How Do You Feel?

A silly question to ask if you guys like chickpeas, but hey, you never know! Some of you told me your favorite dishes and they sounded so good. The broccoli, chickpea, and sun-dried tomato dish sounded especially delicious! I’ve been loving sun-dried tomatoes lately, and I think crumbling cashews in that mix would be it for me! Yummy.

I recently came across a real purple sweet potato recently. I’ve gotten purple sweet potatoes thinking they’d be purple on the inside, but it is their skins that are rather purple and the insides are yellow (Japanese sweet potatoes). But this time I found what I had been looking for, and I wasn’t even looking for it then. Funny how that is sometimes. Actually, that’s one reason why I don’t worry about things.

Aha, purple indeed.

Speaking of potatoes (how often do I get to say that?), if you want to have your head go wild with imaginings then I think you should go check out The Peculiar Potato. Spuds, go forth!

A vegetable stir-fry with Shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, purple sweet potato, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds.

Then I chopped up some green onions to make it taste a little less earthy aka like the ground.

It’s funny how I say earthy when it’s all food from this earth.

But even food from this earth can be bursting with lively flavors; take oranges for example.

There are no oranges in this recipe though, but this definitely has lively flavors going on.

I made Brendan Brazier’s recipe for “Dino Kale Wraps.” Lately, before my meals at home I’ve been really going along with what types of foods I want considering the feelings I want to get from them. Sometimes I’ll feel like I want to feel more grounded or cozy, and I’ll have something rich,warm, or smoky. Other times I want to be able to jump after I eat. I think you know what I mean.

This is a “jump after I eat” type of meal for me!
Doesn’t it make you want to jump?

Angharad’s adaptation of Moosewood’s Thai Salad  is a prime example actually. It’s got zesty lime juice, crispy tofu, sweet cold crunch from the red bell pepper and romaine, and the spicy creamy peanut dressing.

Now here’s a recipe that doesn’t look very lively, but it will have your taste buds dancing!

 I got this recipe from a friend I made at one of the themed potlucks I went to when I lived in Richmond. The theme for that one in particular was “keep cool”–you can imagine everyone was thinking of that on those hot summer days.

As soon as I tasted this soup I exclaimed at how delicious it was! And before my friend left I made sure to write down the ingredients. He was trying to clear out his kitchen before he was leaving for Maine so this soup might inspire you to make a something with random leftovers you may have, like rice! Since there’s no official name for the soup I’m just going to call it…

A Taste of Everything Soup Recipe by Brandon

It’s quite a long list, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the ingredients. This is a very loose recipe, so you’re just gonna have to go with your senses and estimate what you think seems right.

Ingredients

-Diced tomatoes

-Coconut milk (I used a can)

-Green lentils, cooked

-Rice, cooked

-Vegetable Stock

-Onions, chopped

-Garlic, minced

-Jalapeno, minced

-Zucchini, chopped

-Sriracha, to taste

-Honey

-Vegenaise

-Almond milk

-Shredded coconut, unsweetened

-Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Bring the coconut milk to a simmer and cook the tomatoes for a bit. Then mix in rice, and green lentils. Add the appropriate amount of vegetable stock by the kind of consistency you want for the soup. I like my soups thicker so I didn’t add too much liquid. Pour into blender, and blend. Leave that in the blender since you’re going to be adding more ingredients to it.

2. Saute the onions, garlic, and jalapeno. Then throw in the zucchini to cook. Once the vegetables are cooked throw them in the blender with the mix that’s already in there.

3. Then add the sriracha, honey, Vegenaise, shredded coconut, and almond milk if needed. Blend well. Lastly, taste the soup and decide how much salt and pepper you’d like to add, or if you want to add any at all.

This soup can be enjoyed warm or chilled.

Do you pay attention to how certain things you eat or do can leave you feeling afterwards?

An Italian Love Affair

Oh my gosh guys I don’t know where to start! So I will start with Sunday, the day I got back from Florida.

But first, I’m so glad you guys enjoyed Maggie’s post. She’s such a sweet person with a killer sense of taste, creativity, and style!

*Warning* This post has tons of pictures!

My dad flew up with me and we went the an Asian market.
My dad flew up with me and we went the an Asian market.
We got some things to try... well I could only try the black bean pastries. Delicious nonetheless!
We got some things to try… well I could only try the black bean pastries. Delicious nonetheless!
My stomach has been in a funk so for dinner I stuck to something comforting.
My stomach has been in a funk so for dinner I stuck to something comforting.

