For the Love of Chickpeas

Greetings, friends! I apologize for my sporadic posting as of late. A lot of things have been going on in my life, and not even my friends that are closest to me are filled in on all of that business. It feels kind of crazy actually, but I am well!

See!

For my blog I’ve been figuring out how to weave my backlog of things to share with you all so it doesn’t seem so random. Themed posts came to mind, and that’s the direction I’m going in for right now until things have settled more and the posts have caught up with my current life. Phew! I am starting to sound more like a strategist right now! Oh that is all part of my plan… not really. I think all the job searching, formal writing, and business matters have gotten to me. Anyway, like all good strategists I’ve got to get the job done! So onward with the post.

The title of this post is straightforward about my sentiments, and the recipes that you’re going to  want to make! Yes, you will want to make these.

This may be featured as a “Thanksgiving” recipe, but I actually whipped this up during the summertime.

Chickpeas were an unexpected ingredient in this recipe.

And did you know that allspice is actually a dried fruit?

I didn’t! Not until I saw this container of these peppercorn-like things in my parents’ cupboard.

So what was this mysterious (not in a cafeteria lunch way) dish I made?

Butternut Squash Mash with Mango, Ginger, and Allspice, which you can easily make veg-friendly by omitting the pancetta. If you love flavorful things, and want to taste butternut squash in a way you haven’t before then I suggest this recipe. It’s very easy to make, and can also be used as a love spell.

This pot was just big enough!

Another “warming” dish during the summertime as if South Florida heat isn’t enough.

African Bean Soup

The common addition of peanuts and peanut butter in African soups really does add something wonderful to them. This one in particular left my family wanting more. Luckily, the recipe makes eight servings, which can be eaten in one sitting.

I am, for the most part, not a fan of parsley.

However, Italian flat leaf parsley walks the fine line for me, and it crossed over to my good side in this tabouli recipe. I’ve also been trying to cook with different grains to add more variety to my family’s diet. They say consistency is key, but sometimes being so consistent can give people an upset tummy.

I added chickpeas, well, for the love of chickpeas!

Now for a sweet take on chickpeas.

I made Katie’s ‘Blondie Batter Dip‘, and you want to know how long a batch lasted me? Let’s just say I managed to incorporate it into a lot of things…

Folding it into homemade strawberry-banana soft-serve.

Plus, eating it by the spoonful like it was pudding, you can imagine a batch didn’t last me too long.

I also made up a hummus recipe

Cilantro Hummus

This is a very fresh and flavorful hummus, which is just what I need to liven my tastes!

Ingredients

-2 cups of cooked chickpeas, reserve some of the cooking liquid*

-2 cloves garlic, crushed

-1 tsp fresh ginger, minced

-juice of 1 large lemon

-2 tbl tahini

-1/2 cup chopped cilantro, you’re gonna love it!

-2 tbl cumin

-2-3 tbl extra virgin olive oil

-atleast a 1/2 tsp of sea salt

*a big can of chickpeas can be used as well

Directions

1. Puree the chickpeas in the food processor, with about 1/4 cup of the reserved liquid to a chunky consistency.

2. Add the ingredients from the garlic to the cumin in the order in which they are listed. Blend until smooth.

3. Pour the olive oil and sea salt in the puree, and mix well.

What’s your favorite chickpea recipe? Do you even like chickpeas?

Warm Days Ahead

There is so much to catch up on, but I think I know where I want to start for this post. Hmm… let’s see what part shall I rewind back to next? Aha!

In December I ended up going to Florida at the last minute!

My lovely mother really spoiled me this time. I think I barely cooked while I was there, which is unusual!

 

Have any of you tried cranberry beans?

It was my first time trying them, and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the the shells were.

 

My mom's special recipe for the cranberry beans and eggplant, and I roasted some kabocha with brown sugar, spices, and coconut oil.

I’m going to share her recipe with you. First she sautés some chopped onions and garlic. Then add diced tomatoes and sauté for a bit. Add some bay leaves, the beans, sea salt, and pepper. Then cook it all in almond milk until the beans are thoroughly cooked. Lastly, garnish with cilantro!

We also spoiled ourselves with various chocolates!

I also finished up a jar of almond butter while I was down there.

And finishing up a jar translates to OIAJ.

I like to make the oatmeal in a pot and spoon it into the jar little by little while stirring so the nut butter is distributed evenly throughout–not just at the bottom.

And I finished another jar--this one being the cashew-macadamia nut butter I made for my mom last Christmas.

She obviously doesn’t use nut butters as much as I do! I don’t think it would take me a year to finish a jar.

Oh, look! And I found some of the royal crown jewels!

This cous cous dish was a team effort between me and my mom.

The cous cous was cooked in vegetable broth and ghee giving it so much more flavor. Seriously, ghee is a staple in my kitchen. When that was done cooking we threw in some chopped red onions, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, and other random veggies. Stir in some lemon juice, olive oil, spices (curry, cumin, and paprika), and salt to taste. Before you’re all done you can add some diced avocado and cilantro for that last touch of flavor. Cous cous is such a versatile grain to work with. You can make it sweet or savory. Cook it in juices, milks, or broths. Mix in whatever you’d like and voilà! A tasty dish.

While I was in Florida I was in the mood for colorful salads.

