A few weeks ago, Caitlin tagged me in her Seven Random Facts post, and today seemed like a good day to tell you silly things about myself and share some gratuitous baby photos of the glory days.

1. I’m an only child. While it’s not so uncommon in New York, I’m one of the [...]]]>

A few weeks ago, Caitlin tagged me in her Seven Random Facts post, and today seemed like a good day to tell you silly things about myself and share some gratuitous baby photos of the glory days.

1. I’m an only child. While it’s not so uncommon in New York, I’m one of the only people I know without siblings. When friends ask what it was like, I never really know how to answer, because it’s all I’ve known. Sure, I’d probably have liked to have a friend to play with and someone to take a little of the parental focus off me, but I think I would have had a happy childhood either way.

2. I have four names: Katherine Alexandra (Mom’s maiden name) (Dad’s last name). I always thought that if my name wasn’t Katie, Alex would be another suitable nickname for me.

Hey, girl!

3. I used to be terrified of Mickey Mouse. We were visiting my grandparents in Minnesota for Thanksgiving once, and we went to a nearby mall to visit Santa and see the holiday decorations. Right after sitting on Santa’s lap (“I want a Teddy bear and lots of other surprises”), I spotted these huge, terrifying monsters wearing human clothes, their eyes the size of my head. They were waving, faces frozen in evil smiles… it was awful. A trip to Disney World got me over that fear pretty fast, though.

Hey, remember Gap in the early 90s? Yeah… we do, too.

4. The first thing I remember baking “by myself” was a fancy cake. For Christmas one year- I must have been about 5- my parents gave me a spot in a cake-baking class at Peter Kump’s New York Cooking School (now known as the Institute of Culinary Education). They dropped me off in the morning, and with the help of one of the other students, I turned out a three-layer carrot cake with candied violets and silver sugar. Probably one of the prettiest things I’ve baked to this day.

5. When I was growing up, we always had cats. Spotty was my favorite; Sacha was big and fat and really mean. It was only after Spotty died that she became affectionate and cuddly. Sadly, she died while I was away at summer camp while a neighbor was catsitting, but on the way home from camp that year we stopped at a breeder’s to look at dogs and came home with this guy.

Here pictured with Ilena, one of my oldest friends. We met in pre-school!

Charley- also known affectionately as “Mop Dog” when his hair is long and his bangs are in his eyes- just got a haircut. Mop Dog turned into a lamb!

6. Speaking of summer camp, that’s where I had my first kiss. I went to an all girls’ camp, but every week or so we had “Socials” with the neighboring boys’ camps. We’d get all gussied up- halter tops! glitter eye gel!- and dance to a couple Destiny’s Child songs. At the end of the night, without fail, the DJ would play “Stairway to Heaven” and that was the signal to go big or go home. This particular occasion was, I think, the last Social of my camp career. I think the boy’s name was Peter; there are photos of the Before and During moments (taken by this enterprising lady who was standing by with camera ready) and they still make me blush to think about.

7. I failed my road test three times. After taking the test in three different counties, the fourth time was a charm. (I think it was somewhere in Queens.) Blame it on my being a New York City kid (we couldn’t get our permits until we were 17, licenses at 18) or just being scared of things with wheels (I was hit by a motorcycle when I was 5). Anyway, I got my license when I was 19, had a car my junior and senior years of college (a must in Minnesota) and am now making a concerted effort to drive more.

BONUS weird fact: I can’t wink. No, seriously, my eyes just don’t do that. Left or right. I can blink, though, don’t worry.

Let’s get personal! What was your first kiss like?

What are 7 random facts about you? Sharing is caring!

Last night, I went to SELF magazine’s headquarters at Condé Nast to participate in their annual Healthy Food Awards. I participated last year as well; you can see what the 2011 food winners were here. (I tasted fruit pops, fudge pops, waffles, peanut butter, cheese, cheese, more cheese (etc.), and dressing.)

Yesterday, we were [...]]]>

Last night, I went to SELF magazine’s headquarters at Condé Nast to participate in their annual Healthy Food Awards. I participated last year as well; you can see what the 2011 food winners were here. (I tasted fruit pops, fudge pops, waffles, peanut butter, cheese, cheese, more cheese (etc.), and dressing.)

Yesterday, we were sampling, among other things, oatmeal. So naturally we got to talking about breakfast. I was surprised by how many people think of it as just something to “get through,” and how many skip it completely! To me, forgoing breakfast- or eating something just for the sake of it- is unimaginable. I’m one of those people who march straight to the kitchen within minutes of waking up, eager to get my eggs scrambling, my oats cooking, or, as was the case this morning, my smoothie a-blendin’.

