summer wrap-up

i know it's been awhile. there's been a lot going on && my busy-ness is not going to ease up anytime soon. i just finished comprehensive exams last saturday which were a major stress and source of my having little time. they weren't too bad, i will find out if i passed somewhere around the 21st!

anyway, this little smoothie was from a trip to IA where i visited my aunt && cousins. downtown cedar rapids has a great farmer's market. i'm talking massive && wonderful. this is a PB, banana && coconut smoothie. so delicious! it was like a milkshake.



peppers, tomatoes, onion, && potatoes. i season this with weber grill seasoning.


this is homemade salsa w. some red peppers from the above mentioned farmer's market.


two of the several dozens of ears from my dad's garden. so wonderful.


tomatoes from my dad's garden.


soooo much, so much.


stuffed peppers!!

random summer bits

this was from early in the summer...PB on a rice cake w. some choco chips.


homemade granola bars::flaxseed, raisin, oatmeal, and puffed red wheat held together w. almond butter [my new love].



looks like soft serve ice cream doesn't it? frozen banana, food processed and chocolate chunks added.



homemade bean burger patties--flaxseed was used to bind them and they are topped w. basil.


homemade hummus w. too much oil. but i use a little extra when taking it someplace like a get-together.


hummus on bread...garden carrot.


result of a trader joe's visit. such great wine i needed to stock up.


soy free, dairy free, nut free, everyyyything free cookies. pretty good. got these at big lots. kudos big lots.


1 of 2 GIANT watermelons. i love watermelon.


best. tea. ever. [and no caffeine!]


the following are a result of a trader joe's visit:

garden veggies: a rundown

cabbage.


stuffed tomato w. basil from my herb garden.


stuffed peppers.


pepper stuffing.


eggplants.



chopped && ready for roasting.


the baba ganoush.


the wrap w. bell peppers && onion && black olive.


the insides.


baked potato w. frying peppers.


that kale plant from a long time ago really took off. i'll have to photograph it again soon. these are kale chips w. nutritional yeast.

green beans!


various veggies w. horseradish hummus [i did NOT like this].

good-bye summer

tea && peaches


w. some PB && rice cake.


an ice cream cookie i made for my mom but ended up eating. that's soy fudge mocha wedged between PB/chocolate chip cookies. this was damn good.


snack.

stir fry w. garden veggies.


roasted cabbage from the garden.


leftover spaghetti w. garden veggies.

restless

my mom made an ice cream roll for brother's birthday [non-vegan]. so i improvised.


homemade guac w. pita chips.

went to a farmer's market in wisconsin the other day. i got some garlic, oregano, and this kale plant. my dad is going to plant it in the garden. i can't wait!


strawberry banana smoothie w. lots of soymilk && a splash of vanilla.

banana w. pumpkin butter. made a little switch-up from PB.


i went out the other night for drinks && when i got home, this is what was appealing to me. hmmm...

still summer...

stock salad here w. garden lettuce & onion, baby carrrots && trader joe's garlic hummus (MMM!)

the above mentioned hummus...
mushrooms w. hummus

almond butter! i have never tried it && have yet to use it. i can't wait! i usually just use pumpkin butter b/c it's delicious.

garden salad w. sunflower seeds.



green tea w. a banana && PB.

made dinner for my boyfriend the other night. this was lasagna [looks pretty sorry here] w. smoky black beans && corn, mushroom and spinach. the salad contains mushroom, onion, and carrot even though you can't seem them. also, the wine is from trader joe's...i reallllllly liked it and i am definitely going to stock up the next time i am there.

also, he made me dinner the other night and it was delicious! rice and black beans w. red bell pepper, onion, and some spicy pepper. we topped it with guac. later, we made homemade tortilla chips w. the corn shells. and then, we had a lovely little walk. unfortunately, i didn't have my camera and didn't take a picture on my phone b/c it tasted so delicious that i was distracted. just wanted to give him some cred for the meal. ;)


more tea && banana w. PB. perhaps, a consistent summer breakfast?? we shall see.


one of my grad school friends got married last weekend and i had some time to kill before the reception. i stopped at whole foods && picked up a few things. this was one of them. i think it could probably be safe to say that this is my favorite kind of hummus [a BOLD statement]. it's definitely a tie b/t this && trader joe's garlic.


i forgot how much i like the taste of hummus && cucumbers. this was the first from my dad's garden && it was sort of small. i ate all of it and want more soon. last year, i ate cucumbers like it was my job. they are great.