Guest Of Honor: The Liquid Lady

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Katharina

Good day everyone! I hope you all enjoyed those breakfast ideas in the last post. Perhaps you had a quiet moment to yourself over the weekend. Maybe you found yourself spitting mimosas through your nose at brunch. Or who knows, maybe both!

Today I wanted to share something special with you all. I asked my soul mate and fellow lover of all things coconut, Sway, if she would like to write something for my blog. She has a consciousness about her, a steady disposition, and a profound relationship with life. Plus, I love her a whole lot! I was so happy when she was just as excited about writing a post, as I was. She’s actually graced us with her presence on here before… a couple little reunions in Richmond (made complete with a hot chocolate request since it was written in invisible ink on the menu), and also when we went on a road trip to Florida.

Sway has traveled and lived around the world practically her whole life. She grew up in England, Japan and Germany before moving back to the US for her senior year of high school. Her travels have taken her to North Africa and all over Europe. When she came into this world she emerged from the crest of a breathtaking wave out in California. Dancing her way through life, she currently perfects her pointes at Alvin Ailey. She is also a freelance writer for Interview, is currently working on a book/magazine, and a few creative side projects. A lady on the move, especially when she’s running. And when she’s not on the move she finds stillness in her yoga practice. Of course, there is always room for older Woody Allen movies that make her laugh until she cries. So without further ado, here’s our guest of honor. Let’s start things off with a nice, refreshing beverage…

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Eating Local for the Fun-Lover

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Katharina

Hi everyone! I hope everyone has been enjoying their day. My posts have been so sporadic lately, and I really want to make them more frequent again. Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m late in the conversation, you know what I mean? Anyway, I wanted to share a wonderful guest post with you all. One that I think you may find very interesting! Perhaps you can plan a day around some of these ideas that are in the article. So I’ll just stop giving clues, and let James Kim take it away!

You have probably already heard the benefits of eating local: it strengthens the local economy, keeps money within the community, supports farmers, preserves farmland — the list goes on and on. While eating local can be a bit cumbersome (you can’t just go to the grocery store and mindlessly shop anymore), it can also be way more fun than eating a “regular” diet. That’s right, eating local is fun. So how can you jazz up your local routine? Here are some ways to put the fun back into your meal planning .

Food Festivals

Food festivals are a great way to get your hands on local foods and meet local farmers. Get involved with your community by competing in a cherry pie or pumpkin-carving competition at a local festival. Sometimes, these festivals even hold tutorials on how to grow your own crops or garden. Find a food festival within 100 miles of your city by visiting the Pick Your Own website.

Road Trip

Everyone loves a road trip. While driving too far would completely defeat the purpose of eating local, you can stay within your local boundaries (which some define to be about 100-200 miles) and visit a farm. This will take you to the outskirts of your town, allowing you to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A farm visit can provide both an educational tour and local food. Try visiting a dairy farm, winery, or distillery in your area. You can find local farms by using the Eat Wild website.

Another great way to get out of the city for a day is to take a trip to a u-pick farm, which allows you to pick your own food, then pay for what you’ve picked when you’re done. Try the Pick Your Own website to find a u-pick farm near you.

Throw a Local Food Potluck

Send out an invite and throw a little “local-food” potluck. This is a fantastic way to get other people to start eating local. Once your friends taste how much fresher local food is, they won’t be able to go back to their grocery store eats!

Source.

Preserve

Make your local foods last through preservation. Try your hand at drying, preserving, canning, or even freezing. You can make tons of things with your local leftovers like marinades, salad dressings, jams, jellies, or pickled veggies. Buy a book on preservation to get the low-down on FDA approved methods, or just visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation .

Eating local has never been so enjoyable. You can go to festivals, take road trips, throw parties, and start a hobby, like preserving. But remember, barely anyone lives in a region fertile enough to grow everything necessary for a balanced diet all year round. When you can’t eat local, try organic grocers like Sprouts, Whole Foods, or Central Market. Good luck and happy eating!

James Kim is a writer for foodonthetable.com. Food on the Table is a company that provides online budget meal planning services. Their goal is to help families eat better and save money.

And I’ll catch you sooner than later!

My Breakfast “Bowls”

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Katharina

Today I have a special surprise for you all. My very first guest post on this blog! And it’s none other than the super sweet and inspirational Maggie from My Breakfast Blog. Now I’ll stop “talking” and just let you enjoy!

Hello Katharina’s Food Adventure readers! If you don’t know who I am let me give you a little intro. My name is Maggie and I am the photographer and writer behind My Breakfast Blog. Its a comfy warm space I like to share my daily food muses and random bowls of oats. The lovely Katharina was kind enough to let me guest post today, thank you, so I thought I would share with you a little bit of what goes into creating these bowl’s of love.

All about the Oats: Before I make oats I first have to decide on what kind…lately my grain of choice is Oat Bran. I love the creamy texture and the way it absorbers liquid like risotto. But sometimes I do mix steel cut oats and old fashion with the oat bran to make a 50/50 texture. It’s too good, trust me!

Creamy Pumpkin Nutmeg Oats topped with Cacao Nibs, Almonds and Walnuts

Slow and Steady: I hate to sound like a fanatic but I can’t express it enough..they way you cook your oats matters! I use this method daily and I find myself with a bowl of creamy goodness every time. First, bring one cup of water up to a boil with a dash of salt. Then add oats and bring to a bowl again, when it has lower temperature to medium heat. When the water has been soaked up add thinly sliced banana and whip it in, this adds a perfect level of sweet and creaminess to the oats. Lower the heat to low-medium and add small amounts of your favorite “milk”, hemp milk is my favorite. Like I said oat bran acts like risotto, it will reject the liquid if its flooded, so allow it to absorb before continuing. Before you take it off the heat, add your favorite spices, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, whatever! Just make sure you add them before you take them off the heat so the oats can get all spicy. Cover for eight minutes.

English Raspberry Tart Oats with Shredded Wheat

Mix it: Everyone is different but I always sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on the bottom of my bowl before adding the oats. When I really want some creaminess I’ll add either plain Greek yogurt or more hemp to make it that much more delicious. But if your in the mood for a pie like breakfast I would totally go for pumpkin puree or apple sauce instead! Next I throw in my favorite nuts and dried fruit, usually the old standbys are cashews and raisins. But sometimes creativity nips at me and I try funky combinations like dried orange slices and sea salted dark chocolate almonds. Throw in what your craving and just go with it.

Banana Nut Bread Creamy Oats

Top it: Of course this step is optional but usually its sole purpose is for eye candy and that first oat lovin’ bite. Who doesn’t like to eat something pretty, yes I called oats pretty, so start topping your oats! My toppings of choice are raw almond butter, cinnamon or the favoriate….cookie crumbs!

Vanilla Bean Animal Cookies Oats with Pomegranate Glazed Cashews

Devour it: Just kidding, no explanation needed!

There you have it, a bit of my oat wisdom shared with you all. So if you already are a oats enthusiast or you are just starting out, I say try new flavors…it won’t disappoint! I know Katharina has some awesome combinations on her recipe page that has continue to inspire me, you must check them out! Thanks again Katharina 🙂