Traveling in the Kitchen

Oh gosh! There’s so much catching up to do! I’ve been back in Florida for a couple of weeks, but I have some things that I want to share with you from before I even left for Toronto. So get ready!

And hold on tight

Let’s see… how have I been enjoying the summer’s endless heat?

By making water a more refreshing beverage.

Slicing up lemons, limes, cucumbers, and a handful of mint leaves, and letting it all sit for a couple hours in a jug of water is all it takes.

One of my mom’s friends gave us mangoes from her backyard!

You can tell how delicious these were just by looking at them.

I’ve also been making smoothies.

 I made this particular one with Greek yogurt, honey, almond milk, peaches, and cinnamon.

Taste testing… not quite there yet.

Passed the test.

Yowza that was good!

I’ve also been loving strawberries in the mix.

Sadly, coconut butter is too shy to mix and mingle.

Of course I’ve been keeping up with my weekly batch of raw vegan treats.

I’ve recently made Averie’s No-Bake Coconut and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites and Kelsey’s Cocoa Coconut Energy Balls. Both should be under your bookmarks if they aren’t already.

I’m serious.

This may not be a typical cool summer meal.

I sautéed some yellow squash, crumbled tofu, and diced sweet potato with Bragg’s flavorful Organic Seasoning. Drizzle some coconut butter, and I sealed the deal. By the way that sprinkle has 24 herbs and spices that add lots of flavor. Even if I don’t know what to cook I just use some of this and I instantly have a tasty dish. Thanks to my old roommate introducing me to this it’s now one of my secret weapons.

Taken out by the poolside while the weather was hopefully cooling down (not by much).

With a nice cold glass of refreshing water.

Ahh yes… the morning is another part of the day I can enjoy outside without melting into a puddle of sweat…

And drool.

I’ve also made up a recipe recently.

Can you guess what it is? Himalayan Zucchini Bread! This is an eclectic loaf of zucchini bread inspired by the Eastern world and 101 Cookbook’s Special Zucchini Bread. Check it.

Himalayan Zucchini Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

3/4 cup almonds, chopped

2 1/2 tbl poppy seeds or even chia seeds

2 tsp lemon zest

4 peanut ginger chews, finely chopped

1/4 cup goji berries

3 tbl shredded coconut, unsweetened

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut sugar, or brown sugar

1 large egg, or egg replacer

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 zucchinis, grated

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour mix

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tbl curry powder

*Don’t be daunted by the long ingredient list*

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan, and dust it with a bit of flour then set aside.
2. In a bowl combine the almonds, poppy seeds, lemon zest, shredded coconut, goji berries, and ginger. Set aside.

3. In another bowl mix the coconut oil with the honey, and then add the coconut sugar. Add the egg and mix well. Stir in the vanilla and then the zucchini.

4. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and curry powder.

5. Add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

6. Fold in the almonds, poppy seed, lemon zest, goji berries, shredded coconut, and crystalized ginger mixture by hand. Set a bit aside so you can sprinkle on the the zucchini loaf before baking to add a little crunch. Avoid over mixing the batter, it should be thick and moist.

7. Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Don’t over bake it though to keep it moist. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for about ten minutes. Then let it finish cooling on wire rack. It’ll get moist and sweaty if you leave them in the pan.

Each ingredient is special in this recipe

That’s not all.

Wolfberries, also known as goji berries.

And somehow by the time this loaf was done baking I had flown to Asia and back.

So now that I’ve shared this recipe with you, here are some tips to go along with it. I soaked the almonds beforehand to add to the bread’s dense bite. I also thought of the recipes I’ve made where zucchini and almonds held hands in the most delicious way. I love coming up with kitchen experiments, being inspired by  places I want to travel to and let my mind go.

Check it out!

Now take a bite into a slice of this and you’ve got a spiced and moist bread, with some crunch and the most unique flavor.

Enjoy it for breakfast with coconut butter.

Recently, I’ve been letting a bag of green tea steep in a glass of cold water overnight.

And beautiful fresh mission figs, medjool dates, bee pollen, and honey over some Greek yogurt.

I hope you all have a relaxing weekend… 

Or one packed with adventures!

Sweet Memory

Remember all my excitement for graduation? Well… that eventful day happened this past Friday! It still hasn’t hit me, but right now I’m just celebrating life and the end of a 21-credit semester.

Thank you, Mom!

Thank you, Dad!

My support

I really appreciate my parents for trusting and having faith in my maturity and wisdom to help me make choices for myself in life. When I was in high school I didn’t take the SAT’s because I didn’t plan on going to college right away. Instead Germany was on my mind and I went there after high school, and while I was over there I took the SAT’s. Fortunately I did because when I came back to the states for a two week visit I decided to stay and put my portfolio together in three days, sent it to VCUarts. I didn’t have another plan, and I think that’s because I didn’t have any doubt I’d get in. My parents supported my decisions, and throughout my life they’ve helped me stay motivated–to have a passion for life
Well, here I am now and I got my BFA at the top sculpture program in the nation. Now I’m eager to discover the opportunities in the big, big world. I guess the point that I’m trying to make is to believe in yourself. Listen to your heart, embrace your confidence, and see the world through your very own eyes.

Let the commencement begin!

Each department in the school of the arts made graduation standards.

Katie and I–she’s one of the coolest girls on this side of the galaxy.

Check out the dream dress that my friend made for me!