In Virginia I’m usually in the mood for soups. I know that’s usually weather related though. Anyhow, this salad was incredibly tasty! I tossed sweet potatoes, apples, brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots, and onions in a mix of coconut oil, honey, and cinnamon. Then I roasted them till they were done, and tossed them over a bed of Tuscan kale, letting the kale wilt from the warmth of the other veggies and fruits. To seal the deal I topped it off with pomegranate arils, and the beans my mother had made bandeja paisa style (cooked with plantains) and vegetarian friendly!

I also made a few dishes with fava beans--roasting them was my favorite!

Egyptian style!

I made Ful Medames, a traditional breakfast in Egypt. Actually, fava beans are eaten at all times of the day over there, and it’s said that even the pharaohs enjoyed these beans.

I was also in the mood for spiced mashed sweet potatoes with coconut milk while I was down there.

Christmas entailed high raw vegan goodies!

My step-dad loves peanut butter and raw vegan treats, so this seemed like a great gift for him!

I took Ani Phyo’s oatmeal raisin cookie recipe to another level by adding peanut butter. The idea for adding the nut butter came from Laury’s adapted recipe for no-bake oatmeal cookies. Here’s the recipe for the cookies I made for my step-dad!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookes (High Raw Vegan)

1 cup raw or old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates

1/2 cup raisins

2 Tbl Creamy  peanut butter (creamy is better for binding)

1. Process the oats and cinnamon in a food processor into small pieces.

2. Add dates and process till it’s mixed well. Throw in the raisins and pulse.

3. Place in a bowl and mix the peanut butter in with the batter.

4. Now roll them into balls and enjoy!

Easy, right?

 

We were invited to dinner on Christmas Eve!

They had us over for Christmas dinner last year too.

The delicious feast made completely out of scratch!

The chef!

I brought over this dish: pan-fried chickpea, sweet yellow onion, and pomegranate salad.

Remember “The Flexitarian Cookbook” I mentioned in a previous post? Well, this was another delicious recipe from that cookbook! Everyone at the dinner loved it, and the lovely host even asked me to share the recipe. Now that says something, doesn’t it?

Natural beauty

I’ll be dedicating a full post to “The Flexitarian Cookbook” featuring more recipes, and a review!

On Christmas morning my mom was greeted by some flowers that are just as refreshing as she is.

My step-dad was greeted by something he could thoroughly enjoy (and hopefully share, please)!

And I was greeted with a special sweater!

It makes me think of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

My step-dad had the same idea!

He made me raw vegan treats with figs, dates, walnuts, and gingerbread spices–very yummy!

Matilda guarded the tree.

My mom had picked this up at the health food store... interesting!

When I saw this it seemed familiar, and that’s because Katie once featured their pasta made out of black beans.

Makes one look forward to dinner.

I served the mung bean fettucine with a semi-homemade tomato sauce and parmesan.

This was actually yummy and had an interesting texture! I was very much pleasantly surprised.

And I ended my Florida "tour" with a bang!

We love you, World!

Don’t forget to participate in my giveaway, in case you haven’t already or you missed it! Click here to check it out. You have until Tuesday to participate, so my fingers are crossed for you!

Feels Like Summertime in New York: Part 2

Last Monday started out the same as usual. Scratch that! I went out to one of many parks in Brooklyn and went exploring. That’s one thing that I love whenever I go to New York. I get a lot of chances to just walk around and discover new things. I plan on moving there after I graduate so it’s better if I feel comfortable getting around before I move. Anywho! Eventually I made my way into the city to meet up with one of my best girlfriends.

At a Free People store with a really awesome store display.

I miss her already!

After just shopping around we made our way to Whole Foods and sampled some goods and my friend got her groceries. Oh wow I got to try things like my favorite Greek yogurt (I just pretended to be amazed for the first time), dark chocolate-covered coconut bits, and this amazing cookie that I can’t even remember what it was but I know it was in the raw foods section.

We came back to Brooklyn for a hot second and I reunited with my other friend and her doggie.

Meet Theo

Then I went to my other friend’s place and we started working on the special surprise!

We were invited to a girls’ night so we wanted to make something yummy that would not fail!

Any guesses?

We made mini-sandwiches...

But not just any mini-sandwich.

PB&J's, PB&Banana, PB&Chocolate-Banana

Don't they look kind of like macaroons?

These were so much fun to make! There was definitely lots of finger-licking done.

Ready?

Then we headed back into the city.

It was funny because girls’ night was hosted by none other than a guy. We got to the building and we told the man at the front the code phrase “we’re here for girls’ night.” It was so funny because at first we thought it was a joke, but he knew exactly what we were talking about. So then we were headed to the top floor and were greeted by the funniest and witty group of girls + the host! Everybody loved the mini-sandwiches.

The next day we went on a bike adventure.

We rode over to the waterfront and just sat around for awhile.

And jumped around too!

Riding a bike while sitting Indian-style, naturally.

When we came back I fixed myself a perfect hot-weather lunch.

Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cous cous, chickpeas, dried cranberries, feta, cashews, olive oil, and lemon pepper. YUM! I was inspired by this recipe.

I also tried a lychee jelly snack.

Met up with a friend and headed over to Dean & Deluca.

I wanted to find something special. But there were so many things to choose from. From wine-infused marmalades that cost as much as Matilda’s grooming to confections that could make the sourest of hearts melt.

