A Way To Start The Day

I reminded Matilda of how lovable she is…

"What else did you expect?"

This is true.. I should also note that Matilda is no ordinary dog. No, I have to lure her with treats to go out for walks, and she doesn’t settle for just any kind of food, toy, or other dog. She can also eat an entire bar of dark chocolate without repercussions. Lucky her, but I don’t want to go through the experience of the latter again.

And definitely not with this pot of chocolate.

When I came across Ashley’s recipe for ‘Chocolate Coconut Fudge Sauce‘, I went to the store to fetch some coconut milk to make it later that day. The coconut milk was incredibly thick, so I knew this was going to be a yummy, decadent affair.

Chocolate-dipped strawberry?

Yes, please. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this jar was nearly empty by the end of the morning.

Since it’s Friday and the weekend is beginning, I thought I’d share some breakfast ideas with you.

Katie’s ‘Deep-Dish Cookie Pie‘

It's very moist on the inside and crusty along the edges.

Some people like their cookies crunchy all the way through, but I like to have a little bit of both worlds. Something that will melt in my mouth, but with a crunch my teeth I have to bite through first.

Topped with goat's milk yogurt and berries, and a cup of green tea.

I'm going to tell you a little secret...

This cookie pie is mostly made with beans! Red bean cakes anyone?

Around the table for a more traditional breakfast

When It Actually Works Out

Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday I poached an egg. As far as I can recall, I don’t think I had ever eaten a poached egg before yesterday. I just heard that it was a great way to enjoy them. Yes, I am joining Melissa’s club for the egg obsessed.

At first I thought to myself,

“Oh, I will use a small saucepan so I can use it to heat up the cheese sauce I made the other night. That way I won’t have to do as many dishes.”

Then as I was creating a whirlpool for the egg, water kept spilling out and hissing on the burner. That’s when I thought I had messed up, but I already started and you know… I don’t want more dishes to do! So I continued. Then I was pouring the egg from the dish into the hot water. According to the “how-to’s” on how to poach an egg, it is directed to not dump the whole egg in at once. Well, I tried to follow directions, but the egg just canon balled into the pan. Plop! First, this magnificence happened.

via Instagr'am

If I didn’t mess up before, then I definitely failed my first egg poaching attempt at that moment. Or so I thought. I thought a lot of things during the whole process, didn’t I? Anyway, I carried on. I tried to keep the egg intact, and safely above the bottom of the pan. To my surprise and excitement it was turning out! First egg poaching attempt was a success.

It was quite the little polite egg

As my dear friend and design extraordinaire, Marleigh, pointed out!

Minding its p's and q's

Pints and quarts of what?!

Then it was time for the revealing...

Who knew what I would find inside? A prize. Yes, to me it was a prize. My stomach was growling while I was snapping photos, but I had to document these moments first. I’m not sure how long it took me to eat lunch yesterday, but I know I took my sweet time.

Also, the other night we had some guests over for dinner.

Meet the Tomatoes!

No Cooking In The Kitchen

Hello, hello my dear friends! First off, I’d like to remind you to enter my Nasoya Tofu giveaway before the end of the day, which you can do right here.

Awhile back I was having the pleasure of consistently going out to eat in the city of New York. I’m telling you… I don’t think there’s a single person that has ever dined at all the restaurants the city has to offer. Especially because there are new ones popping up all the time, literally (i.e. pop-up restaurants).  And before you know it they vanish the same way they seemed to come out of nowhere. On this particular day I did not go to one of those restaurants, but rather an establishment. I say establishment because it’s pretty well-known in the raw foodists community. I think it’s nice to have a place that offers a wide raw-vegan selection in an ambiance beyond bright cafes adorned with shelves of wheat grass and bamboo. Maybe some of you can guess where I went that day.

Pure Food & Wine for lunch with a dear friend

I started out with a 'Hot Pink' juice

It’s made with beet, pineapple, pear, ginger. My parents would make juices regularly with beets, but I had never tried it with pineapple and pear.

