random

This is some leftover chili chesse/rice dip with some leftover veggies from a nearby Mexican restaurant.  My grad friend Erica and I put a makeshift breakfast together one day. She contributed the guac and veggies while I provided the dip.  She has now been vegan for 5 months! 

The following is my new and improved milkshake! Just incredible: frozen banana, caramel extract, 1/2-1 cup almond milk, some ice, and 2 tsp ground coffee (refraining from coffee hardly lasted a week btw). I slurped this down in a matter of minutes.

This is a falafel sandwich from a local favorite here: Mediteranneo. I would venture to say this is the best falafel sandwich I have ever had. Just perfect in crispiness and spice! 

These pictures are not the best, but I always forget to take pictures until I get home. Their baba ganoush is just wonderful as well!

successful thesis proposal defense

The following are treats that I made for myself following my successful thesis proposal defense about 2 weeks ago. I now have the "go ahead" to continue working on my thesis. While I was hoping to be finished for graduation this Spring, I will be graduating in August. 

This is chili cheese dip--all it is: a can or Hormel vegetarian chili & a tub of Tofutti cream cheese, heated. It was okay, but not spectacular..as you can probably already tell from the ingredients and the photo. 

This is just basic guac with garlic, lime juice, and avocados. Some chopped carrots there. And a sparkling water.

a "break" for spring

This week is "spring break"and the quotes indicate that this really is not what I would call a break. I still am required to do some research and thesis work in order to catch up where I was behind. This is a sliced banana with cinnamon and drizzles of syrup.

 Still, the weather is grand. And so, I am joyous for at least the break to play catch up. Keeping it light the other day, this is TJ's garlic hummus  with carrots & mushrooms. The mushrooms were huge, this was only 2 of them chopped up.

My brother came for lunch one day and brought Chinese take-out for lunch. This is mixed veggies. This is 1/4 of the portion. They provide huge servings. My favorites are the mushroom & broccoli with snap peas coming a close third. 

sweet treats

I have all of these random pictures of treats that I enjoy. I decided to combine them into one post. 

First, a little bit of PB and a dark chocolate square. 

Second, decaf coffee with almond milk, Ritter sport dark chocolate wtih marzipan. Those Europeans know their chocolate.

This picture was from Christmas. I made my brothers vegan PB fudge for part of their presents. This was the first batch--it was crumbly. The last batches were much better. 

This was also from Christmas time. I had some vanilla soy ice cream from Trader Joe's, so I made grasshoppers. I added a little chocolate syrup to the top because I may (or may not...) have gone overboard  with alcohol ratio of the drink. 

And THIS. This is my favorite. Trader Joe's Soy Creamy Cherry Chocolate Chip. This is, in my opinion, hands down one of the best ice creams I have ever had--dairy or non. That is a bold statement from an extreme ice cream lover.

I tried this rice nog and was not impressed. I think I will have to try another brand next Christmas. Unfortunately, I had waited until after the season to look for it. I think that might be an indication that I really didn't care if I found some "egg nog." You see that Ritter Sport there again...that stuff has been making its presence known in my life these past 6 months.

my failed attempt to become a juicer

The following photos are from last semester when I watched Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead and was compelled to go out and buy a juicer. 

I really liked it despite the clean-up process and the sheer amount of produce needed to make one cup of juice. However, one bad juice and I was hauling that sucker back to the store. I made a juice with garlic--way, way too much garlic. I sucked it down, but proceeded to have phantom tastes in my mouth for days afterward. 

So, while I really enjoyed the fruit juices I made, it was not a practice I had the time or energy to continue. So, now I stick with smoothies even though the nutrient benefits are much less than they would be had I stuck with my juicer. 

I think I will need to live somewhere that features a juice shop around the corner because I really do like it. I just don't have much patience.

some of the yums lately...

I have been enjoying these smoothies for breakfast. I have to tell you, I think I have perfected my smoothies. I use 2 frozen bananas, ice, a generous splash of OJ, and a slice or two of canned pineapple or pear (I would prefer fresh) with a little of its juice. Totally satisfying and I have been feeling great by lightening up my portions. Also, I've stopped drinking diet soda and drinking coffee (save for once a week if necessary)!

 I bought this stuff awhile ago and did not like it much. Perhaps, the low sodium content is the reason. Who knows, I just liked it because it said vegan on the back. And I wanted to make homemade pad thai and I thought it would have  more of a tamarind flavor to it.

 I mixed it into rice with coconut milk so that it was sort of a curry. It was pretty good this way! I didn't plan to eat the entire batch, but throughout the night it managed to disappear completely...

 Random food: finished off the bread I had...I am trying to stay away from bread and pasta these days. This was toasted bread and spaghetti sauce with green olives && ground peppercorn.

Lately, this is what it looks like after I go to the grocery store. As my friend Chris put it, "quite a variety." haha. My fridge is also filled with spinach, avocado, carrots, and my Mom's homemade applesauce.