Some of us are rushed in the morning and really don’t have time to get fancy. Some of us are cranky and crusty and probably shouldn’t speak until caffeine hits their bloodstream. Still, as your mother, second grade teacher and poodle have drilled into your head, breakfast is important! So make sure you eat something filling and nutritious before you start your day. Make it the night before if you have to; overnight oats were a success for a reason! Your body will thank you.

To make things a little easier on days when you just have time to grab-and-go, Stonyfield has released their new line of Oikos Drinkable Greek Yogurt. They’re great for an anytime snack, and fabulous as a base for a breakfast smoothie.

I have a hard time feeling satisfied if I drink my whole meal, so I whipped up a quick smoothie and ate it out of a bowl with a spoon. It was a nice change from my usual breakfast foods rotation!  

PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA BREAKFAST BOWL

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 container Honey Vanilla OIKOS drinkable Greek yogurt
• 1/2 banana
• 1/3 cup oats
• 1 t chia seeds
• granola/dried cereal of choice
• 1 T peanut butter

Blend first four ingredients and pour in a bowl. Chill in fridge five minutes (this will give the chia seeds time to set and thicken your bowl). Top with peanut butter and cereal.

OIKOS wants you to try out their new drinkable yogurts, too! One reader will win the same drink package I received (with Pomegranate Berry, Peach, and Honey Vanilla flavors) as well as coupons for additional products. (US residents only, please.)

To enter, leave a comment below on your current favorite breakfast.

For an additional entry, leave a comment with your time-saving tips for busy mornings.

For a third entry, Tweet this contest (@Lilveggiepatch) and leave a comment letting me know you’ve done so.

I’ll pick a winner on Sunday, January 29. Good luck!

My sweet tooth has been in full swing this past week; it’s been demanding cakes and cookies like it’s the end of the world.

I’ve made a couple different things trying to satisfy it, starting with this Deep-Dish Cookie Pie (made in mini bundt pans). It was pretty good, but I don’t know if [...]]]>

My sweet tooth has been in full swing this past week; it’s been demanding cakes and cookies like it’s the end of the world.

I’ve made a couple different things trying to satisfy it, starting with this Deep-Dish Cookie Pie (made in mini bundt pans). It was pretty good, but I don’t know if any of my friends would be tricked into thinking it was a pizookie. I think I prefer it in batter form.

I also tried this Peanut Butter Chocolate Lava Cake For One… while it’s pretty, it didn’t have a whole lot of flavor. I think I may have skipped a step, too, because it came out super dense.

My favorite “mini dessert” turned out to be Vitalicious’ mini fudge cakes, topped with Greek yogurt and cinnamon. Perfect breakfast or lunch dessert! (Because why should dinner get to have all of the fun?)

For those of you who haven’t tried Vita’s products, I know what you’re going to say, and I agree! It’s tempting to think it’s just a packaged cake filled with artificial ingredients. But it’s actually got pretty good stats. (There’s also a sweepstakes going on: one person will win a treadmill, and ten will win the same 48-pack of mini cakes that I received from the company.)

Another new obsession? Popcorn.

I always tease my mom because when my dad’s away, she often subsists on scrambled egg and popcorn. But, she pops her own corn using one of those old-fashioned poppers with the handle, and she showed me how to do it. I made my own chocolate peanut butter version, and I was not messing around: each kernel was coated with melted chocolate chips, peanut butter, nutritional yeast and salt. Bam.

My favorite new taste of the week, however, was Mama Pea’s Teriyaki Tofu (from her book). The recipe made a lot of extra sauce, so I’ll be eating it for quite some time! I halved the sugar- it still tasted great- and served it with her Thai Crunch Salad (also from the book).

Leftovers were scrumptious layered with steamed vegetables (kale, sweet potato, edamame), sweet brown rice, and sesame-chili sauce (from this recipe). I’ve really been digging rice bowls lately!

Finally, as promised, here’s my method for oat-free oats. I’m fresh out of oatmeal, so this was a perfect morning for me to whip up a batch!

OATLESS OATS

based on this recipe

serves 1

• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup pumpkin purée
• 1/2 cup milk of choice (I used flax milk)
• 1 t chia seeds
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t ground ginger, optional
• 1/4 t ground cloves, optional
• toppings of choice

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat. Once the eggs turn white and the texture thickens, your “oats” are ready to eat (5-10 minutes).

How’s your 2012 Recipe Challenge going? The page has been updated!