Sushi rolls – marinated shiitake, avocado, asparagus, red pepper, jicama rice, nama shoyu

Lisa commented in the last post about not being able to eat rice anymore, which reminded me of this! If you can’t find jicama, cauliflower works as well. It’s got a similar texture, and all you have to do is shred it. I’ve actually been doing that for my deconstructed sushi bowls lately, and even when I recently made a stir-fry. Just make sure it’s shredded!

Taco Salad – romaine lettuce, spicy taco crumble, pico de gallo, guacamole, cashew sour cream, cilantro-lime dressing

I enjoyed this salad a lot! The cashew sour cream had me curious as to how they made it. It was blended to creamy perfection, and tasted reminiscent of sour cream. All of the flavors together made for a lively tasting dish.

Falafel with tabhouli – over whole romaine leaves or tossed with greens, lemon tahini, red pepper hot sauce

My friend is from Israel and says his friend makes the best falafel in town, so he wanted to see if this one was up to par. It was also his first time trying anything raw-vegan so I knew he’d be in for a little surprise.

Portabella and hempseed burger – sprouted manna bread, lapsang tea smoked cashew cheese, house made mustard, pickled pink onions, caraway kraut

It was such a little delight to look at... and eat!

I enjoyed the combination of the fermented, salty taste with the cooling pungency of the mustard, and biting into the incredibly dense bread. This burger is small, but no complaints here. I knew how dense it would be, and anything bigger would just be unnecessary to feel satisfied. And boy was I satisfied. My dining partner also underestimated how filling the food would be.

Dinner with No Reservation

Recently, old pictures of friends in New York have been like a treat in postcard form.

At that time my friend had just gotten back from Shanghai and she brought back so many surprises! It was also the first sleepover I’d had in what felt like ages.

A "Milk Collection"--yummy!

Since I’ve been back in Florida I’ve been contemplating many things, and a few of those things are the idea of aspirations, one-way track living, and what matters. Some have aspirations to start a family, or meet that someone special. Some want to see policies change, and some are career driven. There are some who just want to be a better person, or as I like to say… a more realized self. Because my idea of “better” may be different from yours, so where’s the good and bad in that? No where.

Anyway, I’m at a point in my life where most of my friends are getting engaged, married, starting their careers, or even going back to school. Then there are those that are pursuing more unconventional aspirations by going to artist residencies, going on long journeys in different hemispheres, or being entrepreneurs and starting from scratch. But that’s what other people are doing. What am I doing? It’s not until I tell people about my life and someone gets confused about the timeline and events, that I realize that my life and family may seem unconventional. But we never think about it like that because in reality we’re not. Just in a person’s perception. Life does not exist in boxes, nor in a telescope. It’s funny how we are existing on one planet and everything from the atmosphere to the reason why your hair is falling out are related to something, which are related to something else. Then there’s the greater universe, and somehow that thought makes me think of how insignificant some things really are. Those things that disappear from our minds, and who knows… maybe they exist in a way that stars are a vision of the past. But why do things matter? Aside from survival being an instinct, I think things matter because it helps us feel like we live for something. A reason. Somethings matter so much that we’d die for it. I once asked myself that I know that I would die for someone, but would I walk 5,000 miles for them? I’d probably walk 5,000 miles just to walk. You know when you don’t have a reason for doing something, but there’s something inexplicable within you that is compelled? The kinds of things that have no answer when someone asks you, “why?” That’s been most of my guiding inspiration throughout life, and maybe it can be hard to understand. So that’s what I’m doing.

But here’s something a little less wordy, and easy on the eyes.

My dad definitely knows I like to try new things, and he does too.

I hadn't heard of wild red rice until that point.

I love the idea of wild rice invading rice fields.

Yes, there's a little patty hiding under the slices of coastal cheddar.