Afterwards we went to a local Middle Eastern restaurant called Cedars, which we frequent, and the owner treated us with his very own recipes!

He made me the vegan version of what he calls “The United Nations”

And a wonderfully fresh salad with sumac!

Sumac is a spice that is often used in Middle Eastern cooking to add a tart flavor.

They got the dishes to satisfy their inner carnivore.

Enjoy!

Later on they gave us fresh Dolmas.

And we couldn’t leave without having his baklava!

Bahaha! Meant to be eaten with your hands of course.

We had some great company–Sam and the owner!

And one more with the folks!

The owner makes everything himself from the pita bread, grinding the spices, the sauces, cheeses, and garden grown herbs! Not just that but the love and kindness they share with us is something really special. Now get ready for a lot more sweetness…

A pancake omelette!

When I saw this on Rachel’s blog I knew I had to try it. I’m slightly allergic to eggs nor do I like them so regular omelets are not on my radar. However, when I saw the idea of using the omelet concept but in pancake form I knew this was my kind of thing.

Stuffed with strawberries, chocolate hazelnut butter, and dusted with powdered sugar.

Although next time I think I’m going to throw in some chocolate chips to the mix.

I definitely have plenty of it now!

My step-dad and I visited the chocolate store the other day… can you tell?

The Vosges Black Salt Caramel Bar was such a unique chocolate bar. It definitely takes you by surprise, but then the next moment you find yourself appreciating it and making sense of all the thoughtful flavors. I also loved Chuao Chocolatier’s Coco ChocoPod, which was a blend of dark chocolate, coconut, almonds, cinnamon, and coriander–definitely getting the full-size bar next time! The other chocolates I had already tried and are dear to my heart.

Oh Germans and their efficient packaging–gotta love it!

Raw Vegan Texas Pecan Pralines

I’ve been making raw vegan treats on a weekly basis now, and trying a new recipe each week has been a delicious affair.

Especially when I had my weeklong affair with these…

You must try Joanne’s recipe for this raw vegan version of pralines.

Next up, Vegan Sweet Potato Breakfast Cookies

There was a sweet potato that had been sitting in my kitchen for a little too long so when I saw Allie’s recipe for these breakfast cookies I made them right away! So instead of canned sweet potato puree I just mashed a sweet potato with some almond milk, and proceeded with the recipe. I also used rye flour instead of spelt, and walnuts instead of pecans. The last of my dried cranberries were also used up, so I’d say that I’m doing a pretty good job of using up my pantry nowadays. I’m glad because I don’t want to have to take as many things with me when I move out of my place. Plus, it just feels good to get some clear space.

These were especially tasty with some easy dairy-free icing.

Another batch of no-bake treats!

This time I made Averie’s No-Bake White Chocolate & Mango Cookie Dough Bites. Oh wow! I love white chocolate and mango. Not to mention this was definitely a unique recipe because it didn’t call for dates but it did call for white chocolate chips, which I think are underrated. Oh yes, I will be making these again… and again and again!

I had baked these for my dear friend that made my graduation dress for me (the one pictured above).

Honey and Toasted Pistachio Muffins

Aren’t pistachios beautiful?

The extra drizzling of honey on these muffins is like nature giving its own sweet kiss to them. I thought it would be a nice way to say thank you.

Now what have we got here?

When I saw a pint of these strawberries from a local field I got so happy!

Vibrant little red jewels that make their way back into when the weather starts to get warmer.

Here’s some more post-graduation celebration.

And someone special thought of having a nice “celebration of me” evening for the two of us to share–a picnic by moonlight.

Well, well, well… is your sweet tooth aching yet? I think mine is about to start aching. Actually, my cheeks are aching just from smiling so much lately! What’s your favorite way to satisfy your sweet tooth? 

Living In a Daze, Part I

Hi everyone! As the title suggests, I’m going to break up the recent days in to more than one post. I still feel like my two feet have yet to hit the ground. Yes, I am feeling overwhelmed, but that isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. Why am I overwhelmed is the question. Over these past couple of days I’ve had many triumphs, adjustments, and realizations. I just feel like I’m about to start walking on new territory, but at the same time branching my roots out into familiar ones as well. It might sound confusing, and I admit it feels that way for me too! But whatever may be in store, I’m ready! And on that note, let’s jump in!

Spiced cottage cheese oats with coconut oil and peanut butter.

Ayurvedic recipe

This chili smelled divine while cooking it. The thing I love about ayurvedic recipes is that they include an array of spices that awaken different tastebuds. Star Anise & Cinnamon Black Bean Chili with Molasses & Chipotle, but I also added some diced sweet potato and coconut oil to my liking. Check out the description on the site for the chili: “smooth molasses with pungent cinnamon and smoked licorice black bean chili feels like a campfire in northern New Mexico under a new moon.” Imagine that…

Can you spy the Chinese star anise?

Operation Sneaky “Snack” cont’d included dried cranberries, butternut squash, Greek yogurt, and…

Betty Lou’s Cranberry Crave Harmony Bar; Success!

I wanted to show you all what this Betty Lou’s bar looked like. Check it out! Every time I open the wrapper I can’t help but think that it smells homemade. You know when you’re baking muffins and the sweet smell just puts you at ease? M’mm good.

Anyone ready for Florida?