Have you made anything tasty lately?

On Saturday morning, New Yorkers awoke to a sea of white: the city had been transformed into a winter wonderland overnight.

This was our first snow of the season, and we did what any grown folk would do: we suited up and went out to play. (For the record, CWX running tights + jeggings [...]]]>

On Saturday morning, New Yorkers awoke to a sea of white: the city had been transformed into a winter wonderland overnight.

This was our first snow of the season, and we did what any grown folk would do: we suited up and went out to play. (For the record, CWX running tights + jeggings make for great snow wear.)

The snow was a little too powdery to make a snowman, but we managed to make some other shapes. (What’s my age again? Don’t answer that.)

There was a lot of wining and dining this past week, including meals at a couple new places on the Upper West Side. Sofia and BT were able to meet for biscuits and beer before they move to a different neighborhood, so we went to Jacob’s Pickles.

We started with an order of fried pickles and pickle trio (hot sours, candy red beets, salt + pepper asparagus). It was my first time eating fried pickles, and I was impressed! They were a lot more delicate than I’d imagined, and not weighed down by breading.

Everyone was getting biscuit sandwiches, but they were all meat-based. I ordered the house smoked salmon and hoped for the best; when it came out of the kitchen, I was excited to see I wouldn’t be left out of the biscuit party. The combination was really good! I could eat smoked salmon every day and be a very happy girl.

They have a pretty big list of American craft beers, sorted by state, so we tried out a few (and debated carrying these cool growlers home with us).

Also notable was the lunch special at Ngam (chicken or vegetable pad Thai, cabbage slaw, Thai corn soup), which is not only made fresh per order but costs $8. Get it.

For another lunch, my friend Danielle and I met at Le Pain Quotidien to talk books and Brooklyn. I had a bowl of vegan chili with avocado and tofu sour cream; it was pretty good, but left me craving cornbread. I’ve got three different recipes for it saved on my desktop, so there’s a good possibility I’ll be making some of that this week.

I crossed another new cafe off my list with my friend Ilana last week; we’d met for a workout date (hooray for gym buddies!) and left wandering around in the cold craving something simple but satisfying. Pecan has a wide variety of fresh-made sandwiches and salads, as well as prepared food and bakery items to grab and go. They have a soup/ sandwich combo: for $12 you get a pretty big sandwich, a hearty soup (what’s up, heavy cream?), a cookie, a roll, and a drink. I love a good deal.

I ended up taking most of the soup and bread home, which made for a great lunch at home the next day.

It’s definitely comfort food season in our parts… while the snow has mostly melted, it’s dark and damp. Perfect soup-making and bread-baking weather!

Speaking of cold, here’s the winner of the Ultra Immune giveaway:

Please send me your address and I’ll get that out to you .

What’s your favorite cold-weather comfort food?

Good morning and happy Friday! Hope you’ve got fun things planned for the weekend, or well-deserved R&R if that’s more your speed. I usually like a mix of the two .

Sorry if I left things a bit confused yesterday…. Although I don’t have certain allergies, I still feel tired frequently and have [...]]]>

Good morning and happy Friday! Hope you’ve got fun things planned for the weekend, or well-deserved R&R if that’s more your speed. I usually like a mix of the two .

Sorry if I left things a bit confused yesterday…. Although I don’t have certain allergies, I still feel tired frequently and have stomach issues throughout the day. I’m not sure if they’re related… the fatigue has been something I’ve struggled with for years and years, and the stomach issue has only become particularly bothersome (perhaps because I’ve had more free time to try and deal with it) of late. They’re both things I’m going to continue to look into, and I’ll be sure to update you with any new developments.

It’s been a while since I’ve made a Five Things list, so here we go!

1. Flax milk. Good Karma contacted me a little while ago to see if I was interested in trying out their soy-, dairy-, lactose-, and gluten-free milks. I’d never heard of flax milk, but I was intrigued! And a little wary… would it taste like grains? Would it taste like hippie?

The shipment conveniently overlapped with my nut-free weeks (almond is usually my non-dairy milk of choice). They sent three flavors: Original, Unsweetened, and Vanilla. The plain old Unsweetened ended up being my favorite (cow’s milk doesn’t come vanilla-flavored, so why should non-dairy milk?).

I had success substituting it for regular cow’s milk in a baking project…

… and it was great to sip with cookies! It has a really light taste, but is still thirst-quenching and satisfying.

Most importantly, it mixes into coffee without curdling! I’ve tried all sorts of dairy substitutes (almond milk, soy milk, soy creamer) with no success. I literally jumped up and down when I saw it turn this lovely creamy brown color. A tip: pour the milk in first, then add coffee.