Sometimes I look through recipes based on what I already have. Most of the time I don’t want to have to go out and buy an ingredient (unless it’s a fruit or vegetable… then I don’t care). I wanted a recipe that would get me to use hemp seeds in a new way, so when I found this one for Hemp Burgers–I marked it. I didn’t realize the recipe called for herb seasoned stuffing until I was ready to make it. These were my options a) buy seasoned stuffing–which I would rarely use b) make stuffing from the loaf of bread I didn’t have or c) improvise and use rice! The only reason the stuffing was in the recipe in the first place was to act as binder, so I figured if I just ran the rice through the food processor it would work. And it did!

Don't be shy little burger.

I wanted to make the loaf version of 'Cinnamon Fantails' for a dinner party I hosted awhile ago...

Alas, I wasn’t able to because I was running late with everything that day, but I decided to make it the next day. “I’m sorry, you arrived late and the guests are all gone!” This turned out to look like an edible version of the Grand Canyon. I realized later on why. I was suppose to bake it exposing the layers right side up, but who cares?

So what’s this you heard about a dinner party the night prior?

Mindful Eating

To some of you this place may look familiar, but if this is a strange land…

I paid the well-known Angelica Kitchen a little visit awhile ago. This vegan establishment has been up and running since 1976, and gets credit for being mindful in aspects going beyond conscious food. They recognize the environmental and economic impact we [can] make, and incorporate that into their overall approach.

We ordered their “special appetizer”: Agrarian Salgado

“Baked rounds of mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and herbed seitan, with a parsley-almond pesto center; topped with dill-tofu sour cream & garnished with piquant marinated kale.”

This is called a “special appetizer” because:

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”

Why hello there, friends! It’s been quite some time since my last post, hasn’t it? I’m starting to feel a little more settled now here in New York. Things have been a rollercoaster to say the least. The kind with plenty of climbs and drops–stomach in your mouth kind of drops. That’s about the best blanket statement I can come up with to keep from writing a short story. Maybe I’ll do that as a side project! Actually, aside from my full-time job I’ve got a few side projects up my sleeve. Since my last post a few exciting things have happened. The iPad magazine I write for finally launched! So all of you readers with iPads out there, I highly suggest you check out “JNSQ“! It’s the first independent, multimedia style magazine for iPad. I don’t have an iPad (yet) so I haven’t had the chance to see it in action. If you do download it, don’t forget to write a review! We’d love to know your feedback.

I’m also in the process of revamping a menu for a cafe! It’s a funny story how it happened, but it was in typical New York fashion. Let’s just say that I talk a lot, which has led me to some pretty awesome opportunities. Open attitude + friendly people… that combination can lead to many things!

Now let’s see what food combinations can lead to…

Arame seaweed + tofu + radish + carrots + sesame oil 

Arame + rice + rice vinegar + carrots + sweet potato + cucumber + radish + pickled ginger + avocado + sesame oil and seeds

 I thought of what I would put in my ideal sushi roll and just served it as a sushi bowl.

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?

Celebrating in New York Part 1

Thank you all for sharing your insight on hormones, and how some of you are also becoming more attuned to them. It’s funny how in the Western world many just pay attention to the symptoms rather than the root–the foundation. In the end, I believe that everything is connected anyhow, so it’s important to be good to yourself overall. For instance, when I was in New York there were some nights I was falling asleep as the sun was rising. I usually wake up at a certain time no matter how late I fall asleep. That was the case some nights and I’d get a couple hours of sleep. Then one day I slept till noon, which is very rare for me. About as rare as finding a wedding band over by the shopping carts at a grocery store (happened to me once when I was little). Anyway, I’ve been trying to get the rest my body needs. Surprisingly, if you’re body is functioning efficiently it won’t need that many hours of rest. Maybe rest isn’t a good word because our minds are very active while we sleep. How else can we come up with those crazy dreams?!

Dreaming of Green Tea Kit Kats

These were so delicious! I normally don’t like Kit Kat bars, but my friend brought these back from Japan and offered a pack for me to try. These were creamy and reminded me of white chocolate.

She also brought back red bean rice cakes, which were also very tasty.