I just heated up some soymilk and mixed in a pack of Uncle Sam’s cinnamon raisin instant oatmeal with soymilk. I threw in a couple more raisins into my bowl. On the side I had mashed kabocha with a little sample size of coconut oil that the folks over at Artisana generously sent me. This actually tasted better than the coconut oil I usually use. However, I’m content using the one I have (not to mention I just got a new jar of it).

Monday breakfast!
Monday breakfast!

Cranberry cinnamon swirl toast! A topped one slice with Artisana macadamia nut butter, and the other with cream cheese + some more dried cranberries. On the side I tried some of Trader Joe’s European style yogurt with a spoonful of Crofter’s superfruit spread. I loved the consistency and taste of this plain yogurt! It wasn’t too tart at all. Oof that macadamia nut butter is so good.

Ugh stomach was still upset.
Ugh stomach was still upset.

But I opened up a jar of my favorite BBQ sauce. How awesome is the name? I also got to try another Sunshine Burger thanks to the freebie coupons they sent me. This time I picked out the original Sunshine Burger. No joke, this is the best vegetarian burger I’ve tried! This one is definitely not bland and you can taste the carrots in it too! I just put some vegan mayo and BBQ sauce on top. I had a bite without anything and my initial reaction was WOW. I seriously could eat this thing plain.

Oh! I also got a pretty new water bottle.
Oh! I also got a pretty new water bottle.
The right way to get a Monday started.
The right way to get my hell day, Tuesday, started.

This time I boiled some soymilk and poured it in with a packet of Nature’s Path Maple Nut oatmeal. Awhile ago they sent me a more than generous package. This was so good! Such a great tasting bowl of oatmeal for a cold morning. I also chopped in some dates, crumbled a bit of a Cranberry Apple Boomi Bar, swirled in Artisana macadamia nut butter. Once again, the macadamia nut butter was excellent with the Maple Nut oats. On the side I heated an apple up because I didn’t want anything cold. Then it was off to go to my 6-hour sculpture class. Good news? The morning part of class was cancelled. And what did that mean?

Ran some errands with Matilda.
Ran some errands with Matilda.
One awesome oldie and a few new goodies!
One awesome oldie and a few new goodies!

I got a purple sweet potato at the Asian market on Sunday. Ever since I’ve seen them on April’s blog I’ve been wanting to try one! I got Scuppernongs for my dad as well. I saw that butternut squash was on sale I definitely put them in my basket. Funny story with the white acorn squash actually. I thought it was also on sale and when I saw it wasn’t, I wanted to cancel the item. Then when the cashier assistant came over he said he’d give it to me for the sale price. Then he kept typing in the wrong keycode and after another try he just said, “here you can just have it.” Cool! Then I went to pick up my prescription and they gave me a freebie package and an entry to win $1,000! Double whammy!

I made an interesting hummus for lunch.
I made an interesting hummus for lunch.

Chickpeas + Brewed Mustard + Agave + EVOO + Pumpkin Butter = That up there!

Bah! Tummy ache go away. But atleast it tasted yummy right?
Bah! Tummy ache go away. But atleast it tasted yummy right?

Then it was time to go to the second half of my sculpture class.

My studio!
My studio!

I want to go to the different shop areas they have in the Fine Arts building and take pictures so you guys can see!

I spy something yummy.
I spy something yummy.
Okay... so my belly was still in a funk but I couldn't wait any longer!
Okay… so my belly was still in a funk but I couldn’t wait any longer!

I had all the ingredients to make Mitri’s mother’s baked ziti recipe. That’s right folks! And I was making it for me and my dad.

Boiled pasta!
Boiled pasta!
Mixing some of the ingredients together.
Mixing some of the ingredients together.
Layering
Layering

In the mean time while it was baking I had to distract myself. I usually get impatient with things that require baking because I don’t really have to do anything. So I made tutorial of how to eat a scuppernong.

Pop the pulp out!

Pop the pulp out!
Dig for seeds!
Dig for seeds!

Ding! Okay I think the ziti is ready!

Yup! So worth the wait.
Yup! So worth the wait.
And now presenting Mitri's mother's baked ziti, folks!
Ladies and gentlemen, and now presenting Mitri’s mother’s baked ziti!
Buon Appetito!
Buon Appetito!

So I have quite the treat for you guys next post. I’ll give you hint: I have been testing my patience with more baking. And here’s an interesting fact for all you fall lovers out there. Did you know that pumpkin is actually a fruit?

p.s. candy corn devotees out there here’s a DIY recipe!