I decided to get a pear hazelnut fruit spread.

After doing some more window-shopping we decided to head back over to Brooklyn.

Then we got ready to celebrate someone's birthday.

And I was excited because my birthday was just in a few hours as well.

Then we headed over to a bar where a lot of people signed to the same record label hang out.

We got down to Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl”. It was such a fun night and it turned out that the other birthday girl’s birthday was the same as mine! So at midnight we were both given a birthday serenade. Next post is a recap of my birthday and then some. Can I say the word birthday one more time? Oh! I just did.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far. I’ve been eating delicious meals put together by the whole family, hanging out with my homegirl before she goes to Peru, and just taking it easy. With the heat we’ve been experiencing down here it seems that things sometimes just get done at the pace of a slug. Let’s just call it… cruising through life.

Giving Nature Credit

Hello everyone! So I survived the semester and I’m currently at the beach for the week with my ladies. First night was so much fun. I lost my Chat Roulette virginity. Let’s just say that we did our fair share if screaming in shock! I also may not be posting regularly since I’m at the beach and the day I get back is the day I fly to New York!

Anywho, there are a few beliefs I have and one of them is that I don’t think it should cost an arm and a leg to eat well. Especially when essentially most of the things I eat come straight from nature. I’d like to say that I eat well. When I say well I mean that I don’t sacrifice good taste just because something has nutritional value. Shots of wheat grass? No thank you. Maybe I’m a food snob, but I don’t care because I eat what I like and try new things as well. Sometimes I give things a second chance like my beloved brussels sprouts. And there are some things that I loved in my childhood that never get old. As a college student and a lover of food I’ve learned how to cook deliciously on a budget. I’ve learned that hummus is a cinch to make and usually ends up tasting better than what I get at the store–aside from Sabra’s miraculously creamy hummus. Some secrets are just too good to give out I guess. Oh well, I have a few of my own too!

I made my own creamy tomato sauce recipe!

And I am definitely sharing this one! Although I must warn you that the measurements aren’t precise because as usual when I cook, I just put in things by my taste. Mine turned out more like an arrabiata (spicy sauce) since I was generous with the black pepper. Oh! And it’s also vegan. Since I didn’t have any creamer on hand I opted to make a vegan alternative I’ve done many a time and have loved each time: cashew cream.

Vegan Creamy Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

Canola oil for cooking

3/4 cup onion, finely diced

1 bay leaf

1/8 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

Sea salt

2 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press

1 grated carrot stick

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

Sliced sun-dried tomatoes

A little less than 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes with juice

1/3 cup cashew cream

Fresh ground black pepper

Dried sweet basil and tarragon

1. Heat pan first then canola oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, bay leaf, pepper flakes, and salt and cook, uncovered, stirring often, until onion is soft and beginning to turn golden.

2. Add garlic and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high, add tomato sauce, grated carrot, dried basil, tarragon, and sun-dried tomatoes and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly darkened, about 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add balsamic vinegar and cook, stirring often for about 2 minutes. Add can of crushed tomatoes and bring to the boil.

4. Reduce heat to low and simmer, partially covered, stirring often, until sauce reduces and is thickened, about 25 to 30 minutes.

5. When sauce has thickened, remove and discard bay leaf. Stir in the cashew cream, and cook until warmed through, about 1 minute. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Voila!

I served the sauce with sautéed garlic, yellow squash, onion, mushrooms, and cannellini beans over penne pasta.

Up next…

I also made another batch of granola!

Honey Cranberry-Almond Granola

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

1/4 cup chopped almonds

1/3 cup honey

1 1/2 tbl canola oil

1 tbl almond extract

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Shredded coconut

White chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients except the dried cranberries, shredded coconut, and white chocolate chips.

3. Spread out the granola on a nonstick baking sheet.

4. Bake the granola for about 30 minutes, stirring every 8 minutes or so. Halfway through sprinkle on the shredded coconut when stirring. Remove from oven, allow to cool.

5. Once cool mix in the dried cranberries and white chocolate chips

It’s so easy! I love coming up with combinations, and they’re perfect as yummy gifts. Just think of the flavors a loved one enjoys and make their very own mix. You can put it in a mason jar with a delightful tag, and I’m sure the lucky recipient will name their first-born after you.

Almonds, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips is one of my favorite combinations.

And…

Homemade hummus too?!

Sun-dried Tomato Hummus

Ingredients

4 garlic cloves, minced and then mashed

2 15-oz cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed

1/4 cup avocado oil

Sun-dried tomatoes

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1. In a food processor, combine the mashed garlic, garbanzo beans, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water. Process until smooth.

2. Slowly add in the avocado oil. Add salt, starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste.

Serve with anything your heart desires.

Gosh it feels good to share my own recipes with you all again! During the semester it’s hard for me to actually sit down and think about that. Even though I’m an only child, I love to share. So being able to share these recipes is awesome–from my kitchen to yours!

Just Checking In

Oh hi, excuse me as I am typing this while I’m underneath a pile of wood, textbooks, novels, and more paper! Remember me? It’s only been a week since my last post but so much has been going on. Lots of getting down and dirty at the studio! I can’t wait to show you all my final piece. My critique is on Monday so it’s coming up soon! I’m actually going to start filming the video piece for my structure tomorrow. Anywho, on with the show!

