What a Breath of Fresh Air

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Katharina

Hello everyone! Let me tell you… last week was anything but ordinary! My mom came to visit me for a whole week, and my step-dad was in town on business as well. I know I’ve mentioned my stresses about being financially dependent on my parents on my blog before. Recently, I’ve been having to make conscious effort to stay away from bleak utilitarian ways. Whenever I’m around my mom I’m reminded that it’s nice to treat ourselves just because, so her visit couldn’t come at a better time.

My parents enjoyed the delicate candies I made.

Moms are wonderful at French braiding!

A loaf of freshly baked bread...

And this is what happens on the way home.

Chocolate!

And...

More chocolate!

What surprises are in here?

Mmm truffles.

Tiramisu, cookies and cream, blueberry cheesecake, dark chocolate sea salt caramel, and black forest cake.

A blast from the past.

And one of the best ideas I've come across: honeycomb covered in milk chocolate.

My mom got some filled chocolates to try too.

I love that she enjoys so many things about life.

And she has a taste for colorful food as well!

She's the queen of salmon.

More colors!

I made Aggie’s Last Minute Sesame Noodles for me and my parents to enjoy during the week. I loved the sesame oil in this dish! It felt special when I packed this for me and my mom in my little lunchbox, since she went to my classes with me while she visited. I also packed some for my step-dad to take with him to work. He was also in town on business that week. It’s quite a rarity that my parents are in Richmond at the same time, so I wanted to treat them as much as I could!

Since my mom was in town, she whisked me away to Trader Joe's.

I usually make my own hummus, but since my mom was in town I wanted her to try the Triple Layer Hummus. There are no Trader Joe’s stores in Florida so this was a little special something something.

And she brought something special up from Florida... papaya from our tree!

Simple, delicious, and convenient "mush"

This is Joy’s recipe for gluten-free chickpea and apple slaw. I accidentally processed it in the food processor for too long, but it still tasted delicious! Tangy and sweet, like what the recipe says, with dried cranberries and a Granny smith apple in the mix.

On a slice of "Seeduction" bread.

Oh my goodness this is the kind of bread that is so good that you could finish the whole loaf without putting anything on it.

My version of a bento box--Rotkohl (German recipe for red cabbage), leftover red lentil burger tipped with vegan mayo, avocado slices, and coconut milk basmati.

Random, yes. Delicious, yes. YES!

While my mom visited she also made her classic recipe and one of my favorite desserts: tiramisu.

Proud of her creation!

As she should be.

We were looking forward to having the girls over that night!

Beautiful ladies all around!

Dainty dishware was appropriate.

The best tiramisu my mom has made to date!

And a night isn't complete without dancing, or salsa in this case!

But wait, was there more fun to be had?

Précisement, mes ami!

We went out to dinner at one of my favorite hang out spots, Balliceaux.

It has the neatest decor.

To start off we ordered tandoori fried cauliflower with a chickpea salad and pickled cucumbers.

I want to learn how to make cauliflower taste this good! The chickpea salad and cucumbers added a refreshing touch to the crispy battered cauliflower.

I also ordered a cup of roasted pumpkin-mushroom and barley soup.

This tasted so much like a soup my grandma use to make when I was little!

I couldn't put my finger on which recipe I'll have to ask my grandma for.

Aromatic steamed salmon with black bean paste, scallion-celery stir fry with house made bacon, and fragrant jasmine rice for the sir.

I’ve never heard of cooking celery. Curious, eh?

Southern fried Twin Oaks tofu with red beans and collard greens for the queen.

Twin Oaks makes the best tofu EVER! And the way that they prepared it here was reminiscent of a typical southern dish with fried fish. I thought it was adorable that my mom, queen of salmon, decided to get this vegetarian dish. I may have done some influencing though because I also wanted to try this, but I had something else in mind for myself…

A hearts of romaine salad with a creamy hazelnut dressins and crunchy ZUCCHINI BREAD CROUTONS!

As soon as I saw the words “zucchini bread croutons” I knew that would be my choice. Oh my goodness. If salads could be desserts this would be it. I kept gushing about how wonderful of an idea it was to do this! It was so delicious that I sat there thinking of all of the wonderful breads I could make into croutons. The waitress exclaimed, “you can make them out of any bread!” And right she is. Next time you have a sweet bread in your home, I advise you make them into croutons. Actually, I urge you!

After dinner we met up with some wonderful people.

My mom got a taste of Ipanema's homemade soy ice cream and their vegan apricot almond blondie.