I would definitely buy this. I haven’t seen it yet, but I hope it’s on the way! If you can’t find a store near you that sells flax milk, you can also buy it online.

2. Smoked Sea Salt. This isn’t exactly new to me, but I don’t think I’ve quite shared just how amazing it is with you. This smokey gray sea salt adds so much flavor to everything: eggs, salads, risotto… even caramel! It has a permanent spot on our dining room table, right in front of my chair. Trader Joe is getting pretty fancy shmancy.

3. Young Adult fiction. There are a lot of gems out there in the YA section! When I was in Minnesota last weekend, I spent a good 20 minutes talking to a younger girl at my favorite bookstore about all of the great books for teens that had just come out. Then just the other day, my friend Jenny gushed about a book she’d just read straight through because she couldn’t put it down. And it’s going to be made into a Tim Burton movie! I ran right out to the library and picked it up, and I’m almost done with it now. It’s creepy good.

4. Making money from (unused) money. For the past couple years, I’ve been emptying my wallet every day and depositing my coins into this big blue Buddha’s belly. When it’s filled up, I take it to one of those Coinstar machines at the supermarket and walk out with cold, hard cash. (Coinstar takes almost 10% of every dollar and there are some banks who also accept coins, but it’s just more convenient for me to do it this way.) My last trip made me $82!

5. Giving blood. I have a universal blood type so I try to donate whenever I see a drive going on. After learning I didn’t have any immunological allergies or diseases, I happened on the BloodMobile to give a pint. Some things to know: people react differently to giving blood; it wipes me out, and I had to take a two-hour nap and ended up sleeping for 11 hours that night. You also cannot exercise for 24 hours, need to increase your sugar and fluid consumption (I munched on Oreos on the way home), and have to wait 56 days until your next donation. Click here for a blood drive near you.

*Bonus… giveaway! Ultra Immune is a one-month supply of plant and mineral extracts (including four different kinds of mushrooms) that are designed to maintain a healthy immune system. Each morning, you place one dropper (about 1/8 tsp) under your tongue on an empty stomach. It has a sweet, pleasant flavor, much like spearmint. I’ve been taking it for over a week and haven’t noticed any increased allergies, which was my main concern when trying this out.

More information from the company:

These days, most people understand the benefits of taking a daily vitamin supplement for their health. But, sometimes people end up taking too much of the wrong things and risk overloading their system with unnecessary ingredients – plus, they’re wasting hundreds of dollars every year.

Now that cold & flu season has arrived, the usual reaction is to reach for Vitamin C when you start feeling sick. In contrast, Ultra Immune is an all-natural, food-based immune system supplement for everyday use. Most immune-related supplements contain ingredients like Echinacea and Zinc that are not meant for continuous use, but Ultra Immune is intended to be taken every day, so you can feel your best ALL the time.

Want to win a one-month supply of Ultra Immune? Leave a comment below about the ways- if any- you keep yourself sniffle-free throughout the colder months. Bonus entry for giving me your Five on Friday! I’ll pick a winner on Monday, January 23, at 8 AM EST. Good luck! Contest open to US residents only, please.

Two weeks ago, I went to see an allergist for a few preliminary tests. (I’d been suffering from GI discomfort for a few years, and extreme fatigue for the last 8+. I took the tests to rule out food allergies, which can be a common culprit for both of those symptoms. You can [...]]]>

Two weeks ago, I went to see an allergist for a few preliminary tests. (I’d been suffering from GI discomfort for a few years, and extreme fatigue for the last 8+. I took the tests to rule out food allergies, which can be a common culprit for both of those symptoms. You can read more about that here.)

Finally, the results are in: aside from environmental elements like ragweed and mugwort, no allergen microbodies were tagged in my blood. That means that while I may be sensitive to almonds, cashews, casein (a cow’s milk protein) and wheat, my body doesn’t wage an immunological war on these things if I eat them. Woohoo!!! So you better believe that as soon as I learned this, I made myself breakfast laden with dairy, nuts, and wheat-based carbs. And I enjoyed every bite as if I hadn’t eaten them in years. (Two weeks almond-free is hard, yo!)

Vanilla Chobani with banana, Kashi H2H, Plain Jane peanut butter granola, almond milk, cinnamon

Although I won’t end up having to navigate the grocery and kitchen without gluten, dairy, or certain nuts, I’m going to continue to be mindful about how I feel after I eat. Certain foods (cow’s milk products) do make my stomach a little wonky, and while I’m going to continue to eat them, it’s with the knowledge that I may be a little uncomfortable later. But some things (like fancy cheese and gelato) are worth that discomfort.