Thank you all for the compliments on my outfit! A couple of you asked where I got the skirt from, and Holly you guessed it! Anthropologie of course! Am I that predictable? Hehehe. Also the backpack was a gift from my grandparents from a random street market down in Colombia.

A necklace I permanently borrowed from my mom!

This woman she knows actually makes jewelry and this is one of her pieces and there’s a matching bracelet as well. I just realized that in the picture of me dancing below I’m wearing another necklace the woman made. I love how they’re eye-catching but fun at the same time.

Oh! And a little tip for OIAJ: I like to bust out the jar when I have what my eye says is about 2-3 tbl of the nut butter left. I also cook my oats separately and stir it in little by little so the nut butter gets mixed in really well!

I forgot to mention that a couple weekends ago I let my inner dancing queen out and ended up with wet, sweaty shoes!

Now on to some eats from these past couple of weeks. Randomness commence!

Greek yogurt + granola + lots of blueberries + cinnamon + a special nut butter...

Ohhh yes!

While I was visiting my soul sista’, Liz, I saw she had an amazing assortment of nut butters to choose from. Her favorite brand is Futters’, can’t you tell? I loved these so much and she was kind enough to ship them to me! Complete with a super sweet card that’s sitting on my kitchen counter that I see every morning. Having meaningful reminders of my friends (especially the ones that are far away) always comfort me.

Chocolate pecan butter + Greek yogurt + granola + banana slices + dried figs + cinnamon

Figs and chocolate-anything are such a great combination!

Also great on toast!

I like to cut my toast in half so I can try more spreads such as : butter, butter + marmalade, chocolate pecan butter, chocolate pecan butter + Mymoune’s Crème of Dates with Almonds.

Sadly, my coconut butter burned!

Good thing I've got a jar of Cacao Bliss as back up!

Maple-roasted roasted brussels sprouts and shallots with goat cheese

For the brussels sprouts I just sort of followed this recipe.

Since the weather has been sunny I felt like making one of my favorite chickpea recipes!

Mock tuna salad–simple and yummy

More chickpea goodness!

I followed smitten kitchen’s chana masala recipe and served it on top of some basmati rice + coconut oil. I love the fragrance basmati rice gives off when it’s cooking.

I had a frozen chickpea cutlet I made awhile back and it came in handy!

Romaine + chopped yellow onions + tomato slices + my favorite BBQ sauce + Lemony Goddess dressing + goat cheese

This doesn't even look like chickpeas have anything to do with it!

But they most definitely do. I stumbled across a beet hummus recipe not too long ago. I love beets, so naturally I gave this a try. Note: this was so so so good with Dr. Kracker’s apple crisps.

Boy do I have a lot to catch you all up on! Stay tuned for my next post, which will hopefully be sooner than later. Much love to you all.

“A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety.” -Aesop

Satisfaction Guaranteed

I just finished my dinner and that’s one thought that came to mind. During my semester I usually make things in batches, and I have my go-to recipes that I know are quick and tasty. However, cooking a special meal is something that I appreciate every time. I just got done having an incredibly flavorful meal that took a bit of time to make, but was still very simple. Eating good food makes me feel… content. I think that’s the perfect word because I feel happy yet calm. If only you could see the smile on my face hehe.

This was my dinner!

Remember how I use to think brussel sprouts tasted like farts… that is until I gave them a second chance. I finally prepared them the way I thought I would enjoy them most. Now this just opened up so many more doors. I followed this recipe to make shallot and balsamic roasted brussel sprouts. I want to try roasting them with honey, honey and lime, and maple syrup! I bet it would be nothing short of delicious. For the cannellini beans I cooked them with minced garlic, cumin, dried basil, salt and pepper, and a bit of balsamic vinegar. These were served on top of basmati rice and everything was topped off with pine nuts.

A close-up was in order!

I’m proud of myself for giving this veggie a second chance and deciding to prepare it myself. And you know what? It was absolutely delicious! Do you ever feel proud after cooking or baking something?

Super easy snack!

I think I’m doing a good job of coming up with simple savory snacks! This is a Dr. Kracker seeded spelt flatbread. I really enjoy the size of these flatbreads because they’re not as small as the Wasa crackers. You can top them with more things! The flavor is also something to be noted. I could have these plain too! It was delicious and simple which lends to  its versatility. You can make these a part of a savory or sweet snack (topping with nut butter and jam perhaps).

Another flavor...

These are the Sunflower Cheddar crisps. They’re perfect to use as croutons in a salad as well. If you go on their site you can read all of the great recommendations they have for each flavor. Back to these crisps! I love their nuttiness, crunch, and cheesiness! By the way, these are awesome with avocado!

A refreshing shake!

I tried a packet of Jay Robb’s Vanilla Rice Protein powder. I blended in a frozen banana and almond butter as well. Yummy creaminess!

Another savory snack idea!

A nice fluffy pita filled with chickpeas, tomatoes, and goat cheese. I wish I would’ve had a garlic sauce or something to go with this!

POM!

Not too long ago I was sent a package of POM Wonderful’s 100% pomegranate juice. Juice is such a refreshing thing during the warm months. Perfect timing, I say! Anyway, these alone are tasty and not as tart as the fruit itself. I know this has nothing to do with the juice, but I’ve always loved the packaging. The glass ones are my favorite because you can re-use them. Anyway, I have one more container left and I wanted to try it in a recipe. Anyone have any suggestions???