We had a feeling that the dessert made us extra hyper.

The past week was a memorable one indeed. It was so much fun having my mom go to my classes, and she got to see what her daughter does in art school. I’m sure a lot of parents would like to have that experience. She got a better understanding of what my life is like for most of the year. Looking back on her visit I see that she’s become a more flexible person, or maybe she just really likes being around me? I think it’s both!

p.s. I’ll be announcing the winners to my last two giveaways very soon, so keep an eye out for that! My apologies for keeping you all waiting.

We Are Gathered Here Today…

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Katharina

… this recipe is one reason

Pumpkin Pie Hummus Recipe

As per request I am going to post my recipe for pumpkin pie hummus. I am really bad at measuring things out when I cook or whip things up in a blender or processor. Basically, I don’t measure out at all. So I will give you guys measurements based on a typical hummus recipe. I should measure things out though so I can share them with you all without worrying that I’m giving you a bad recipe.

14 oz. cooked chickpeas (1 can)

About 3/4 the amount of the chickpeas of pureed pumpkin (10.5 oz)

2 tsp molasses

2 tbl lemon juice

1 tsp salt

Pumpkin pie spice + cinnamon to taste

Sweetener to taste (you can use maple syrup, sugar, brown sugar, stevia… what have you)

Almond oil*

1. Put all the ingredients in the food processor except for the almond oil. I like to blend the chickpeas first though so that it comes out with a much smoother consistency.

2. Once everything is blended in smoothly, you add in the almond oil little by little till you’ve reached the consistency you like. If you decide not to add the almond oil it will come out much drier and not as full of flavor. So I do recommend not ousting the oil.

*If you don’t have almond oil, you can use safflower oil or some other oil that won’t take away from the dessert flavor of this recipe. I don’t recommend using olive oil as a replacement because it will be unpleasantly noticeable.

Lastly, feel free to alter measurements. If something doesn’t seem right.. like too much or too little – go with your instincts. This is what I do when I cook which is why I don’t measure things out. If anyone does try this, please let me know how it goes and let me know if there were any changes you made. Enjoy!

Finally! I’ve been so eager to share this with you guys. On Januar 3, 2010 me and my best friend got married! It wasn’t legal but we had a small, quiet ceremony in the comfort of my living room floor. It almost felt like an indoor picnic with pillows and blankets sprawled out on the floor.

The guests started arriving.

The two sisters!

Matilda found a new friend.

They quickly became partners in crime.

Oh lala

Look what Pilar made for me!

Thank you!

She also had a beautiful hairpiece.

Inside was a little gift for her.

The princess and her mother.

The only picture of us reading our vows - but we got a video of it all!

Setting up for the reception. And I had another friend present via iChat.

Hand-painted crystal from Czechoslovakia when it existed. Champagne and water with lemon slices!

Pouring the glass of champagne.

Ahahaha

A toast to us.

My parents got us a delicious raspberry and almond cake...

And a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Aww

Trying out the cake.

APPROVED!!! Okay let me just put my eyes back in my head.

He wanted a piece too!

The lovely guests.

The well-behaved princess just hanging out.

You could taste the marzipan m'mmm

Our wedding was inspired by Frida Kahlo's La Due Frida

Our version.

You shouldn't have!

Tango!

The only serious group shot.

Let's give 'em something to talk about doo doo doo doo.

There is just so much going on here!

Channeling the Godfather?

Matilda just relaxing like a ragdoll as usual.

I'm so lucky to have a best friend like her!

My best friend has been there for me and stuck with me through the ups and downs. There was a time in my life when my close group of friends turned their backs on me and spread rumors around. It seemed like all of a sudden I was left standing alone. But there was a girl in my art class that I always thought was cool but we never hung out outside of school. Then one day I asked her if she wanted to hang out at a coffeeshop with me. This girl was Pilar. Pilar ignored the rumors and helped me through a time when I felt rejected and outcasted. She helped me ward off the meanies that said hurtful things and reminded me that I can rise above the stress. I never had so much fun with someone in my life and we had lots of adventures. Sometimes she’d sleepover for a few days and it was so much fun because I never had a sister and this was what I imagined it to be like. Yes, sleepovers on a school night! I remember the last day of 10th grade we walked home in the heat and proceeded to have a fashion photoshoot in an abandoned plant nursery. We did a lot of dressing up, made mix cd’s, and being each other’s shoulders to cry on if we needed it. Now that we’re older and don’t see each other that often we still remain best friends. Although for a time we both got caught up in our separate lives. This ceremony helped us recognize our friendship even more. I don’t believe soulmates are limited to people we fall in love with. They can be anybody in your life that you just have this unexplainable connection with. I feel completely at ease just being my goofy self around her. I wish I saw her more often because she really is a special person. Even if we weren’t friends I would admire her for who she is and what she’s done. This lady should write a book and if you know her, then consider yourself blessed. And I am lucky enough to call her my best friend!