The next day I went out for a run and got to know Brooklyn a little better. One thing that I love about running is that I discover a lot of neat spots, and helps me orient myself when I’m traveling. My sense of direction no matter where I go is something I am thankful for. The Katharina-model comes with a GPS built inside!

For dinner I went to Blossom with two mystery guests…

Guess who I got to have dinner with!

Maya decided to take an impromptu whirlwind trip to New York City, and luckily we were both in town at the same time! I also got to meet her good friend Max! I was definitely in great company that night.

I ordered the Porcini Cigars.

These were “hand-rolled phyllo filled with porcini mushrooms, almonds, and ground tempeh, served over a cashew pesto, finished with pomegranate seeds.” I don’t think I saw pomegranate seeds, but they did have sliced almonds. Maybe they were out of the seeds? The filling for the phyllo rolls reminded me of sausages, but I thought the dish was a tad too salty for my taste. Although I did enjoy biting into the flaky phyllo crust and spooning on as much of the cashew pesto as I could into one bite.

I took a picture with flash just to capture how awesomely green the cashew pesto was!

I also ordered the Field Greens salad

This was a salad of “greens tossed with candied walnuts, tofu croutons, and grilled pears in a shallot  vinaigrette.” I did like how the salad was dressed and the tofu croutons were a nice addition. I don’t know where the candied walnuts were though. Maya ordered the same salad and she also noted something about the missing candied walnuts.

After dinner we walked Maya to the bus station after dinner.

The first day already filled with excitement!

Later on I went bar hopping and ended up at a place where they do karaoke. The list was full by the time we got there. Alas, I couldn’t relive my last karaoke moment all the way back in high school. For the record I sang “Fat Bottomed Girls”.

While I was in New York I was able to use a kitchen and whip up tasty salads to help beat the summer heat.

There was always a supply of kabocha at the nearby market, which is open 24-hours! Actually, my first night in New York I went grocery shopping at 4 am.

I’ve also warmed up to tofu recently.

It is possible to make it tasty, and there’s no denying its convenience.

Spotted a crazy bike lock that looked like a giant clock mechanism.

Ricotta cheese for breakfast

Remember the ricotta cream pillows I’d top my oatmeal with? That morning I just toasted some bread and topped each slice with ricotta cheese, almonds, cinnamon, and honey.

Something else I spotted at the nearby market.

Reunited with a childhood favorite (these were on sale for 99 cents!)!

Fourth of July was spent on a rooftop overlooking the west side.

Fireworks!

They were so beautiful.

Everyone looked like ghosts.

I love seeing how each city in America has their own way of celebrating the Fourth of July. I’ve seen fireworks over beaches, parks, fields, lakes, and now skylines.

Eventually we made our way to a bar… specifically for their tacos!

That night was also when I met fellow food blogger, Mike! It was so awesome talking to him and hearing his thoughts on things. It’s not often that you can talk about things you think about with blogging with someone in real life that actually knows what you’re talking about. You guys should check out his blog! He had so many food adventures in New York. Not to mention he’s a blader. How awesome is that?

They ordered different kinds of tacos.

On another day we headed to Rockaway Beach, and stopped by their famous taco hut.

It was such a nice day!

With all these taco trucks and huts around I decided to make some of my own.

Let’s take a breather, shall we? I could keep going, but I’ll give your eyes a rest. So stay tuned for the next recap of my stay in New York!

Do you think dreams have a deeper meaning?

Treats with Thought

Greetings Earthlings. I’ll be announcing the “Must Have Been Something I Ate” giveaway at the end. Now today’s post is one that I’ll get into without further ado!

Awhile ago I was given the opportunity to sample and review Smart Treat’s, well, treats! My mom and her mom’s side of the family have a history of digestive issues and such so alternative foods have peaked my interest since I can remember. I can only empathize with my mom when she can’t have pasta at an Italian restaurant because she knows what will happen to her digestive system afterwards. But I believe that whatever sensitivities you may have, you can still enjoy delicious tasting food! That’s where Smart Treat comes in. I usually keep an eye out for gluten-free foods to share with my mom, and when I stumbled upon Smart Treat’s site while on a search for ‘banana granola recipes’ I was intrigued. Their treats are wheat-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free with some vegan and nut-free options.

