Got Answers?

Wow, March definitely crept up on us… actually this whole year seems to be flying by so far. This just means spring is making its way here sooner! My weekend was spent re-working my sculpture, writing essays and proposals, and squeezing in some much needed hang out time. Also this weekend, some of my friends were playing at a Haiti Benefit house show–DIY style! My Monday actually started out on a strange note; when I awoke I was greeted to the sight of swollen face… well the right side anyhow. Since I wanted to get that checked out by a doctor right away I had to miss my make-up critique, but I’m not stressing out about it. Health comes before school!

Nom nom--cheers to that!

Betty Lou’s Apricot Fruit Bar Pie = deliciously sweet and tangy, especially crumbled over yogurt, caramelized banana slices, and Sunland’s caramel peanut butter. I love how crumbling the bar makes it really resemble a pie of sorts. That morning’s breakfast’s  “placemat” was an old magazine I was flipping through. While browsing, I stumbled across an interesting article that stressed the importance of eating throughout the day to keep energy levels up. I think most of food bloggers are into the habit of eating every few hours, but it seems that most people don’t. Lots of times I overhear people say that they haven’t eaten all day or since breakfast, and I wonder if they’re totally exaggerating or if they’re zombies. My body’s hunger cues chime in like clockwork, or sometimes even earlier. Lately, I find that my body is requiring even more than before. Am I turning into a boy? Hehe! Anyway, if my belly calls for something earlier than usual than I’ll have a snack to hold me over, and the hunger usually comes back around my usual mealtimes anyway. Works like a charm!

Actually, this brings me to a question I have for all of you: What are some savory snack ideas, and what are some of your favorite filling snacks?

Some dried fruits I've been enjoying: mangos, cranberries, and figs!

Now that my schedule has gotten even busier, more on-the-go meals have been had.

Usually, I don’t care for leftovers, but now they are a blessing. I get to enjoy home-cooked food on the go! I packed a bunch of steamed kale, sweet potato with cinnamon, a cute little jar filled with coconut butter for the potato, and the butternut squash casserole. I also packed a Cranberry Apple Boomi Bar (reminded me of how delicious autumn tastes). I actually got in trouble for eating in class; is it my fault I came prepared?  Just kidding! Anywho, this new class is during one of my usual mealtimes and I don’t like to wait to the point where I’m starving. My hunger escalates pretty quickly so I’m hoping I won’t get in trouble for bringing a more snacky-looking meal. I’m thinking Greek yogurt, a dense bar, and some fruit/veggies. It presents to be an issue on Tuesdays because I literally have a class right after. I’m open to any ideas you all have!

MORE PIE!

This time around I tried the Betty Lou’s Blueberry Fruit Bar. I had this with yogurt, banana slices, and warmed up cashew butter. Holy yum! Now I’ve officially tried all their fruit bar flavors, and I must say that I was truly pleased with every single one of them. I don’t know how they managed to make them gluten-free and taste like a yummy slice of pie, but they did. If you look into their products you will see how many allergies they take into consideration; they take people into consideration. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with one of Betty Lou’s sons and I can tell he has a genuine passion for life, family, health, and people; and yes, Betty Lou is a real person and also seems to have a zest for life from what I’ve heard. Companies like this are hard to find, but when I do, I definitely stand behind them!

My new cheese mistress, Fontina, makes her debut.

And she went all out! Dare I say, I think this may be the best pizza I’ve ever had. The thick crust the focaccia gave it reminded me of Sicilian pizza–so good!

Melted over the last of my homemade focaccia, tomato sauce, tomato slices, caramelized onions and butternut squash, and cracked pepper.

I've been putting my hemp protein powder to good use!

I decided to try a recipe that was actually written on the bag: berries, banana (I opted for the fruits to be frozen), milk (whichever you prefer), and the hemp protein powder of course. I’ve already repeated this recipe, and feel free to change up the fruits if you wish (but I suggest keeping the banana). Anyone have any hemp protein powder recipes they’d like to share?

While browsing through Ayurvedic recipes I stumbled upon this little charm...

Date + ginger powder + almond. I’ve also tried this combo with cashew butter, and I highly suggest you try it! When I was reading on Ayurveda, I stumbled upon a very interesting article that I thought was worth sharing: “The Spirit of Cooking”. I agree with a lot of points Harish Johari brought up, and I was introduced to new information as well: “if it weren’t for spices, America might never have been discovered.”

I’ve got quite a few things to look forward to this month: the fashion show coming up on Saturday, my mom is flying into town on Friday. I’m also taking a road trip with one of my best friends down to Florida for spring break. Then at the end of the month I’m going to see Wicked! I hope March has been treating you all well so far!

