new year

Happy new year to all! 

This year bring lots of excitement and of course a resolution to start again. I feel that I have invest a lot in this blog to just abandon without regret. This is 2012 baby, no regrets! That being said, I would like to concentrate on an array of issues, from health + beauty to cooking + baking, maybe even fashion here and there. 

So lets just dive right in.  

"All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason."
Immanuel Kant

Sense : Taste 

Power Protein Mix

(This makes a wonderful pre-workout snack)

8 T Peanut Butter (soynut butter, almond butter, etc.)

3 - 4 Scoops of Protein Powder

1 T Agave Nectar

1 C dates

.5 C oats

.5 C almonds 

*I combine all these into the food processor to chop up. 

Mix everything up together. If it is a little dry and crumbly, add a little water. 

Store in the fridge. 

Sense: Touch

This face mask is suitable for all skin types and is super simple to prepare. It will cleanse and rejuvenate your skin.

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

Ingredients:

•    1 tbsp oatmeal, finely ground
•  1 tbsp live, organic yogurt (skip the flavored stuff)
•      A few drops of honey

Preparation:

Add the yogurt to the oatmeal in a small bowl and mix together.

Warm a few drop of honey. To do this, warm a spoon under hot water for a minute, then add a few drops of honey to the spoon.

Stir the honey into the yogurt and oatmeal mixture.

Apply the mask to the face. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with several splashes of warm water. Follow with a warm washcloth.

Apply moisturizer.

Ciao. 

recipe : vegan pumpkin muffins

Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

(recipe adapted from Eat Drink Better)

1 can of pumpkin 

1 C whole wheat flour

1 C all-purpose flour

1/4 C corn starch

1 C sugar

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 C olive oil
1/3 C water
2 T flax meal
6 T water (for mixing with the flax meal)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

In a medium bowl, mix the flax meal and six tablespoons of water (warmed), and set it to the side for five minutes. Next, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Set that aside.

In a different bowl, mix together the baking soda, spices, salt, corn starch, whole wheat flour, and all-purpose flour. Set that aside as well. Retrieve the bowl with the warm water and flax seed and add oil and sugar. Whisk it until well blended. Add one-third cup water and the pumpkin to that, and whisk again.

Start adding in your dry ingredients and blend gently, avoiding over-mixing. Folding or stirring is definitely the way to go. Scoop into muffin tin.

Bake for 25 minutes. Check to make sure they are done.

Let cool for 15 minutes. (If you can wait that long) 

Enjoy!

rules of a rainy day

rule one: you must wear comfortable clothing.

rule two: you must sip coffee/tea/hot beverage throughout the day.

rule three: you must get to the highest possible window and take in the view.

rule four: you must curl up with a good book & inevitably your dog.

rule five: you must enjoy the day and give thanks for the nourishment.

staying fit in the city

With good food & drink all around (not to mention working 60+ hrs a week),
staying fit can become a challenge. However, Ive picked up a few tips that I'm sure will help.

1. Jog with friends; its great motivation to help you keep going.

2. Dont be greedy when it comes to working out; take the dog with you.

3. Take up a new sport; volleyball, soccer, etc.

4. Take advantage of all the deal sites out there offering discounted fitness & yoga classes.

5. Eat small meals throughout the day.

6. Substitute dessert with fresh fruit; and perhaps a few squares of dark chocolate.

7. Avoid binge drinking; drink water in between alcoholic drinks to rehydrate.

8. Pace yourself; Rome wasn't built in a day, change takes time & patience.

Good luck!

florida vacation

charlie & i took a vacation for our two year anniversary.





it was nice. we stayed on the beach for some of time.







he is happy.



we went geocaching too, there were three on the beach.









one of my favorites of the trip!









i have few words to say except that it was fun.....a much needed break!

ATL food & wine festival

This weekend was the First Annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. Lots of people came from around the country to celebrate the culinary explosion that seems to have taken over Atlanta. I met people who came from far and wide to taste, learn, smell, spit, and meet people.

The festival took place in the heart of Atlanta, Midtown. All the events were placed within a 2 block radius, making the Loews Hotel the mecca.

Thursday night marked the beginning of the festival. What better then a sugar reception! HIGH ROAD Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet and Sublime Donuts were there.

Also! I met the faces behind WhyNatte, while sipping on their current mixed drink selection of WhyNatte & whipped cream vodka = awesome! WhyNatte is one of those drinks that is great on its own, but is also easily mixed with other flavors (i.e. mint shnapps & whynatte = girl scout cookie thin mint).

One artisan chocolate company that deserves recognition is French Broad Chocolates. They are from NC and graciously came to Atlanta for the event. They are moving into becoming a bean-to-bar company, which really says a lot about what they believe in and what they choose to put in their chocolates.

Finally though: BAKESHOP

We were set up under some art work which actually went quite nicely with our table.

We were serving Kouing Amon (a.k.a sugared butter cake) with a selection of jams & jellies from Fairywood Thicket Farms.


On Friday morning, BAKESHOP provided the food for the brunch in the Connoisseur Lounge at the top of the Loews. This place was gorgeous!

Look at that kitchen!

Our display spread of mini almond croissants, mini cranberry scones, and muffins!

Chef Jonathan St. Hilaire demo-ed the making of these lemon cream strawberry danish. 

If you havent tried Top FLR cocktails you are missing out! 

festivals and biscuits

This weekend was festival weekend in Atlanta! 

We attended The Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park:

lots and lots of people! 

ATL

there was also a dog frisbee contest.

this dog was bizarre!! 

And on our way to the festival I ran across this architectural beauty:

and in other news...

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS! 

>

(makes 16 huge biscuits!) 

2 quarts flour

2.75 quarts sugar

1.5 oz baking powder

1.25 oz salt

12 oz cold butter

1 qt buttermilk

Mix all the dry. 

Add herbs.

Cut in the butter.

Add buttermilk. 

Bake 375 (20 - 25 mins)