Chip of Everything cookies

These cookies have chocolate chips, raisins, and nuts! They also had a nice texture–not too dry, or super chewy. My mom enjoyed these as well! There have been times in my life where I temporarily had to give up something (sadly, recently it is my new allergy to eggplant). However, I’d rather think about what you can have instead of what you can’t. So I imagine for someone like my mother, who has sensitivities to gluten, she wouldn’t have to think about missing out on classic cookies. In this case, classic cookies all rolled into one.

Behold, the Peanut Brittle Chocolate Samich

This was basically a nutty brittle used as the “bread” and semi-sweet chocolate as the filling. What a genius idea!

I took the rest of it to class and I couldn’t help but think everyone was jealous of the deliciousness I was eating.

This was a recipe that I think Bonnie probably conjured up in her kitchen because I didn’t see this item on their site. The only thing I’d say is that there could be a wee bit more chocolate, but this was still great! I can only dream of having another one of these delicious samiches until… hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

Apricot Raspberry Krispie Bar

These were reminiscent of the Rice Krispies bars my friends would tote around, but with a fruity twist. The raspberry part tasted so interesting to me and seemed to be laced into every rice crisp. I took a look at the ingredient list to see what it was and raspberry fruit spread was on the list! My brain started imagining all of the things I could incorporate fruits spreads into. The apricot bits added a taste of tartness, and kept this from being an overly-sweet treat. Overly-sweet things make me cringe. I like the sweetness to be just so.

Nutty Brittle Bar

FYI, the brittle “bread” in that sandwich earlier? That’s what this is! Sooo good! The texture was awesome, and it reminded me of those clusters that I love in granola. Yes, these could easily crumble, but still into big pieces so you can have a satisfying bite. You could taste the spices and subtle sweetness, along with crunchy sunflower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and almonds.

Apricot Date Granola

This granola was filled with chunks, and some really big ones that you could break apart and still have a solid nugget in your hand. Awesome! I let the granola and banana slices soak in almond milk for awhile to soften them.

This breakfast was so good!

Next up, the Onion and Caraway Seed bread

The savory one of the bunch, and delicious at that! I toasted it up and knew just what I wanted to try this with…

Excellent for buttering up and dipping into a delicious tomato bisque.

I think this is a bread that you would want toasted, and I enjoyed it with simple spreads like butter and cream cheese. But really, the caraway and onion in the bread could stand alone.

Lastly, I tried the Cranberry Walnut dinner rolls

Mmm crusty on the outside, and soft and pillowy dough on the inside

Cream cheese sounded like a good idea for these!

And it was. You get a lot of bites with dried cranberries and walnut bits, which I liked. I know that some people aren’t into nuts in cookies or bread. These led me to discovering that I just don’t like nuts in things that are already dense like brownies.

Verdict? If you have sensitives to any of wheat, dairy, gluten, or follow a vegan diet… or are just plain curious, then I’d give Smart Treat a try. Note: not everything is vegan or nut free but there are a lot of friendly options.

By the way you should check out their ‘About‘ page. Actually, when I read their page when I first came upon this company I was comforted. Intention and thought are very important things to me, so seeing that these are part of their philosophy was a wonderful reminder. A reminder that there are companies that do genuinely care about people, and that we have options beyond the companies that are so far removed from the concept of humanity that they lack integrity. These are principles beyond food. These are principles for life.

And now… I’m so excited to announce the winner of the “Must Have Been Something I Ate” book giveaway!

Florence from Squigglefloey! Congratulations, Florence! Just e-mail me your address, and your book awaits you! Now, if you aren’t Florence you can still check this book out. Ask to see if your local bookstore carries it, and if they don’t you can always request them to! There’s also the option of finding it online as well. By the way, I loved reading all of your answers to the food or things that make you feel good. It seems like many of you feel good when you eat something fresh! I think fresh is on many of our minds with the hot months coming. I’ve talked about my observations of people’s tendencies when it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall on my blog before. Isn’t it interesting to see how our personalities and comforts can change with the seasons?