I finally got around to trying another recipe from the Veganomicon.

These are beanballs! They were so easy to make and were perfect for leftovers. I served them with penne pasta (I didn’t have spaghetti on hand), artichoke scarpetta (that translates to “damn good sauce”), goat cheese, and pine nuts. On the side you see frozen grapes. These are one of my favorite things to eat when the weather gets warm.

And my breakfasts are still my favorite meals!

This was a bowl Udi’s granola, Greek yogurt, sliced banana and apple, and my favorite peanut butter. Granola and yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is one of my favorite combinations.

Oh, and I re-stocked my supply of my favorite BBQ sauce.

Bone Suckin’ Sauce! I think it’s a favorite amongst many of you out there; with good reason!

Don’t Snow on My Parade

This post may be a bit like the weather I’ve been experiencing over here lately–a whirlwind. There has been consistent snow for the past two weeks and there is more to come! Not only has it been snowing constantly but it’s also been super windy. But I haven’t let the weather stop me from adventuring and atleast there’s been plenty of sun to help keep my mood up. Sophia recently asked what we appreciate from nature. Well, the sun is something I wholeheartedly love. It brings up my spirits and I can’t help but feel better on sunny days.

Starting off a sunny day with some chocolate!

I decided to try out another one of the chocolate bars the folks at Newman’s Own Organics sent me. I had only tried their dark chocolates and I wanted to change it up a bit with some milkiness. Deliciously creamy and made me feel like a kid again. Oftentimes milk chocolates get overwhelmed with all the other ingredients, but I like how you can still taste the chocolate in this bar. I feel like milk chocolate is often forgotten about nowadays. But I think dark, milk, and white chocolates all deserve a little love.

And this is how Matilda started out her snow day.

She dug it!

And came back 10 minutes later to see if there was more.

Leftover chickpeas in coconut milk over rice & roasted butternut squash tossed in coconut oil + cinnamon

Then went on an adventure to visit a friend of ours!

I'll admit the snow sure is beautiful though.

Soul sistas!

Back of the Virginia Center for Architecture

Snacks were had--I found the Coconut Macadamia flavor!

I'd like to think this was a delicious snowball. Soft, chewy, and cocoNUTTY.

Our beautiful friend in her barista zone! She made us yummy Cinnamon Dolce Lattes "with love."

I hadn't had an English muffin in ages!

I spread Sunland’s caramel peanut butter on one slice and the other had butter and the berry jam Holly sent me awhile ago. I also had a bowl of yogurt + a minneola, pomegranate arils, and granola.

Sauteed mushrooms + salsa verde + manchego + Italian bread

Umm YUM!

All together now!

Letfover AMAZING ziti and roasted butternut squash

And my dad came to stop by since he's in town on business.

How sweet

After some hang out time with my dad I went over to a friend’s house. I got to try a most delicious vegetable lasagna recipe she made up + garlic bread (ON HOMEMADE BREAD)! Afterwards we headed to one of the bars around here that reminds me of a tavern.

A supreme peanut butter oatmeal cookie made by one of her roommates, the expert baker!

CranBran Vitatop + coconut oil, Kashi GoLean Crunch, bruleed banana slices, Sunland's caramel peanut butter over Greek yogurt.

Met up with my dad at a new cafe for some afternoon bites.

I loved the openness and natural lighting.

He ordered the carrot + ginger soup.

He let me try some of it with the bread they served it with (SO delicious). I also got a white chocolate chip and cranberry scone + soy cappuccino

The place is called Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe and it’s really neat because you can even go grocery shopping in there. They sell things like organic milk, cake mixes, eggs, quinoa pasta, and granola made by a local Richmonder. We definitely plan on going back for lunch! It also seemed like a really nice place to study and have a nice change of environment.

Snapped a picture before another meet-up!

Look who I got to hang out with!!!

I met up with Brittany at a local cellar for some wine and chocolate sampling. I haven’t seen her in ages and she’s just as radiant even in the winter! We both brought our dogs, but Matilda was being a brat to adorable little Olive, and Isaac had to bring her back home. I hope they get along next time they meet!

Wine!

Crazy Matilda

Yummy chocolate samples, and they even opened up a bar for us chocolate lovers to try.

Look at these two dolls!!!

She also gave me the most delicious Coconut Macaroons she made (recipe from Raw Food/Real World).

Friday turned out to be an up and down and up day. I got really upset at one point but before totally giving into it I knew I had to do something to help me calm down. I have worked so hard to not succumb to things that in the end are not good for me. I reached out, communicated my feelings, and ended up rising above the stress. I did what I knew would be best for me. So glad I wasn’t incredibly stubborn and didn’t give in. Now I plan on going out with some friends and dancing my worries away! Do any of you find it hard to let things go out of stubbornness?

This weekend there’s going to be tons of love in the air. Who knows what’s in store!!! Either way, I hope you all enjoy it whether you’re single or taken!

Making Up For Not Having a White Christmas

So my friends and I decided it would be safer not to drive out to Charlottesville for the weekend. I’m glad we didn’t go because they predicted 3 ft of snow for that area. I’m not sure how much they ended up getting though.

Winning combination!