Anyway, over the past two weeks I tried to limit- but not eliminate- my intake of these potential allergens, and in doing so, discovered a bunch of new products and meal ideas that I actually really like, no matter the ingredients. So I thought I’d share them with you.

BREAKFAST

This is what I thought would be the hardest, but it ended up being pretty easy! I usually eat oatmeal in the morning, so once I tried out Tina’s “Oatmeal” Minus The Oats, I was hooked. It’s basically a pumpkin cake but with more eggs and cooked on the stove; I make mine a little differently, so let me know if you want the recipe for that one.

Chia Pudding. Both chia seeds and nut butter are parts of my breakfast 6/7 days a week, so this was another good option. (I eliminated the oats.)

Breakfast pizza! I’ve been using brown rice tortillas for a while now, way before wheat was a potential problem. Tortillas are such an easy way to make pizza without going through the trouble of making dough and heating up a pizza stone. Breakfast versions can use eggs or, as I did, you can make one big PB & BJ (sorry) sandwich.

SNACKS

Lentil chips are a good alternative to pita or potato chips; they’re a little fluffier but still have great flavor and crunch. Each serving also comes packed with 4g of protein, and are great dipped in Roasted Eggplant Hummus.

GF bread + nutritional yeast. This may not be for everyone, but I’ve actually been eating a version of this snack since I was 17 and saw the TA of my freshman English seminar munching on it! Be warned, though: gluten-free bread can be really expensive. It was a whole $4 cheaper at Trader Joe’s than at my local grocery store!

Two-Bite Chocolate Cherry Balls. They traveled with me, live in my purse in a tupperware, and sit within arm’s reach of my bed. Nomnomnom.

LUNCH/ DINNER

Bibimbap. Although I actually ate this particular bowl for breakfast, bibimbap combines rice, vegetables, protein, and sweet chili sauce for a great “anytime” meal. I’ve been eating a lot of rice lately, but luckily there are so many different kinds (purple, green bamboo…) that it’s hard to get tired of it. My current favorite is brown sticky rice, which you can find in bulk bins labeled as “sweet brown rice.”

Polenta. One of those dishes I don’t eat enough, but absolutely love when I do. You can dress it way up with poached eggs, scallions and mushrooms (as pictured below) or bake it into “fries.” Just be careful when you order it at a restaurant if you have a sensitivity to dairy; they often mix cheese and cream in.

Pasta. There are all kinds of gluten-free pasta out there (quinoa, brown rice, black bean). I picked up a package of brown rice spaghetti at Trader Joe’s (again, it was $2 compared to the $5 it often costs at regular grocery stores) and was pleasantly surprised to find it tasted just like whole wheat pasta. (Seen her with Creamy Carrot sauce.)

Japanese food. And Indian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Filipino… you get the picture. Rice is a big dietary staple!

@$!*#. I make these mish-mosh plates a lot; it’s a good way to use up leftovers or ingredients in your fridge that alone don’t really stand alone but make a good meal component. Below: scrambled eggs on GF bread, blueberry goat cheese, raw baby spinach, roasted brussels sprouts & butternut squash, tahini sauce, lentil chips.

DESSERT

Five-Minute Chocolate Mousse, jazzed up with goat-caramel sauce and pecans. You won’t miss the dairy.

Flourless chocolate cake. Most bakeries have at least one flourless cake (especially around Passover). Again, if you have a lactose problem, just make sure to ask if there’s dairy in there.

I’m also a big fan of dessert plates and coconut- or cashew-based ice cream.

NEW FOOD FINDS

Brown rice products, as described above.

Hot rice cereal. I wasn’t personally a fan of this; I found it to be pretty gritty, even when cooked long beyond the indicated cooking time. GF oats are also available at most grocery stores, but I never got around to trying those.

Brown rice crisps. It’s Rice Krispies! Who doesn’t like Rice Krispies? You definitely need to bulk it up for staying power… banana, walnuts + GF granola is a good mix.

Goat milk butter. I saved the best for last… this is amazing. Love love love love LOVE. I thought it was too good to be true when I saw this at Whole Foods for only $3.99. I’ve only used it on toast so far; it’s like goat cheese and butter all in one. TRY IT! I don’t know how it would be in baking because there’s definitely a strong “goat” taste there.

Have you found any new meals/ products you love lately? Anything that’s good for a “specialty diet”?