Winter Days

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

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

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

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

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

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

Something new to try...

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

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

And another idea hit me!

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

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

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

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

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

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

They started to melt right in!

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

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

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

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

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

More snacking on the go!

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

Strike a pose!

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

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

I love foam!

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

I woke up to this today!

Matilda had on three layers for her morning walk.

Check out my super stylin' babe!

Blinded by the light!

A whole new world.

She kind of looks like a little old man hehe.

Matilda is so tiny!

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

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

Such a comforting meal.

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

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

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

Letting Things Happen and Trying New Things

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.

Flavors with a Twist

Overflowing oatmeal

I loosely followed Katie Goodman’s recipe for Cherry and Tangerine Oatmeal. This bowl was all sorts of delicious. I even gnawed on the cinnamon stick a bit.

All done!

I left part of the tangerine peel for added flavor.

I’m feeling better and thank you all for your well wishes! Your wishes made their way over to me and I started to get in the cooking mood again. There are some recipes I’ve been dying to try out from my newest cookbook purchase, The Accidental Vegetarian.

Sweet Potato & Pineapple Sandwich

The recipe can actually be found online over here. I used a Japanese sweet potato, added some black beans, and a ready made Sweet Peppers & Coconut cooking sauce.

Last night I felt like baking! I found an interesting recipe online that used applesauce, but I realized afterwards that I didn’t have any on hand. So what’d I do? I made a quick homemade version. I veganized the recipe by using egg-replacer. When I bought the hemp protein powder my dad suggested I use it in baking. I took his advice and subbed out some of the flour for the powder. I was a little weary of doing this because Mitri had noted that it makes things taste very “green”. Actually, looking back on it, this recipe was tweaked around a lot. I finally got around to using the NuNaturals Stevia Baking Blend that was generously sent to me, and I must say that it works very well! Before it was sent to bake in the oven I crumbled on some brown sugar.

Vegan Zucchini Loaf

Enjoyed for breakfast this morning.

I spread coconut oil on one slice, and Artisana Cacao Bliss on the other.

And now it’s time for the anticipated Boomi Bar review!

Almond Protein Plus

This bar was dry but not brittle with just the right amount of sweetness. It had an interesting texture – hand rolled. I love that there are only 3-ingredients, the first one being almonds, and it has a whopping 12 g of protein; it really affects the taste of the bar (in a good way).

Cashew protein plus: Strangely greasy to touch, not sure why, but it made it less dry and a bit chewier. I love the combination of cashew and honey. If cashews are your thing, you will love this. *11 g of protein

Apricot Cashew: The dried apricot shines through in this bar.

Cranberry Apple: This bar reminded me of the great flavors that come out in fall cooking. Once again, sweet but not overpowering.

Fruit and Nuts: Not me favorite, but for a fruit and nut bar I must say it was quite tasty. So if you like that combination – go for it!

Walnut Pecan: Holy yum! This has fall goodness and comfort all over it! Reminded me of a pie.

Cashew Almond: Love the combination of these nuts with dates! Not too sticky, just the right amount of crunch. Doesn’t fall apart everywhere either.

Healthy Hazel: Hazelnuts are a nut I don’t get to eat very often, but I love it each time. The dried cranberries really stood out to me and in combination with the hazelnuts… this was yummy!

Walnut Date: Wow! I love the taste of walnuts. It definitely stands out in this bar… and mixed with dates – delicious. I love the sweetness the dates offer. Perfect for a fall day.

Perfect Pumpkin

The first bite was incredible!!! Pumpkin seeds galore, the combination of dried fruits made it chewy. They used dates, raisins, apricot, and cranberries. I definitely recommend this bar simply for the taste. But there are many nutritious benefits to this bar as well. I think they should make more bars like this that are also high in protein (9 g).

Macadamia Paradise: The bar itself looked interesting, but the array of flavors when I bit into it were awesome. So far these bars are delicious, and since they’re hand-rolled you can see all the ingredients and they don’t look like some machine just pooped them out.

Pineapple Ginger: Initial thought? Holy crap! I think it’s official, these bars give Larabars a run for their money. Yes, I said it! Greed will get the best of me with this bar because I am not sharing it! It’s not too sweet and the combination of pineapple and ginger is genius. I love biting into almonds and these are so soft and chewy. Thank goodness because that means when I have dentures, I can still eat these!

Moreover, to celebrate their new website, Divine Foods is, for a limited time only, offering a $5.00 savings off any online order when you use discount code WEBSITE before you checkout.

Before I wish you all a happy Friday and the beginning of a wonderful weekend, please take a moment to check out Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness. Katie is hosting a Page View Charity Drive hoping to help those in need. If you could visit the page and spread the word, that would be incredible!

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss