Sweet Tomato Cake

Had a little Pre- Jewish New Year party. 

Sweet tomato cake, amazing.  Vegan and whole wheat. 

Back to School + adventures in Cleveland + wedding & garden updates

One week of school... down & moving Josh in with me... done.

Carol has returned and again my home feels like a home.  Luckiest girl alive to have the 3 best roommates.

After squeezing 6 OTs into a mid-sized car, we discovered the glory of the $5 medium sized meal at the Moonlite Express Food Truck.  

Cleveland 

We started out the day eating breakfast at the Flying Crane Cafe.  While the atmosphere in the patio was lovely.  I was extremely disappointed that they served on plastic/paper-ware.  Josh got the vegetable-don, which little did he realize would come with egg. The vegetable-don also was also sort of boring and small for the price.  The  broccoli & goat cheese quiche slice was tasty and came with fruit and salad.  The coffee was lousy.  The overall cost of 2 meals, a coffee, and a tea was around $23 and not wort it. 

Next onward to the North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square.  Very impressed.  100% better market than anything in Pittsburgh. 

We walked down Larchmere blvd. There was a really sweet book store (Loganberry Books) and an outrageous number of antique shops.  Josh and me couldn't resist yummy tacos 2 for $7 at the Touch food truck.  Josh's taco had kimchi and tofu.  My taco had fried mac and cheese hold the bacon.  A yummy little heart attack. 

Onward to The Westside Market. The parking lot was a madhouse, as was the market.  Josh got a cucumber, orange, and ginger juice.  I samples some dill pickle flavored popcorn.  We really want to by some vegan specialty ravioli from Ohio City Pasta, but we didn't think it would hold up well in the car.  This is a very nice market.  When looking at the fruit and vegetable wholesalers, I didn't particularly notice anything that was local or organically grown, but I wasn't looking too closely. 

In Little Italy we stopped in for a coffee at Algebra Tea House.  The Arabic coffee was fanatic and presentation delightful... a cute little pot and a hand crafted clay mug. I long for some ceramics studio time.

For dinner we met with Josh's cousin, aunt, & uncle at Tommy's!  Josh really liked the tamales, while I was more impressed with the tempeh burger.  We shared both along with a Greek Salad.  The tofu feta was pure magic! 

And that was our one day trip to Cleveland!

Wedding updates.

I ordered a belt.

I bought materials to make my own veil!  Haberman Fabrics is absolutely wonderful!  Here is the game plan! 
Size.
Pattern.
Now for the flower.

I got shoes!  The most expensive pair I've ever bought, bit of a splurge. 


Garden Updates.

We've made 8 jars of salsa.

Deydrated countless tomatoes.

Made kale chips by sprinkling them with Tony's seasoning and placing them in the dehydrator. Fat free, so easy.

We have some creative zucchini successes and failures. The zucchini browns have been a huge hit, for sure cook them for 20, not 25 minutes. 

And the tomatoes and zucchini keep coming.  Not to understate the winter squash and greens. 

Summer flying by

What remains in this semester. 4 weeks = 11 days of classes + 3 days of finals + 2 days of lab practicals

Josh and me have a garden on the South Side.  Dehydrator is just warming up. 

Yesterday Josh and me used the dehydrator to make zucchini and beet chips!  For the beets we sliced them thin using our mandolin then marinated them in apple cider vinegar over night, before seasoning and dehydrating. For the zucchini chips we sliced them, seasoned them, and dehydrated them. Some of the chips we made "ranch" flavored by using dill (from the garden), garlic, onion, paprika, black pepper, & salt. Some of the chips we made "cajun" flavored by using Tony's Cajun Seasoning, garlic, black pepper, & paprika. 5 & 1/2 hours later...  fairly happy with the 1st results & ready to upgrade to a bigger dehydrator! 

We also dried basil!

In other news, Josh and me booked the Greektown Casino-Hotel for our wedding!  <3 

Vegan Zucchini Corn Bread.

Vegan Zucchini Corn Bread.

• 2 cups finely shredded zucchini liquids reserved
• 1 cup finely shredded carrots liquids reserved
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cornmeal
• ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
•  1 tablespoon smart oil

Combine all ingredients. Place ingredients in a greased 9X9 glass pan.  Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Pair with veggie chilli.

New Orleans - Vegan

Josh does not plan a vacation where one sits on the beach or in some courtyard and one drinks until they can't feel their legs.  Josh plans very nice vacations where one walks until they can't feel their legs. He made us a schedule and we sort of stuck to it.  I wanted to share some highlights. --other than being with him.  We are that cute. See?

Saturday
We got into New Orleans on Saturday night.  Bex (BFF from kindergarten) picked us up.  Dropped things off at her house.  O! Vegasm for dinner.  Really yummy New Orleans inspired greasy spoon in the back of a dive bar. The food was greasier than we typically eat.  But I'd be fine if that was all we ate the whole trip.  The Vegasmic BBQ Sandwich was slamming.  The fried pickles were a little too greasy and uninspired.  The Cole Slaw was rocking the vegan mayo yummyness.  Josh got the Jackfruit Rueben on Rye.  I've never had Jackfruit before and I can't for sure say that I could tell you about the Jackfruit particularly, but overall the sandwich was tasty.  Bex went with the O! Vegasm! Jambalaya and the vegan andouille sausage was something special. St Roch Tavern which host O! Vegasm was a fine little dive bar.  They serve beers in plastic cups, which normally isn't my thing, but in NOLA you can take your drinks to go. Walking by a cop drinking a beer out of a plastic cup, so intense.  Onward to Frenchman St. stopped in The Spotted Cat to see a Panorama Jazz Band (klezmer band) that Bex likes.  She was spot on.  And she was also spot on in an Improv show we went to.

Sunday
Took the street car to the Botanical Gardens.  It was crazy busy because everyone else was trying to get to Jazz Fest.  The Gardens were nice and peaceful after a hectic street car ride.  Followed by brunch at the Canal Street Bistro.  I went with the breakfast burrito, tasty.  Josh got the Quinoa & Black Bean Salad and also reported back in the affirmative. Less greasy than O!Vegasm, but less "New Orleans"-ie? But definitely a good vegan breakfast option in NOLA.  Afterward we wondered all around the French Quarter.  Got some good deals at the flea market on gifts and sun glasses.  Stopped by Pat O'Briens for some happy hour drinks on the patio.  Very nice.  The group of 8 next to us ordered the 3 gallon Hurricane, ridiculous. Pictures in the back right.  I went with a modest (strong) mint julep. Pictured on the very far left.

 For dinner we went to Moon Wok where we shared a Tofu Po Boy (Banh Mi) ($3!) and some vegetable dish (not particularly thrilling... what was it?).  After dinner we met up with Bex to see a murder mystery play, inspired by radio drama, that was also very good! Shadow Box Theatre.


Monday
With Bex, Stella (my favorite dog to date), and Josh we walked to Surrey's Cafe for breakfast.  My first experience of Migas. Good, but not fantastic.  The grits a little salty.  Josh got some tofu stir fry typical un-breakfast vegan food.  Bex's breakfast burrito looked huge.   I was a little jealous.  Onto the street car. Stopped by the famous Cafe Du Monde for beignets, they don't really have vegan food.  Then went on 2 historic house tours in the French Quarter.  Interesting.  I sort of really like that type of thing. Met up with Bex's friend Doc on the ferry to Algiers point.  We bar hopped to 2 local bars and a snowball stand. The Old Point Bar was particularly well liked by Josh, however they ran out of the beer I wanted on tap.  Doc was a great tour guide.  For dinner we went to a little Vietnamese place by Bex's place on Magazine Street.  They served up yummy, seemingly not too greasy food. Afterward we check into bed.  


Tuesday
Went to Bex's restaurant for breakfast. Then off to explore Audubon park and the Fly.  Checked out the Crescent City farmer's market.  Liked it. Went to Jazmine for more Tofu Banh Mi. Good, but not remarkable.  The air-conditioning was the most remarkable part after walking around the park all morning.  Had a mid day coffee with Bex.  Then off to the French Quarter for some African food at Bennachin. The appetizer Akara/blaked Eyed Pea Fritters were amazing and the tomato sauce they came with oh boy.  The rest of the meal was a bit of a let down (especially for the price). It was African food, not Ethiopian food.  The main dishes were less stew like?  Served with rice, not yummy injera.  Stick to country specific restaurants next time? Then across town to Oak Street.  We wanted to go to the Maple Leaf Bar, but they were charging $20 cover, so we passed.  Went to Snake and Jake's.  Low Key, smokey bar.  Didn't make a proper whiskey sour, but did give us the Happy Hour price on well drinks even though it was 3 minutes after happy hour was over. It was the right choice.


Wednesday

Went to Juan's Flying Burrito for breakfast/lunch.  Very satisfying!  Also super cute and fairly cheap. Josh got the Super Green (A grilled mixed vegetable burrito, with green chile, spinach, onion, peppers, broccoli, jalapenos, mushroom, avocado and salsa wrapped in a lightly grilled spinach tortilla with or without dairy).  It had his name all over it.  I went with a wet burrito.  After lunch we got poured on on our way to NOMA for free Wednesday. Josh likes very different art than me.  After the Museum we went to free Jazz at Lafayette Square/ YLC Wednesday at the Square.  It was fun.  Very festive atmosphere.  I didn't price out a drink, maybe I should of?  But the food was not veg friendly.  After listening to some Jazz and doing some dancing we made our way over to for some New Orleans style Vegan food at Carmo.  The server was extremely delightful. Splurged and got the soup of the day - Gumbo, extremely unimpressive.  Our meals were amazing! It was just the opposite of the experience at Bennachin. I got the Rico and Josh got something off the daily menu!


Thursday
Woke up. One final breakfast at Slim's Goodies.  Great end to a wonderful vacation. Bex took us to the airport and we were on our way back to Pittsburgh. 


Then the big question, so what was the best thing you ate dolly?  I really liked the Banh Mi at Moon Wok, but I was a little drunk when I ate it. Does that count?  Because I'm a sucker for all things BBQ, I might have to go with the BBQ sandwich at O!Vegasm.

I'm pretty inspired by the food I ate.  I've made Red Beans and Rice via FFVK, Banh Mi, and Burritos this past week.  I want to do Gumbo, Jambalaya, & BBQ.  And maybe more sandwiches for the summer time in general. 


A recipe for you.

Spicy, creamy, tangy, cilantro goodness/  Vegan "Mayo" for your Banh Mi/  "Sour cream" for your Burrito.  

Mix in a blender/ food processor/ with a hand held blender the following.
1 block silken tofu
1/2 tablespoon El Yucateco Green Habanero Hot Sauce (Josh's favorite)
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon tahini 
1/2 tablespoon lime juice
a bunch of fresh cilantro 
2-3 tablespoons nutritional yeast


Enjoy. 

Wednesday

I made enchiladas.  Josh made Vegan Cheese but did not whisk in the 2 extra tablespoons of water. This evening is coming along.  Can't wait for spring break!

6 months ago, I met the most wonderful Josh. +Vegan Lemon Bars.

Had a lovely weekend.  Went out Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.  Throw back to undergrad weekends?   Sunday had a mostly relaxing day with Josh.  I met him 6 months ago on Sunday.  So it was an anniversary of sorts.  I made lemon bars for us. 

Vegan Lemon bars!

8”X8” baking pan

Mix Crust

¾ oat flour*

¾ whole wheat pastry flour

1/3 c smart oil

¼ cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons water

Press into a greased 8”X8” baking pan.   Bake 350 20 minutes.

While the crust is baking…

Filling ingredients can be mixed in a blender whip for about a minute.  Because there are no raw eggs you can taste in and adjust sugar or lemons to taste! 

2 lemons zested and juiced [~ 2 Tablespoons zest, ½ cup lemon juice]

1 silkin tofu (12 oz)

2 tablespoons oat flour

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons oat flour

Pour over crust.  Bake 350 35 minutes (I checked it at 30 minutes but 35 minutes is how long I ended up baking it… it was SET then.)

Refrigerate for 2 hours!   Cut and serve…  Makes 16 yummy little bites.  Boyfriend approved. 

*For the oat flour I took whole oats and grinded them powder fine in the magic bullet, but you could use entirely whole wheat pastry flour or some all purpose flour instead!  You could also do a graham cracker crust?  Be creative!  

So as usual… I looked at a few different recipes to combine the experience I have with vegan baking and the ingredients I had.  Rustic Lemonhead Oat Bars & Vegan Lemon Bars From The Joy of Vegan Baking, by Colleen Goudrault

 

Lovely weekend.