Weekend trips are bittersweet. Just enough time to hug hello and goodbye!

This time around, we got to spend time with some of the extended family.

My second cousins (cousins once removed? I always get confused…), Andy and Mary, are great cooks- and have a fancy brick oven on their deck!- and fixed us a [...]]]>

Weekend trips are bittersweet. Just enough time to hug hello and goodbye!

This time around, we got to spend time with some of the extended family.

My second cousins (cousins once removed? I always get confused…), Andy and Mary, are great cooks- and have a fancy brick oven on their deck!- and fixed us a feast.

Quinoa with carrots and parsley, vegetarian moussaka, prime rib (which I heard was fabulous), and roasted broccolini with edamame.

For dessert: flourless chocolate cake from French Meadow!   Delicious. If you’re ever at the St. Paul/ Minneapolis airport and are looking for a fresh bite to eat, French Meadow has you covered! They have salads, sandwiches, pizzas, meat, vegetarian and vegan options, and all kinds of baked goods.

My grandmother- notoriously not a dog person- was quite taken with Riley the English spaniel, who was such a sweetie. Charley is a little too much of a hyperactive (12-year old) puppy for her!

She also likes stuffed duck!

The rest of the time was spent the usual way… when we all get together, we spend a lot of time around the table. Sunday brunch at the country club- a weekly date my grandparents and I kept for four years while I was in college in the Twin Cities.

Breakfast at home… the table is always covered, as you can see, with French baguette, several different types of jams and honeys, and fresh fruit.

When there aren’t quite so many of us, we sit in the “breakfast room” and linger over the paper. Through the window outside, you can see the lake (one of thousands) and birds feeding; it’s mesmerizing. When I grow up – it’s bound to happen one of these days – I’d love to have a breakfast room of my own.

Before we flew back home, we had just enough time to stop by Carlye and Joe’s apartment to say hi. Charlie had just been put down for his nap, but he woke up right as I was leaving. Wish these guys lived closer!

The trip was short and sweet, but we’re going to make sure we get back out there as soon as we can.

In the mean time, though, there are errands to run! Hope you’re having a great week.

Where are your parents from? Do you live near most of your family?

P.S. The 2012 Recipe Challenge page has been updated.

Greetings from the tundra, y’all!

I am- surprise!- in Minnesota for the weekend visiting my family. The last time I was here, in August, it was in the high 80s and looked like this.

As I type this, I’m wearing two pairs of pants, two shirts, two sweaters, hat and scarf, and my superduper parka. [...]]]>

Greetings from the tundra, y’all!

I am- surprise!- in Minnesota for the weekend visiting my family. The last time I was here, in August, it was in the high 80s and looked like this.

As I type this, I’m wearing two pairs of pants, two shirts, two sweaters, hat and scarf, and my superduper parka. And that’s just for the walk to the car! It’s the “Feels like 13˚” that gets me. I am, admittedly, kind of a baby about the cold.

Anyway, as much as I’d like to chat more with you about weather, I’m here today to talk about balls.

Ever since I went to see my allergist a couple weeks ago (and learned I can’t have almonds or cashews and have a sensitivity to wheat and milk protein), I’ve been at a bit of a loss over what to snack on. (I haven’t gotten the full results of the tests back, but I’m trying to see if omitting those nuts makes a dramatic difference in how I feel.) I’m one of those people who is hungry almost all the time, and need to eat every couple hours or I get a serious case of the crankies. I usually keep granola or a Larabar in my purse to snack on when I’m out and about, but almost all of the packaged versions have wheat products and/or almonds. So I decided to make my own. It’s really easy (especially since I could open a dry-goods store with all of the dried fruit and nuts I have in my pantry) and way more cost-effective than buying boxes of store-bought snacks.

When my mom was pregnant, she ate walnuts and raisins by the bushel to keep her energy up; walnuts are high in iron and B-vitamins (and a host of other nutrients including zinc, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous) but plain raisins have never really been my thing. Dried cherries, on the other hand, are a little more exciting and always feel fancy. These Two-Bite Chocolate Cherry Balls are the perfect size to keep in your schoolbag, glove compartment, cargo pocket, and fridge. Pop a couple for lunchtime dessert, a pre-workout snack, or when you need a little pick-me-up during a marathon study session in the library. I’m going to experiment with a cashew-free version of these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls, too.

TWO-BITE CHOCOLATE CHERRY BALLS

Makes 15- 20 balls

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. unsweetened dried cherries
• 8 pitted dates
• 1 c. walnuts
• 1 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used 1 square of Baker’s chocolate)
• 1/4 t (heaping) sea salt

Combine all ingredients, except chocolate, in a food processor. Blend until finely ground. Pulse in chocolate. Roll into balls with clean, dry hands. Store in an airtight container.