I have never tried any of the PB&Co flavors but I’d imagine it would taste similar to this. In the bowl I cooked some oatmeal with the last of my chocolate protein powder + cinnamon + coconut oil. Then I added in some diced apples, white chocolate chips, and crunchy peanut butter. So delicious!

Look at the snow!

My friend was looking pretty in the snow and then we were on mission to drive through it.

So beautiful!

BFD

I made a bowl of chocolate oats with a banana bruleed in + coconut oil + peanut butter + white chocolate chips. Obviously I loved the peanut butter and white chocolate chip combo from earlier that day.

A yummy platter.

Steamed kale later massaged in olive oil; To go with the brie I made a caramelized onion-cranberry compote + pine nuts for crunch and earthiness, then I baked some leftover Italian semolina bread. Even the kale with the brie and compote tasted delicious together.

When a friend of mine slept over, we opened up my box of Kashi GoLean Crunch that had been sitting in my pantry for ages--this became part of my snack pictured above.

This snack bowl consisted of Kashi GoLean Crunch + a crumbled Cinnamon Raisin gnufoods bars + almond milk + coconut oil (all warmed up).

Then it was crafting time for me!

I tried another flavor of the 3400 Phinney bars.

It had a delicious bold bitterness to it at the end and a nice crunch from the nibs.

Another new flavor I tried!

I tried the breakfast Sunshine burger. It was yummy but I don’t think I’ll be buying it again. It’s not horrible by any means, there are just other flavors I prefer; like the Southwest and Original (m’mm good). In the bowl is a recipe I got from a Mambo Sprouts newsletter: sweet and tangy mashed butternut squash. I just realized that I forgot the chives! Oh well.

While I was snowed in I took a detox bath and quenched my thirst with something I spotted at the store--mango flavored coconut water!

A recipe I wrote down ages ago and found the other day--smudges and all.

This was suppose to be a Jamaican inspired oatmeal recipe actually, but since I ran out of oats the day before (GASP) I did the next best thing–granola! I opted for Udi’s Au Naturel flavor over yogurt. They were topped with pineapple bits, a sliced banana, coconut shreds, almonds, and maple syrup (the one my friend got for me on her trip to Canada–peeking in on the left side). I loved every tropical bite of this; especially because I am ready for warm weather!

On that same page I wrote down some other recipes and decided to make another one for lunch.

Chickpeas in coconut milk + steamed kale + coconut & cinnamon rice (with coconut oil)

Chickpeas in Coconut Milk: serves 4

Ingredients

1 cup water

10 oz potato, cubed

14 oz cooked chickpeas

1 generous cup coconut milk

1 tsp salt

2 tbl sunflower oil

4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp coriander

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2-1 tsp chili

lemon juice

Suggestions for serving: naan or rice

1. Pour water into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Add cubed potatoes, reduce the heat to low and cook covered for 6-7 minutes. Add chickpeas and cook uncovered for 3-4 minutes. Add coconut milk and salt and slow simmer.

2. Heat oil, low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently. Add coriander, turmeric, chili, and cook 25-30 seconds.

3. Mix into chickpea mixture. Stir in lemon juice.

Quick dinner after a long day of errands.

After spending the afternoon with my roommate stocking up on goods at Target, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods I was ready for dinner despite my snacks and yummy sampling! I bought some buns so I could enjoy Angharad’s spicy black bean burgers in burger form. These keep getting better and better! I topped it with vegan mayo, pepper jelly, melted manchego, yellow onions, cilantro, and ketchup. Holy delcious. I also had some steamed kale massaged in olive oil + cashews for crunch. I highly recommend making these burgers. Not only are they delicious, but they are so convenient for when you’re in a time crunch or don’t have the energy to prepare something. Actually, they’re wonderful for any occassion!

Comfort food with a twist...

This was such a great nighttime snack! Now what exactly was this snack? Well I cooked some cream of wheat in almond milk (I used Almond Breeze Original), and topped it with chopped dates, Artisana’s Cacao Bliss, and my favorite peanut butter. All of this melted together. So soothing and perfect for a Sunday night and some reading.

If all Mondays started like this... well then no one would be complaining!

Liz sent me a recipe that I knew I had to make ASAP! I had some leftover coconut milk from the soup I made the day before; Purrrfect for Indian spiced oats with coconut milk. Early classes on Monday = quick breakfasts so I used a packet of Uncle Sam Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal + Soymilk. I threw in a handful more of oats in there + extra spices. For the finishing touches I swirled in some coconut oil + raisins + sliced almonds + coconut milk.

Creamy deliciousness

Can't get enough of the spicy black bean burgers!

I prepped it the same way as Sunday night only this time I had it with barbeque Popchips (better the second time around), and a Bugs Bunny carrot + my favorite peanut butter. Once again, this was quick enough for me to put together without eating my own arm off. For some reason I didn’t realize that my Seminar on Hinduism class ended at 6:40–not 5:40. It didn’t help that my afternoon snack sadly only held me over about an hour and I hadn’t anticipated being hungry that quickly. Apparently today was one of those bottomless pit days and the only thing I had packed was the 3400 Phinney Nib Brittle bar and that didn’t do much except please my tastebuds. Note to self: always keep something substantial packed. I’m usually good about this is if I know I’m going to be on the go, but today I had the leisure of snacking at home. Oh well, lesson learned.