That morning I had the juiciest, sweetest mango ever! Oh my gosh, just thinking about it is making me want go back to this. I had it with Greek yogurt, Udi’s Hawaiian granola (ginger-toasted macadamias, dried pineapple, and coconut flakes), and drizzled with coconut butter. Okay, so the mango alone was delicious, but all of this together… where do I begin? Ah yes, sitting on a hammock basking in the sun. But before we continue, let me put my ice cold pina colada down.

My re-worked sculpture.

Pressed mesh wire into thinner wire to make these.

This one is my favorite; it’s just so sturdy.

This looks like I'm in prison!

Alas, I’m just stylin’ the pajamas my grandma gave me, and about to enjoy OIAJ!!! Now that doesn’t sound like prison to me. Sunland’s banana peanut butter… you were so good to me!

Mixed in with a melted banana, last of the "best mango ever", crumbled honey graham, and shredded coconut.

Glorious spoonfuls of banana peanut butter with my oats.

However, OIAJ wasn’t the only exciting thing happening that morning. No, I had to get ready to pick up my mom!

The look: slouchy button-up leg warmers with boots and tights

And not your grandmother's black turtleneck dress.

For a splash of color, I pinned on a vintage flower brooch to my coat.

We came home and I quickly put together our lunches

For myself I had a Garden Herb Sunshine Burger on a bun + ketchup + pepper jelly + onion + tomato, with butternut squash and sliced pear with cinnamon and coconut butter as well.

Nom nom

And for my mom...

This almost looks like a face! She had Ezekiel toast with fried egg whites and green “stuff” on top. The green “stuff” is a quick thing I whipped up: 1 avocado + nutritional yeast + soy sauce + turmeric + a bit of water for consistency. She also had some butternut squash on the side.

My dad picked up some goodies from a nearby local Jordanian restaurant.

Everything is made fresh, and they even grind their own spices and herbs weekly. In fact, they also make a Lebanese pita bread which involves garbanzo, barley, and other flours. My dad got a vegetarian sampler for all of us, and a spiced chicken gyro for them. The sampler included hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, and dolmades.

I also got to take my mom to her first First Friday Artwalk!

It was very cold for her, but she loved all the life going on. She also got to meet some friends I’ve made in college, which is really nice! Now she has a better idea of who I’m talking about when I tell her things that are going on in my life. Anyway, this is it for Part I! Stay tuned for Part II (THE FASHION SHOW!!!) I hope you all have had a wonderful past couple of days. The sun is shining so brightly–I’m ready for the warm weather to stay!

Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week

Hello lovely people! I hope you’ve all had an enjoyable weekend so far.

As I said in my last post, I’ve been trying out recipes from my newest cookbook, The Accidental Vegetarian. So far the recipes I’ve made have all been delicious.

Goat’s Cheese and Mango

+ honey, mint, olive oil, and sesame seeds on toast

Matilda is styling a cowl neck sweater.

After Matilda and I okayed our outfits we went to a few vintage shops around the area. I am currently in search of a hat like this…

They've always got interesting window displays.

Two nights ago it was First Friday around here. I’ve mentioned it before on the blog, but it’s a night where all the galleries in the area show off their new exhibitions. The streets, venues, and restaurants are all busy with people dressed to impress.

I decided to wear this Renaissance inspired blouse.

I went with the pup and hung out with my roommate the gallery she works at for most of the time. Matilda was definitely the star of the night. Everyone just went up to her like she had some sort of magnetic powers. I’m almost certain that she possesses some unearthly gift that makes her so incredibly captivating.

A lazy bowl for breakfast.

Saturday mornings for me usually mean an effortless breakfast before my 9 am class. I just warmed up some soymilk with Nature’s Path vanilla almond granola and strawberries. Effortless but delicious! Some of you have mentioned that their Pumpkin and Peanut Butter flavor granolas are yummy. I think I know which two flavors I will be trying out next!

Another Accidental Vegetarian recipe!

The recipe was Moroccan Spaghetti, but I didn’t have any spaghetti on hand so I just used penne. I spiced the sauce and chickpeas with turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin.  I made sure not to use too many mint or cilantro leaves. The chopped almonds added a nice crunch to my lunch. I decided to go on a nice walk with Matilda to meet up with an old friend of mine for some serious catching up over some apple cider.

Did you guys know that Ina Garten absolutely hates cilantro? She refuses to use it in any of her recipes. So if you Googled the words cilantro and Ina Garten, you would come up with no recipe but rather information on how much she dislikes this herb. I use to not like cilantro either, but over time I guess you could say that it’s become an acquired taste.

Is there something any of you use to dislike, but have later come to appreciate?

None for you!

We headed back home before it got too dark and cold.

The colors of the leaves made everything have a shade of red.

My friend and I caught up on all our guy issues and reminisced over high school memories from 7 years ago. It’s crazy to think how time seems to be going by faster and faster. For time most part I just stay in the present, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with thoughts about my future and where I want to end up in life.

She gave me a wonderful gift she picked up while she was in Canada a few months ago.

I’m a sucker for packaging and this is just so darling!

Speaking of darlings, check out Katie’s generous giveaway. Moreover, don’t forget to stop by and read about the Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness.

Just a little cake humour on a Sunday!

I found this picture on the Serious Eats site and it’s called Osgood pie; perhaps because it’s “oh so good”.

Doubt your doubts

On Friday, I met up with my partner for our group project – she overslept and left early. I ended up making the entire powerpoint including cutting the clips for the different films. Then on presentation day the professor said our focus was not what he wanted (even though he never said what he wanted). Thank goodness I did my research though, so it wasn’t a big deal. However, my partner I guess didn’t inform herself of the subject she was going to present and she actually said, “excuse me Professor, but honestly we don’t have anything to say. So can we go next week?” Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? I ended up doing most of the talking, then I paused and asked her if she wanted to say anything, then she says into the mic, “yeah, I was going to say… when are you gonna let me say something?” – with the biggest attitude. I couldn’t believe her. But I’m glad that’s over with! So I didn’t get to really go to the First Friday Artwalk like I wanted to because I had to work on the powerpoint, but I did have to take Matilda on a walk. To my pleasure, the artwalk was still going on and Matilda got some free Texan smoked ribs. There was also farmer’s market out of a bus! What an awesome way to support local farms – too bad i left my wallet and camera at home.

Breakfast to give me brain power before my presentation!

I tried the plain Chobani flavor that morning. I am still loving the consistency of this yogurt! Can’t say much about the taste though, plain is plain. I had it with Zoe’s Granola, almonds, and mango chunks bits.

Anywho, after my Saturday class presentation ship sunk, I vented to my mom a bit and she made me feel better. I decided to take some “me” time to do whatever the heck I wanted to. I met up with a friend on an avenue with lots of monuments and a huge grass median. Then we went on a long leisurely bike ride and learned more about each other. She’s gone through a lot of the unusual college circumstances I’ve gone through, so it’s nice to have someone that can relate.

My bike is back in business and better than ever!

Windblown and wise?

That’s the “kangaroo pouch” I carry her in when we go on bike rides. She rides in style and she looks like a G with one paw out and bobbing her head.

After dinner, I ended up taking a nap (this is rare for me) to replenish myself before I went out to meet up with some of my favorite ladies.

I had a little snack before I left - Pomegranate Chobani!

I enjoyed this flavor Chobani as well. So far so good. Can I remind you all that Greek yogurt has a lot of protein! Just what I need. The consistency of this is creamier rather than whipped. Oh and I love pomegranate seeds, so biting into them wasn’t weird for me at all. My mom actually makes stir-fries with the seeds and it adds a tiny burst of flavor when you bite into one.

Before I headed out I spritzed some of my "ladylike" perfume on.

I have different perfumes for different moods. I use Prada Tendre when I want to embody the feeling of… “I am WOMAN!”

We went to Capital Ale House thinking they had some Oktoberfest celebration going on...

So we went to another bar... a sports bar?

Sports bars are not really my “scene”, but I really didn’t care because I was just happy to be with my friends.

Cocktails all around!

The next morning I got up when my body was ready – 9 am. I usually wake up before that, so when I saw what time it was I literally jumped out of bed!

Boo-berry!

Heyy it’s October, I can make those jokes if I want to.

BlueBran VitaTop, sliced banana, Blueberry Chobani, and the rest of my Artisana Pecan Butter jar.

At first I thought I would include some frozen berries, but then I thought… overkill? So I opted for a banana instead. Okay so, the Blueberry Chobani was also a winner! I just love yogurt – can you believe I hated it before? The consistency used to freaked me out. But then I tried Greek yogurt, and overtime I just got comfortable with other kinds too. The VitaTop was “meh”. It’s surprising that I’m not really digging the “Bran” VitaTops. And the Artisana Pecan Butter? Diiiivine! I really wish they had it in stores though! You hear that Artisana? I’m pretty sure if you guys put your nut butters on store shelves they would be best-sellers! I would spread the word – they’d think I’m a crazy fan. Well, I am!

Let’s see… now on to some snacks!

I'm not use to this kind of snack!

Okay, so my twelve year-old mind is giggling at this. This is the Kielbasa Tofurky sausage, I posted about it before. This time I squirted on some ketchup, Trader Joe’s organic sweet relish, their horseradish hummus, and some red onions. Yum! I wanted to get a better taste of the product itself. And I must say that I approve. Like I said before, I had really only tried veggiedogs before, but never any of the hefty sausages. I think I will buy these kinds from now on because whenever I have the veggiedogs I always need 2 or 3 at a time to feel satisfied. And with these, I’m fine with just one.

I had to laugh at this!

I tried the Chai Spice Kardea bar flavor. It looks like a mound of something because I over-heated it in the microwave. My bad! Nonetheless, it didn’t lose any of its delicious flavor. Yup, that’s right, Kardea did it again. It tasted like I was chewing a cup of chai tea. That sounds weird, but that’s the only way I can describe it. I swear, I have one more bar to try, and I’m looking forward to it. They haven’t let my tastebuds down thus far.

CranBran VitaTop

I’m just not a fan of the “Bran” variation. Well, I haven’t tried them all, so I can’t say that really. But yeah, I wasn’t too keen on this one either. I smeared some coconut oil on it hoping to make it taste better, and it worked. But the VitaTop itself? No bueno. Maybe it’s because I got use to the sweetness of their chocolate flavors, that I was expecting the same for these… just a more natural tasting sweetness.

Earlier today I wanted to go to the state fair, but then I realized how far it was! I looked at Matilda and she gave me that “look”. The one that makes me feel bad if I leave her alone. Hmm… what could we do?

Matilda and I went to the neighborhood I lived in 7 years ago.

They have lots of trails, and there are tons of trees. I didn’t encounter another person on the trails so it felt like a beautiful hideaway. While we were walking we did encounter some other four-legged friends though!

Why hello there!

Two superbly groomed poodles

This hyper dog was so hilarious to watch! He's jumping if you didn't notice.

Then I was in search of my favorite house in my old neighborhood. Matilda and I kept walking, and I wasn’t sure I would even remember where it was.

Snack break!

Uh... hello?

Okay, now I've got your attention.

Yummy!

High-five!

Here you go!

Pretending to have manners.

Puppy paws!!!!

Okay I've crossed overload territory... just a few more I promise!

Hehe she looks funny here.

-sniff sniff-

I think we're close!

There was a house on a hill...

... with a beautiful view.

I love it! I looked around to make sure no one saw me - maybe they'd think I was a private eye?

The front of the house has a neat design because you can see all the way through to the back.

Mission accomplished! I headed back and picked up a couple things from the store:

"Say hell-oh to my leetle friends."

Then I came home and made myself a silly dinner

Meet Barbarella.

She’s made of delicious Virginia grown gala apple slices, sultry appleseed eyes, onion-breath smile, sprouted hair that she accessorizes with pine nuts and parmesan. I’d say she has a tomato aura! Her prized possession is her Ak-mak fan that her boyfriend, Hommus, got from Armenia. Right before she rushed out of the house for her dinner plans, she remembered to put on some Honey Mustard dressing.

This may seem random, but I’d like to set aside some space to let you all know how incredible you are. When I first started reading blogs I was just a silent reader. Then one day I decided to make my own! I started out by just posting recipes I had done, but I felt like I wasn’t making any connections with people. One day I just decided to make my posts more inviting by actually putting my personality into them. From that point, I started to make new friends. I wanted to let you all know that you really mean a lot to me. I feel like I’m going to get all sappy here, but I really care about you all. Even if someone is MIA for a while I start to get worried, and then some days later they make a post and my worries are put to rest. When I read what you guys have to say I feel like I’m having a conversation. Sometimes I read about the days when one of you is feeling down and just plain not up for anything. It makes me sad to read those posts and I wish I could give that person a hug. But I know we all have those days, and it’s totally natural. And some of you put up honest and very personal posts, and those remind me that we’re all human – that’s a good thing! No one is perfect; perfection is a moving target. Then I read people’s responses and it warms my heart to see the compassion and care we all possess. It’s refreshing because in a world where people avoid making eye contact or even say hello, I don’t want to lose faith. I don’t really know where I’m going with this, but I just want to let you all know that you are all amazing; I often think to myself, “wow, these are people I admire, and they’re my friends.” So… this is going to be SUPER cheesy, but… you’ve got a friend in me!

Enjoy your week!

Part 4 and a Special Surprise

Alas, Part 4.

Sunday was our last day of our smooth sailing vacation.

Breakfast fit for a princess. I was going to say queen but I remembered that is Mom’s duty.

I also had a bowl of the best bircher muesli I’ve ever had! I enjoyed every spoonful of it.

I highly recommended the muesli to my dad!

He also got some egg dish I can’t remember what it was called. But it looked so cute!

After dinner we just walked around, but I was so tired. Tired from what?

I’m not sleeping, just resting my eyes hehe.

We were practically the first ones there that day.

My mom wanted to do a photoshoot on our last day. She loves the camera! It’s so funny though because once I put the pictures on the computer she starts complaining about how she looks. I guess we are our toughest critics, no? Because to me, I think she looks beautiful in her pictures.

I feel like I’m disrespecting my mom by putting this up. She didn’t like this picture, but I do!

Bahaha my mom insisted I take one like this.

These were taken at the little cove I told you guys about.

Afterwards we walked back to where we set up “camp”. Oh my goodness I think our last day was the hottest of them all! Or maybe it was just the longest amount of time we spent on the beach. The little time I spent out of the water, I was just wishing I could go back in. But I have to take breaks because I wear myself out with all the seashell searching I do in the ocean.

Covering my head with a fan. It seriously made it feel about 10 degrees cooler.

My mom didn’t want to leave, so we ended up staying later than planned. We had packed snacks, but snacks are not meals. We were all very hungry by the time we left the beach. Usually my mom gets super cranky if she’s hungry, but I think her beach time helped wind her down a lot. She wasn’t moody at all! On the way back to the hotel I decided to walk through the mangroves one last time.

Nature is such a wonderful thing.

I hope I didn’t scare anybody with that picture of the spider! When we got back from the beach we headed to Whole Foods before our short trip back home.

Back to reality? Not quite yet.

So what surprise did I find the other day? I found the (not so) elusive kabocha. It exists! I shelled out $1.50 per lb. for this Japanese pumpkin. I came this far, there’s no way I’d go back home empty handed. In the Asian market they also had some other interesting finds some of you other bloggers might appreciate. I saw a strange colored item for you Katie!

Agar agar! In yellow or green, which would you prefer?

So many teas.

But plenty of time, right Mitri?

So I was just perusing around, and almost tripped…

What the hey! Oh…  nevermind it’s YOU!

Hallelujah!

So I went to the check out and inside my head my jaw dropped when I payed about $6 for the kabocha. Oh well. I’ve been dying to try it.

So I joyfully brought the newborn back home.

I also got some rose green tea and a citrusy aloe vera drink.

Surprisingly I waited till the next day to cut the kabocha open.

The ominous chef’s knife mwahaha!

I got to try this in three different ways. I managed to cut this in to little cubes. I cut the whole squash and saved some for later, since I had the time and it’s convenient to just have things cut up already. I’m also saving the seeds to toast them. We use to do that with our pumpkin seeds. I remember taking them to the movies and just munching away.

In you go! I steamed the squash with cinnamon sticks.

I think I over steamed them… well not really. They were just very soft, and I could’ve probably made a mash out of them. I’ll do that next time. Have you guys ever tried mashed sweet potato – or mashed zucchini? The recipe for the mashed zucchini is so good! Epicurious.com is one of my favorite recipe sites.

So the first thing I decided to do with the squash was a simple addition of ground cinnamon. I packed it up along with some other things and brought it with me to meet up for lunch with my mom. I also packed some duck sauce, just in case. The duck sauce really didn’t do much actually. I think the flavor comes out more with crunchier things… like fried noodles!!! So good. I’ll post pictures of my little lunch meet-up with my mom, tomorrow. Anyway, the kabocha was delicious even by itself. It’s mildly sweet and I loved the soft texture from steaming it. By the way, if you steam the kabocha long enough you can eat the skin as well!

Now my creative juices started flowing when dinner time was creeping up. Hmm… what could possibly go well with kabocha, while keeping it’s Asian flair.

Then I came up with the idea of making a colorful salad!

I cooked my ingredients beforehand so I could keep them in the fridge long enough to cool down. So here’s what I did:

Steam the kabocha. Cook edamame. Cube mango. Refrigerate!

Then quickly before serving I toasted some unsweetened coconut shreds. I also whipped up a little dressing to go over it. I don’ have any measurements but I mixed together soy sauce, sugar, lemon juice, and rice vinegar. I definitely did not do equal parts. Just think about what flavors you want to come out, and taste as you go.

Alongside, I toasted some bakery bread and slathered it with avocado and tomato. You can never go wrong with avocado. This tasted very different! But definitely in a good way. There were so many uniquely juxtaposed flavors that surprisingly went well together. I had some leftovers for breakfast the next day. I won’t be sharing that till tomorrow!

I hope everyone enjoys their Friday! And since a lot of you will be traveling, stay safe!

The Art of Savoring

Thank you all for the compliments on my outfit! And I wish I could’ve shared the view with you guys. Pictures are kind of like sharing, right? Now here’s something for you to feast your eyes on:

I wanted to make something special with the little treasures I found the other day. I decided to start my day with a delicious bowl of overnight oats with the figs. I wanted to share the goodness so I made a bowl for my mom too! Aren’t they beautiful? Almost as beautiful as Eliza and Maya (thanks for the idea, girls). Now I can vouch for the brilliance of fresh figs in oatmeal. I was also inspired by the recipe for those yummy Sicilian fig cookies! Which meant that in this bowl I put in some golden raisins, lemon zest, vanilla extract, cinnamon, cloves, fresh figs, and honey. Since we didn’t have almonds on hand I thought, “hmm that just means I’ll have to use almond butter.” No complaints here! So refreshing and delightful to eat. In the middle of breakfast I decided to cut up a banana and mash it into my bowl. Bananas are never a bad choice in my book.

Grinding my own garam masala.

I find that when you grind your own spices the aroma comes out even more when you’re cooking. Freshly ground cinnamon wafting through the air is such a comforting smell. Everyone will keep asking you with eagerness “when’s dinner ready?”

I was inspired by my favorite dish at my favorite Indian restaurant, India K'raja.

The inspiration is a creamy mango sauce with homemade paneer and cooked with nuts and raisins. My take on it included paneer, pineapple, mango, freshly ground garam masala, and almond bits sprinkled on top. I wish I could’ve made more, but we were short on time and had to make due with what was in the house. Since we’re headed on our vacation today we didn’t want to overload on groceries for the week.

Butternut squash and vanilla risotto

I followed this recipe, and I must say – WOW! Every ingredient in this recipe made this dish perfection in my mouth. I realized I had forgotten the salt, thankfully the saltiness from vegetable stock was enough.

Colorful pasta!

I followed Katie’s alfredo sauce recipe but I added a bit of nutmeg to give it a little oomph. I also chose to make it with tofu rather than agar agar, since that’s what I had on hand. Katie, once again, two thumbs up! I love your creative recipes.

I had some leftover sauce so I figured I could mix it with the beets I roasted last night. This was my first attempt at roasting beets. It wasn’t hard, but it was messy! My fingers temporarily turned pink.

It looks funky! I also threw in some rosemary and a drizzle of honey.

Beets can't help but paint everything pink!

Everytime I eat or drink anything with beets I check my cheeks to see if they’re rosy. I swear if you include beets in your life (a lot of them), they are nature’s blush! It sounds like such an old wives tale, but I’d like to believe it.

What’s your favorite old wives tale?

So what’s with the title of this post? A lot of things have happened in my life that have made me take a step back and realize how precious it really is. Usually I don’t discuss my past (sounds like I’m a member of the mafia), but it seems somewhat appropriate right now. During my last week of high school, my boyfriend at the time, Chip, was killed by a fellow classmate. It was a terrible loss on so many people’s parts. Not just for the people who lost Chip, but also for the family and friends of the boy who took his life away. I’m a firm believer in the idea that things happen for a reason, even if it just straight up sucks. Anyway, that moment in my life led me to reevaluate a lot of things – reevaluating is something I think I do constantly, so it wasn’t a first. But I’ve never had someone that close to me pass away. I became very spiritual because I didn’t want to lose that connection I had with him. He was the first person I fell in love with, so it was hard to let go. Plus it’s too depressing to think that this life is it and there’s nothing afterwards. I’m not sure what the afterlife is all about, but I think there is one. I just remember the last time I saw him I was driving home and we happened to be driving next to each other. It was such a nice surprise. He was going to a meeting so we each went out separate ways. I would’ve never thought that waving him goodbye as he was making that left turn would be the last time I would see him. It just shows how life can be so fleeting. Rather than taking this as a “why me” experience in my life, I took it as more of a reason to appreciate life. It’s hard not to step outside and take a big deep breath, look up at the sky and smile at what’s around me. It’s hard to hush my laughter when I just want to burst! If I feel like dancing, I’ll dance. If I “just don’t feel like it”, I honor that feeling as well. So I guess where I’m getting at is that an important part of life for me is to savor the moment. Life should be good, but sometimes things happen, and these things are a part the journey too. Live and learn, and make the best of it.

He was the kind of person who could do something ordinary in a million different ways. I noticed the patches of grass made a smiley face!

On a lighter note, I know I’ll be making the best of it while I’m away on vacation. I’m excited to give up daily responsibilities, but I’m going to miss Matilda. This is the first time me and the family will all be separated from her. Thankfully, a family friend of ours offered to take care of her while we’re gone. It’s reassuring to me because it’s hard for me to trust people to take care of her. She’s like my little baby.

What are some of the precious things you all savor?

Terra Incognita

So many have you been trying out the lovely Emily’s Pbu recipe. I have yet to try it, but it sounds delicious! And some have been making an “Abu” version… I can’t help but think that it’s pronounced like Aladdin’s monkey! Anyhow, I found another recipe that some of you may enjoy: homemade almond “nutella”. This one is definitely more decadent, but we all have room for decadence in our lives! Especially in the form of something yummy.

Now on to other matters. Remember how I made Katie’s 24-Carrot Gold recipe? Well, I decided to make a batch of muffins the other day and I added in some extras. Oh say… some orange juice, ginger, and a splash of amaretto!

I wanted to share the goodness, so I went to visit my best friend at work to bring her a special delivery. But before I went out I had to get dressed!

I decided that a proper delivery girl should wear a skirt from my favorite store! Apparently I was too lazy to iron.

I also put on the colorful earrings I made.

A pair of new shoes to get me through my errands.

Then I was off to make the delivery!

I wish I had fancy handwriting skills.

Looking extra sassy with some lip color!

She texted me later saying she loved the muffins! I packed four for her family, but she ate most of them haha. But this is a compliment because that means they were that good. Oh! How could I forget what I promised in my last post?

I had some slices of carrot bread as part of my breakfast the other day!

One slice has coconut oil and the other is topped with almond butter. Ahh! Ants seem to have gotten on them, but I didn’t let them ruin this picnic. No, I just ate them! I also made a parfait – inspired by this lovely lady – with layers of yogurt, blackberries, and apple butter topped off with muesli. Look at those strawberries! They look like they might just burst like Violet in Willy Wonka.

What else could I do with the leftover pulp? I decided to try to make an Indian-inspired dish called Gajar ka halwa. I made a less sweet version though, since I didn’t really want to make a dessert.

I included bits of paneer, roasted cashews, raisins, and a bit of coconut oil.

Carrots for breakfast?

I made a bowl of oats mixed in with the pulp. I really liked the halwa dish so I made a similar version by adding a dash of cardamom and coconut oil. The pulp made this bowl of oats double in size! It was an amazing feeling having that huge bowl of oats all for myself. What’s that on the side? I baked a persimmon with cinnamon and put a dollop of yogurt on top.

I finished another book!

There are so many excerpts I want to share with you guys! But I’ll leave you with at least one:

I don’t think it’s merely willpower that makes you able to do something. The world isn’t that simple.To tell the truth, I don’t even think there’s that much correlation between my running every day and whether or not I have a strong will. I think I’ve been able to run for more than twenty years for a simple reason: It suits me.

Yesterday was an incredibly hot day, and I was lounging around outside. I probably shouldn’t have been because I had a headache. I’m pretty sure I was experiencing the side effects from the medication I was on while I had to do my five-day test. Thank goodness that’s over! Anyway, I knew I wanted to make something fresh for lunch. Not too long ago I had found a recipe that sounded perfect for intense heat and a hungry tummy.

Mango and Avocado Salad was the star of my lunch.

Afterward, I took Matilda to the dog park. It was muggy outside and she didn’t want to leave my side! I don’t blame her though because the other dogs there were all misbehaving. I don’t understand why people bring their dogs to the park if they can’t keep an eye on them. There was one crazy dog that put Matilda on her back and started harassing her. She didn’t like that all and she froze. It was shocking and I quickly picked Matilda up and walked away. I was really annoyed and I couldn’t believe that happened. I tried finding a telephone number for the park to complain because the rules should be enforced. I’m all about dogs being able to rome free and play around, but when an animal is violent towards another – it’s a different story. Anyway, Matilda calmed down and I snapped a few pictures before we left.

Sitting pretty

It almost looks like a horse ring!

Well, it seems like many of you have a lot of exciting plans for the long weekend. The family and I were going to go on a beach get-away to the other coast, but we’re postponing it till next weekend. I can’t wait! It’ll be so nice to wake up and have the beach right in front of us. My parents live about 20 minutes away from the beach here, but the beaches on the other side of Florida are so beautiful. Picture sandy white beaches, a calm ocean, barely a soul there. I love the ocean. Actually, not too long ago I went skinny-dipping in the ocean and it was one of the most liberating feelings! It was so nice to just be free and not feel self-conscious about anything. The body is an amazing thing. Yet so many fight against it, rather than love and appreciate it. Appreciation is a hard thing to do sometimes. Often times I find myself getting wrapped up in little worries like dirty dishes, planning ahead, “what if someone doesn’t like me?” But then I look around and those worries are hushed to nothing but a white noise. Not only am I blessed with what I already have, but I am also grateful for the endless possibilities this world offers! There are so many things to try. Terra incognita – unknown land, and there’s so much of it! That’s one of the great things about life is that it can be full of wonder. It all depends on how you look at it.

One of my favorite days ever.

Now ending on a sweet note:

A chocolate covered macadamia... poop ball!

I couldn’t help it!

Breakfasts Fit for Royalty

As I’m sitting here typing this I’m enjoying a nice cup of French vanilla coffee with a splash of vanilla almond milk while it’s pouring outside. I usually don’t drink coffee, so this is a treat! I’m actually glad it’s raining because that’ll help make the temperatures more bearable. I can’t believe I rode my bike to store yesterday in 100+ degree weather. It actually didn’t feel that hot though. Anyway, I think this is the perfect time to share some wonderful breakfast creations I’ve been making. Of course they involve oats and a some granola too!

What the heck those oats are yellow!

Gingery Bango Oats

  

1/2 cup oatmeal (or more)

1 cup liquid (water, milk, milk alternative)

1 scoop banana protein powder (I used Spiru-tein)

1 cup mango chunks

1 Tbl crystallized ginger

1. Boil the cup of water, milk, what have you. Stir in the protein powder. That’s when the yellow kicks in!

2. Once it has reached it’s boiling point, stir in the oats. Now stir every once in awhile until the oats are done cooking.

3. Serve and mix in the mango chunks and crystallized ginger.

Oatmeal a la Heather.

I opted for frozen mango chunks!

Heather’s wonderful idea: using the jar as a bowl for a final farewell to Barney. I definitely wanted to get as much of out of this $10 jar of almond butter as I could. The love affair was amazing while it lasted, but Barney is too high maintenance for me! I think I’d prefer a simpler man who doesn’t want to go on such expensive dates.

So tropical!

Mango and banana make an awesome crime fighting team. Hungry stomachs around the world, beware!

Such a refreshing breakfast with a cup of green tea.

A yummy bowl of Hemp Bliss Granola, strawberries, and plain yogurt. I always start out my day with a cup of green tea.

I love the colorful bottle.

The white peach slices make for a beautiful presentation!

Peach and Banana Oats infused with Rose Water

1/2 cup oatmeal (or more)

1 cup liquid (water, milk, milk alternative)

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 sliced peach

1/2 sliced banana

Sliced Almonds

Splash of Rose Water

1. Boil the cup of water, milk, what have you with the protein powder.

2. Once it has reached it’s boiling point, stir in the oats.

3. Serve and mix in the peach and banana slices, and the rose water. Then sprinkle the almonds on top.

 

I saved the best for last! I'll call this delectable creation Ginger Cherry-Almond Oats

Ginger Cherry-Almond Oats

1/2 cup oatmeal (or more if you’re hungry)

1 cup liquid (water, milk, milk alternative)

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional but if you omit this then add in 1 tsp vanilla extract)

Smidge sweetner of choice (I used stevia)

Sliced Almonds

1 cup cherries (I used frozen to cool the oatmeal down)

1 Tbl crystallized ginger

1. Boil the cup of water, milk, what have you. Stir in the protein powder, almonds, and sweetener.

2. Once it’s boiling stir in the oats. You know the drill!

3. When it’s done cooking, serve in your favorite bowl and mix in the cherries and crystallized ginger.

Note: You guys don’t have to use protein powder, but since I need to make sure I’m getting enough protein I include it. It makes for a much creamier and thicker oatmeal.

 

 

Look at my make-shift bookmark! Noticed the empty bowl in the background?

 

 

I finished reading Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami. I’ve heard a lot about this author and this was my first book of his that I’ve read. The only japanese literature I’ve read are poems and proverbial stories. I’m not sure if his style is typical of contemporary Japanese authors, but I definitely enjoyed the book. I can only imagine all the books he’s read and experiences he’s had because the imagery and language in his writing is wonderful! I’ve been trying to do a lot of summer reading. Actually, I want to read more in general. I know that during my semesters it’s hard to read a book that’s not required for classes, but I’ve managed to. However, I know I could read more. The imagination grows the more one reads. I know I sound like a total nerd, but I’m all about never losing my imagination. I think it’s more important than preserving my skin! But I think my mom would disagree.

Anybody have any book recommendations?

Here’s a song you guys can dance around your room to and pretend you’re a rockstar!

St. Vincent – Actor out of work