A Birthday Fest

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! These past couple of weeks have felt like a non-stop celebration. It’s strange to me, but I’m definitely enjoying it while it lasts. Or maybe it will just last forever? That’s how my mother lives life, and it’s contagious when you’re around her.

For my birthday my friend treated me to lunch… to any place I’d like “the sky’s the limit.”

Hmm… there were so many options, but I decided on Millie’s Diner. This place is one of those restaurants around Richmond that you HAVE to try. It’s got a stellar reputation, and I’ve always wanted to go. After a grueling and sweaty bike ride we finally made it to our destination.

The menu was written on a chalkboard hanging right above our heads, so we literally looked up to it which was an interesting experience in itself.

I got the Spicy Black Bean Burrito with Cheddar Cheese.

It also came with fresh salsa and sour cream, and every plate comes with their home fries.

My friend ordered the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger on a Kaiser Bun and Red Onion Marmalade.

They sure do like their sriracha.

Love pat before you take a big bite.

We split our entrees.

Everything was so tasty. Basic recipes but done right!

Birthday cake time for the birthday girl–this year I got a candle!

I got the Apple Spice Walnut Cake.

This tastes as good as it looks… dare I say it was better?

My friend ordered the Chocolate Pudding Peanut Butter dessert.

The delicious and incredibly rich abyss.

After my belly was satisfied I knew why Millie’s is so famous!

Later on I met up with some of friends at one of my favorite hangout spots.

There was a cool band playing while they had 1970’s Italian flicks projected over them.

I was treated with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and tasty drinks.

It was funny because when I arrived at the place I was the first one to get there. I decided to sit outside and enjoy the weather, and then I overheard someone saying happy birthday to someone else. I asked if it was their birthday, and I told them it was mine too. Then she asked me what I was doing out there, and I told her I was waiting. Next thing you know she invited me to sit with her friends at the biggest table. They looked like they were definitely having a lot of fun. Her slice of birthday cake came out and we sang happy birthday to each other, and she got me a glass of the wine she was having. A toast to Geminis and their lively ways!

This drink was called Light Kisses–and it was as lovely as it sounds.

The bunch!

Getting down to some funky music.

Good morning!

Then Saturday rolled around it was time to get to work for my Birthday/Going Away party. I woke up, had breakfast, and made some pizza dough.

My first pizza made completely out of scratch–I crossed my fingers and into the oven it went!

The pizza had basil pesto, tomato sauce, yellow squash, mushrooms sautéed with balsamic vinegar and thyme, mozzarella, and goat cheese.

This may look like a quiche, but it was actually a vegan baked spinach artichoke dip.

Orange and Almond Florentines

So delicate–held together by egg whites.

Also baked soft ginger cookies.

Oddly-shaped pizzas may now be my forte.

I had a feeling that my friends would love this!

Also made bruschetta.

This is the ultimate party snack for those hot weather days.

My friend graciously offered his place for my party–it was like an old world museum.

The spread on an old table saw–classic.

I also made a cannellini dip, and served Trader Joe’s Everything crackers (if you haven’t tried them you must) to go with the dips. Here’s a list of the recipe links, except for the pizza and the cannellini dip since I made those up.

Bruschetta

Orange and Almond Florentines

Soft Ginger Cookies

Vegan Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

Pizza Dough

My friend also made a salad using things from his garden–a mulberry salad.

Fresh mulberries are awesome, and I kept munching on them throughout the night. The house itself was hot, but it’s especially hot when you’re dancing up a storm.

He also made fresh spring rolls filled with his garden's bounty.

Let the birthday fun begin!

Our “serious” family portrait.

Think fast!

Wow! I really can’t imagine that there are people who don’t like to celebrate their birthdays. All I can say is that I was really happy, and I felt so special… I just wanted everyone else to be just as happy as I was.

What’s one of your favorite birthday memories?