Ketchup

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Katharina

I have quite a few things to catch you all up on!

First off,

Matilda, my mother, and I sleeping together in my twin-size bed

Our breakfast for her last day in town.

What was served? I made oatmeal with cinnamon and a bruleed banana + shredded coconut for my mom. She also wanted some of the bread we had gotten from the brasserie with sunflower seed butter. I opted for an end piece with marmalade and butter. I also tried a Heart Thrive. This time it was the raisin flavor and it was so good! It was delicious alone and crumbled over vanilla Greek yogurt + persimmon + cashew butter. We both had cups of warm pumpkin spice soymilk with pumpkin spice! We just dilly-dallied around the apartment and took Matilda on a walk.

Mom's breakfast

And mine

Then lunch time rolled around…

Gluten-free pizza crust with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, portobello, and goat cheese.

After we got ready, we were off to the studio!

Wishing I didn't have to spend my last day with my mom at the studio.

But before I dropped her off at the airport we were able to meet up with one my bests for some coffee.

Beautiful smiles all around!

All three of us

Being silly

I was sad when I dropped my mom off at the airport but luckily I’ll be flying down to Florida tomorrow till Sunday!

Lazy Sundays

I had a Rudi’s Organic English Muffin – these are so good! One half with cashew butter and the other half with Creme of Almonds and Dates spread. I also had vanilla Greek yogurt with marmalade and some slices of bananas. I also saved some banana slices for my English Muffin. My sweet tooth was calling my name that morning and I had a Marzipan candy and I tried a Newman’s Own Organic dark chocolate peppermint cup. This one was so good! I did some things around the apartment and spent most of my day painting.

More pizza!

Yummy dinner

I had some of the baguette from the brasserie with basil pesto, and a mock tuna made with soybeans. I also had a sliced up a carrot and look at that beautiful persimmon! I’m glad I decided to cut it that way.

I tried someone's favorite nighttime snack.

Well not just someone, but I tried Jessica’s favorite! Warmed up applesauce with cinnamon, melted chocolate chips, a crumbled graham cracker, and since I didn’t have almond butter I just used cashew. Girl, now I know why this snack is at the top of your list.

Spreading the love on Monday.

What a great way to start a Monday – with heart-shaped goodies! I tried the date Heart Thrive that morning. The date flavor wasn’t as intense as some of the other flavors I’ve tried. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed off. I had it over vanilla Greek yogurt, a sliced banana, and cashew butter. Mixed in with everything else it was good, but alone I didn’t really like it.

Baguette action

This sandwich was composed of: a beer-brat Tofurky sausage, homemade tomato sauce, red onions, and relish. Yum! I love using a baguette as the bread for a sandwich.

I obviously couldn't get enough!

So later on I snacked on some more with a baked apple + cinnamon, goat cheese, and honey!

I also got an incredibly sweet package in the mail!

From one of the sweetest girls around, Mitri! Her package warmed my heart and kept a smile on my face for the rest of the day.

Little delicious treats and wonders tucked inside.

Thank you so much! Don’t you love acts of kindness? Especially through snailmail! Since Tuesday was around the corner, I spent most of my day kicking major booty in the studio. Tuesday = my final critique of the semester!

Breakfast on-the-go

This is why bars are perfect sometimes! I tried the last 18 rabbits granola bar – Haute Diggity Date. This was incredibly delicious and is right up there with the first one I tried. The one that made me think, “this is what a granola bar is suppose to taste like.” Thank you for sending me these bars to review! I am so glad that I did because I will definitely find myself getting these in the future.

So now I will share with you what my piece for this semester’s final critique looked like. Now keep in mind that being there in person is an entirely different experience – as is with most art. I also had a Nag Champa incense burning which definitely added to the piece itself. I had originally wanted to set it up in various open fields and document my interaction in the space. Then I realized how little time I had, and I was debating doing a performance piece with it instead. However, nothing specific came to mind and I never force myself into anything when it comes to my art. So I just let it be, but I will set it up outside and film that in my leisure time.