I packed up a few balls for my trip (as well as some breakfast mix-ins should I get stuck in the airport). Good thing, too, because the jar of food I’d brought for myself- which contained no liquids- was confiscated by the TSA. Hmpf.

Have you had any bad travel experiences?

What are your favorite grab-and-go snacks?

Sometimes the benefits of packaged products outweigh their home-cooked. Anchovy paste, for example, is a whole lot easier to squeeze out of a tube than to make yourself. (I know you still think I’m crazy, but just try these two anchovy recipes… you’ll change your mind.) It’s a whole lot easier to make [...]]]>

Sometimes the benefits of packaged products outweigh their home-cooked. Anchovy paste, for example, is a whole lot easier to squeeze out of a tube than to make yourself. (I know you still think I’m crazy, but just try these two anchovy recipes… you’ll change your mind.) It’s a whole lot easier to make Mexican food on a whim if you have a can of black beans on the shelf and don’t have to worry about overnight soaking and a 2-hour cooking time. Other times, though, making things yourself is both more cost-effective and delicious, not to mention better for your body when you ditch the sodium needed to extend the shelf life.

When out to eat at Mediterranean restaurants, I’m often faced with a Great Debate: hummus or baba ghanoush? Creamy chickpea spread, or smoky eggplant dip? Both are delicious on their own or with pita, falafel, and other delicious menu mezze… it’s so hard to choose. So when I stumbled upon Tribe’s Roasted Eggplant Hummus at the grocery store a couple weeks ago, I knew my prayers were answered.

I’ve gone through an embarrassing amount of this packaged goodness, which isn’t good for my wallet or my creative juices. So when yesterday turned out to be dark, cold and rainy- a perfect time for cozy cooking in the warmth of my own kitchen- I fired up my oven and got to work.

ROASTED EGGPLANT HUMMUS

Makes about 4 cups

Ingredients

• 1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium-sized eggplant
• 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
• 1 T olive oil
• 2 T tahini
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 t ground cumin
• 1/2 t sea salt, plus a smidge more for sprinkling on the eggplant

Wash your eggplant and stab all over with a fork (as you would a potato). Roast eggplant, whole, in oven at 400˚ until fork tender, about 40-50 minutes depending on the size of your eggplant. Allow to cool. Cut in half, scoop out seeds, and sprinkle flesh with sea salt. Let sit 30-45 minutes; this cuts the natural bitterness of the eggplant.

In a food processor, blend 1/3 of the chickpeas and 1/3 of the eggplant until creamy.

Add lemon juice and olive oil and blend until mixed.

Blend in another 1/3 of the chickpeas and 1/3 of the eggplant. Repeat, scraping down sides as needed.

Pulse in garlic, cumin, 1/2 t salt and tahini until smooth. If you want to go the fancy route, garnish your hummus with a splash of olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika before serving.  

Store in the fridge in an airtight container; it will keep 5- 7 days.

Bring the hummus to your next pot-luck and serve with pita chips or crudités. Set it on the table on Sunday morning as a cream cheese alternative on toasted bagels. Spread it on your burgers and on sewet potatoes. Stir it into oatmeal for a savory breakfast. Chop root veggies into thin rectangles, coat ‘em in the hummus, and voila! Baba-hummus fries.   Make my new favorite sandwich and layer it between toasted bread and scrambled eggs, then top with cheese. (See above.) I could- and have- eaten this thrice a day.

Then, when you come home at 10:30 after a weeknight viewing of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, throw everything you think you know about pasta out the window, and make this.

CREAMY CARROT PASTA

Serves 4

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 1 bunch hearty greens (kale, collards, chard, etc.)
• 1 c. roasted eggplant hummus
• 4 carrot, grated
• 1/2 t salt
• pepper to taste
• 1/2 t chili flakes

Cook pasta according to package directions. When water is just about to boil, add greens and blanch until bright, 2-3 minutes. Use tongs to remove greens and set aside. Add pasta to the water and cook until al dente. Drain.

Return pasta to pot and toss with remaining ingredients, mixing until the sauce is evenly distributed. Layer over cooked greens just before serving.

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How do you feel about expiration dates? Below, please read the guest post by Emily Schorr Lesnick (you may remember her hilarious tales of megadosing on supplements). It will challenge your ideas about what and when you throw out food, who does- or doesn’t- get the dry goods you bring to your local food bank, and the impending apocalypse.