Last but not least... in my next post I'll be revealing a muffin recipe I concocted while I was snowed in.

Anybody want to take any guesses? How was everyone else’s weekend; any exciting plans for the week?

p.s. check out the Glass Dharma straw giveaway Audrey is having! Also, Averie is having an amazing giveaway as well (hint: the prize is one of my favorite add-ins)

Pinch Me, I Must Be Dreaming

First week of school and it’s been fun and hectic. My schedule is in a bit of a dilemma and I’m hoping to get that fixed! It’s frustrating to have my classes–or lack of classes–up in the air. I just want a set schedule, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed and doing what I can. On the bright side, I’ve been catching up with friends and having fun!

Vanilla cinnamon oatmeal + mango + pomegranate arils + coconut oil + cashew butter

Deliciously creamy yet refreshing. These past couple of days have been absolutely beautiful. I always feel at my best when the sun is shining and I can go out without piling on layers of clothes. I guess it’s soothing to my clutter-free ways.

I also sampled some dark chocolate.

When the generous folks over at Newman’s Own sent me an incredible package, they also included their various chocolates. That day I decided to try their 54% dark chocolate. This was really very yummy. One thing I’ve come to love about dark chocolate is how you can just let it melt in your mouth and savor it. Life is like a box of chocolates–lots of little moments to savor. What chocolates would be in your box?

After breakfast I did all my morning things like taking Matilda out on her walk and organizing some things around my place. Then I got ready to finally go to the new gym on my campus with my friend. I think she described it perfectly, “it’s like a mecca.” Here are some pictures I took from their site.

Part of the pool area! They also have a hot tub, lap, and vortex pool

The second level has an indoor track field and even more equipment + racquetball courts

There’s also an indoor turf for soccer and other sports, flat screen TVs, different exercise studios, and crazy digital lockers (that you don’t have to pay for woo!). My friend and I went exploring and goofed off a bit on the machines. Then we went into one of the group exercise rooms and stretched. Next time we’re bringing some speakers though so we can dance… until they kick us out.

And get this... in the center of it all is a giant rock climbing wall!

I haven't had chickpeas in awhile!

I cooked these in coconut oil, cinnamon, and garam masala. I also had the rest of my delicious sweet potato mash from “The Conscious Cookbook” (the one made with cashew cream) and boiled rutabaga with cinnamon. I also drizzled the rutabaga and chickpeas with maple syrup.

Let the adventure begin!

Afterwards I met up with my friend and we were on the hunt for a big room I could dance in. I want to find a space bigger than my room and with mirrors. I’m still on the search! But when we went on our search for the room we explored one of the forgotten buildings on my campus. That picture above was the anatomy room.

We also snuck into the old pool which is now shutdown since my school completed the new gym.

After we explored that building we decided to walk down some streets and go into all the places we always passed but never stepped in. It was so  much fun! I came home and cracked open “The Conscious Cook”…

Gardein "steak" sandwich with watercress, red pepper, and horseradish mayonnaise

I got to try another Gardein product. Last time I had steak I could count my age without using all of my ten fingers. So I can’t honestly say if it tasted like steak. My roommate and our friend said that it smelled like it! I must say that it was very flavorful and didn’t have the chewy texture I remember steak having–which is better. Not to mention, I don’t think I’ve seen very many “steak” products around. I would recommend it if you’re an omnivore trying to make some vegetarian meals, or if you’re a veg-head that likes fake meat products. As for the recipe itself–wow! This had a kick but it was complimented by the mild sweetness of the red bell pepper, and savory “steak”. I couldn’t find a small loaf of focaccia so I just went to Panera and got a sourdough bread roll and seasoned it accordingly.

Check it out now!

A great breakfast for the first day of a new semester!

My roommate’s boyfriend had a special wine that he let me have the rest of. Why was it special? Well, have any of you tried chocolate red wine? That’s right! Chocolate red wine. I made my usual bowl of oats with cinnamon and coconut oil. Then I topped it with peach slices, the last of Bekah’s scented almonds, and the last of the Chocovine. I admit, I felt slightly tipsy after this breakfast.

Since it was a warm, sunny day I decided to have a refreshing lunch.

I had my spiced chickpeas + more coconut oil + avocado + shallot + romaine + a most delicious homemade honey-lime dressing.

The weather wasn't the only thing out of the ordinary that day...

Recently, I received a sampler package from the people over at Popchips. So what was unusual here? Well, for some reason I felt compelled to try the sea salt & vinegar flavor first. Let me just note that I do not like salt & vinegar chips. I ate my own words with this bag. I actually liked these a lot! There was no overwhelming acidic aftertaste from the vinegar. I also really enjoyed the texture of these babies. They seemed to be a bit thicker than normal potato chips. Crunch crunch crunch. Yum yum yum.

I also had a couple of these amazing raw blonde macaroons.

I kid you not–these are now one of my favorite things. Thanks so much Liz for sending me these! Like I said, girl’s got incredible taste! I’d also like to congratulate her for making it on one of the Top Health Blog lists. You go girl!

Blood orange!

I met up with one my bests at the center of campus for some coffee and tea.

I tried something new! A tomatillo.

Tomatillo dressing with fresh cilantro.

I hope this keeps my cilantro green for longer!

My first attempt at making a timbale--not too shabby.

Quinoa, Avocado, and Sweet Potato Timbale With Roasted Tomatillo Dressing

I am really enjoying attempting to make all the recipes from “The Conscious Cook”. I feel like Julie in the movie Julie & Julia! This was also my first time cooking quinoa. This was incredibly delicious and would make for a perfect summer dish. All the various textures and flavors worked so well with each other; the crunch from the tortilla bits, creaminess of the avocado, and the graininess of the quinoa were such a treat to my mouth. The tomatillo dressing added a wonderful zest to it all! Not to mention, I was proud of myself for making something so gourmet looking that tasted as equally delicious… if not more!

I wasn't the only one to enjoy this dish! Too good not to share, I say!

I also made butternut squash "fries" tossed in coconut oil and cinnamon + tamarind-date chutney for dipping.

What a great way to end the first day of the semester. We had a delicious meal that ended with dark chocolate and a refreshing walk with Matilda.

This is really random but I have a question for you all. Well first let me go off on a bit of a tangent. I have no problem expressing myself and showing who I am… except for when it comes to romance. It’s not that I still cover my eyes at the sight of people kissing. No, not like that. But it’s more so something I just struggle with personally. I really want to get over that and I think I have to start putting a conscious effort into taking down that wall. Brick by brick. So I was wondering if any of you have any advice on how to just be comfortable with expressing yourself romantically. Thanks!

Still Ringing in the New Year

Hello hello! How has everyone spent the first couple days of the new year? Feeling refreshed? I know that I have with the cold weather that’s been going on in Florida. What is this madness? Speaking of madness, I’m going to do a quick recap of my New Years Eve.

My friend wanted her snazzy dress to be a bit shorter.

Yep, the Christmas tree is still up!

And I got those sassy shoes I showed you all earlier!

She's such a beauty queen.

Happy new year to you!

And happy new year to us!

And that was the last picture of the night!

It was quite a night! First off we wasted some time waiting in front of our friends’ condo because they said they’d be down. Big misunderstanding! I guess they meant driving down because then they let us know they were stuck in traffic. So we ended up walking to the club past a scary cemetery, suspicious people, and honking cars. Finally we got there and it was midnight! Champagne was on the house and we did a lot of what we do best – dancing! We also made toasts to friendship, being a lady and ruling the world, and just living life to the fullest! Can you believe I spent the night prancing around in 5 1/2 inch heels?

I used mulling spice for apple cider to make this bowl of oats.

Baked BBQ tofu + Baked butternut squash with coconut oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon + Roasted red pepper mashed potatoes

Lazy dinner, but DELICIOUS

Roasted garlic and herb potatoes and in that bowl is something I quickly threw together. It’s a very odd combination of things: pureed butternut squash, coconut milk, coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla protein powder!

It was so good I decided to make it again the next day.

And then it hit me! It tasted like warm homemade arroz con leche.

Later on I made chocolate avocado pudding with a couple of avocados that needed to be used.

A bright breakfast! Just mixed in some pumpkin puree with yogurt.

I decided to make another recipe from Chef Tal Ronnen’s ‘The Conscious Cook’.

Cajun seasoning

Vegan rémoulade

Deeelicious.

Cajun Portobello with Avocado and Rémoulade

Wow! Every bite of this sandwich was delicious and so full of flavor. I love how these recipes are all hearty and filling but they’re so fresh tasting!

I got a package and Matilda was curious to see what was inside...

This was such a sweet surprise!

Liz sent me a delicious package with some her favorite goodies. From fashion to food this lady has great taste! Seriously Liz, this was such a nice surprise and I could totally picture you pulling off surprise parties with style.

MATILDA!!! She just wanted to say hello 😉

For dinner I wanted to make another recipe from ‘The Conscious Cookbook’. I’m on a mission to cook every recipe in that book!

Mediterranean Chickpea Wrap

Aye aye aye this was spicy! My hand slipped a bit with the chili powder. Not to mention, when I got the chili powder I got from the Indian supermarket the storeowner warned me that it was hotter than usual.

Since my mom wanted chickpeas as well I roasted some with onions in coconut oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon.

I also had some eggplant parmigiana with the leftover vegan rémoulade.

I had a special treat for breakfast the other day!

The kind folks from 18 Rabbits have come out with a new flavor and I was lucky enough to be sent a flavor to sample and review. The flavor? Belle bananas foster! I love all the fun names they come up with for their flavors.

So what'd I think?

I thought it was a delicious granola bar but I think they could do more to up the caramel flavor that banana’s foster is known for. But don’t get me wrong, this bar was by no means blah. The caramelized banana helped and I love the sweetness that dates add. And the texture! Yum! This time I also saw the cacao nibs. Lucky for you all you can now try this flavor out since they hit Peet’s Coffee & Tea today! I believe you can also request to have it available at your nearest Whole Foods. Being the banana-ra-ma-mama that I am, I know I will be getting  this flavor again because it just tasted so good.

Check out the texture and all those yummy ingredients.

After having a few bites alone (so I can give you all a true review) I crumbled it over some yogurt and banana slices. MORE BANANAS!

18 Rabbits still make the number one granola bars in my book!

So it’s Monday and many of you probably had to unwillingly wake up to go about business today. Well I hope it won’t be so bad and that the magic of the thought of a new year is still lingering.