I grew up in a household where expiration dates were a cultural construct. Our refrigerator has mustard from my parent’s wedding (no, actually) and I take a multivitamin that expired September 2000. My family’s hoarding has yet to make me sick and has helped me look at expiration dates as a suggestion, rather than a rule.

A few months ago, I volunteered at a food pantry that hosted a large food drive. The pantry gave people a list of essentials to donate: canned tuna, pasta, soup, canned vegetables, cereal, etc. However, some people did not stick to their list, instead dumping the unused, dusty contents of their pantries into the donation bags. These bags were filled with classy ingredients like capers and hot fudge sundae sauce, as well as wheat germ from the 1990s. Concerned about legal liability, the food bank instructed me to discard all items that had expired and/or were set to expire within the year.

Although I find it to be disrespectful to give others my unwanted and discarded food items as “donations,” I was profoundly uncomfortable with all of the food waste. I come from a long line of hoarders and immigrants, and was raised never waste anything, especially food. What would happen if the garlic powder expired a few years ago? Probably nothing, right? Old Jell-O won’t kill! I could not convince the director of the food bank to hold onto these items, but he told me I was welcome to take food home. Filled with glee, I grabbed expired powdered guacamole mix, a jar of sauerkraut, fancy olive oil-made mayonnaise, peach salsa, and more. It felt like winning a supermarket sweepstakes! Who could have expected that showing up for a community service project would yield such nourishing rewards? As a young post-grad, the allure of free food is more intense than my smell of patchouli. But it certainly felt weird to leave a food pantry with more than I brought.

I know expiration dates for canned and dry goods exist for a reason: to save companies’ butts. And maybe those dates do coincide with when food will start to mold or cause illness. But I also think these are arbitrary and should be rethought. I mean, will my Wheat Thins, set to expire 11/26/14, really outlive the pending apocalypse on 12/21/12? Didn’t think so.

Emily Schorr Lesnick is an after school teacher, improviser, and former classmate of Katie’s. She lives in Queens with her expired food and loathes mushrooms. Find her on Twitter @ESchorrLesnick.

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Do you eat anything past its expiration date? How do you decide what’s “safe” and what isn’t?

What do you buy pre-packaged and what do you make from scratch?

Find a food bank near you.

Last night, my mom and I met for a nice dinner date at a cozy French restaurant. It was a fun way to break up the week! (Although my days of late haven’t been too stressful, and mostly consist of reading, mustering up “gymspiration,” and meeting friends for breakfast, lunch and dinner dates.) [...]]]>

Last night, my mom and I met for a nice dinner date at a cozy French restaurant. It was a fun way to break up the week! (Although my days of late haven’t been too stressful, and mostly consist of reading, mustering up “gymspiration,” and meeting friends for breakfast, lunch and dinner dates.)    The spot was Alouette, an intimate bistro that’s somewhat out of place on Broadway and 98th. They have an interesting menu and great service, and yet somehow I always forget about it when I’m making dinner plans. No longer.

We started with the warm calamari salad with red peppers and arugula. The calamari are served grilled but still so tender and buttery. My dad passed his love of octopus and squid down to me, and when it’s done right, it’s one of my favorite things.

I chose the pan seared salmon with Israeli couscous, grilled asparagus, and red beet vinaigrette for my main. Just like calamari, when salmon is cooked properly- I like it a little under-done, so it doesn’t dry out- it tastes so rich and decadent. Those little ribbons that look like bacon are actually shavings of root vegetables!

My mom ordered the lamb chops with white beans, which she mmm!-ed over quite a bit. Good food is such a visceral experience! We also shared a side of coconut spinach.

We both could have stopped there, but life without dessert isn’t really worth living, so we shared two different ones. The apple tarte tatin (my dad makes a killer version of this):

And the chocolate mousse, served with berries and coconut. I dominated both.

After dinner, I went home, climbed in bed and watched Another Earth . Have you seen it? It’s a strange, science fiction-y independent movie that won’t be for everyone, but I really enjoyed. And, I just learned, New York City’s very own Saw Lady played on the soundtrack!

I also just finished this book, which my dad gave me for Christmas. It’s pretty quick; I read it in just under 24 hours (a sign of a compelling read!). Imagine To Kill A Mockingbird narrated by A Christmas Story‘s Ralphie, and set in 1968.

Next up: The Art of Fielding, which has been getting quite a bit of buzz! When I was working in publishing, my company passed on this guy… I’m sure they’re kicking themselves about that right now!

How do you like to relax mid-week?