Eden was lovely.  Got the Vegan Raw Sampler $15 and loved just about every bite!  It's not a super hearty meal, but it is enough small bits to make a meal. I learned that I like portabella mushrooms when they are dehydrated... chewy not smoochy! Josh and Mama Klein got the special for the evening the Raw Enchiladas and oh my were they lovely too.  Papa Klein got a chicken rice dish and like it.  Will for sure be returning!  Afterward went to Starbucks for a sugar free cinnamon dolce, soy steamer.  Josh is always jealous of my ability to order the best beverages the coffee shop offers. 

Went to Quiet Storm again (4th time).  This time Sunday brunch with Carol.  We split the True Grits and Migas.   Loved the grits.  Black beans good too!  Coffee on par.  They had more wait staff working than usual... actually good service?  I might need to up my stars on the google review rating of them?

Valentines day.  Made a lovely dinner with the assistance of Josh.  Whole wheat pasta, mini gimme lean sausage meatballs, "award winning" pasta sauce from the local Italian grocer Groceria Italiana, and oven roasted portabella mushrooms, zucchini, & eggplant.   Yummy.  Then we watched Lady and the Tramp.   It was perfect. 

PS I am addicted to pinterest and the word lovely, officially.

Vegan lentil gravy. Gravy with some subsistence.

This is adapted from Isa Chandra Moskowitz's punk rock chickpea gravy recipe.  It is from the cookbook Vegan with a Vengeance, which Bower House had and I fully recommend!  I located the recipe on Tofu Mom's Blog. The vegan comfort foods presented on this blog sound fabulous! 

I've sort of adapted the recipe over time...  because the recipe makes way too much gravy for one person and lentils are more gravy like than chickpeas.  Generally I only want to have enough left overs for one or two days... not the rest of the week... how much mashed potatoes can a person eat? Also you don't need flour because the lentils thicken.

1 1/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, quartered and sliced thin
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 1/2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed OR 3/4 cup lentils pre soaked (green, brown, or french)
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch paprika
1/2 pinch dried coriander
1/2 pinch dried rosemary
1/2 pinch dried thyme
1/2 pinch dried oregano
OR forgo the rosemary, thyme, and oregano... go with some poultry seasoning! 
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce OR a veggie bouillon cube
1/2 lemon, juice of  OR 1 tablespoon sherry
1/8 cup nutritional yeast
additional water, if needed

Saute 1/2 a medium/small onion and mustard seeds in a splash of oil, add garlic when they are near translucent. If you want to leave out the oil and/or save time, just put the onion, mustard seeds, and garlic in with the water and lentils from the get go!  Add 3/4 cup of lentils to 1 1/4 cup water.  Add some poultry seasoning and/or some of the spices they suggest in the original recipe. You know how I feel about poultry seasoning?  I love poultry seasoning. Cook covered and stirring occasionally until you have a nice soft lentils.  half an hour to an hour.  Add water if it gets too dry.  When you have soft lentils.  When the lentils are cooked [mushy/soft] and NOT before. Add a veggie bouillon cube (more flavorful than soy sauce). I like a tablespoon of Sherry.  What can I say?  Me likes wine.  If you do too... cook another few minutes to cook out the alcohol.  If you decide against sherry, you are making the wrong choice, but can use the lemon juice to add acidity.  And add nutritional yeast as desired. I find what I like about nutritional yeast is its salty and creamy quality.   At this point give it a good stir and a taste, you might decide you want to add a splash of soy sauce, braggs, or salt.  Blend in a blender if desired.  Add water to desired consistency.  I like thicker gravy.

As a side note.  I would never do it, because I'm not a fan of such things.  But you could add some finely diced mushrooms and green bell peppers for some flavor.   

Enjoy.

Polenta Pizza

From the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen I made Polenta Pizza.  Need to make sure the polenta is super thick!  I don't think I thickened mine enough... had to extend the baking time for the crust.

I topped it with pesto, chopped spinach, cheese [not vegan or fat free], diced cherry tomatoes, and dried cherries.  Carol lovingly prepared the toppings! 

It was pretty fabulous!

My blog needs more pictures...  How can my blog be a success without the proper amount of food porn?!

Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes

Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes

For two… 

1/3 cup uncooked hot cereal multi grain (barley, oat, rye, wheat) in food processor

¼ cup unbleached wheat flour

¼ cup wheat bran

1 t baking powder

¼ t baking soda

½ t cinnamon

1 T sugar

1 T flax seed meal to 3 T hot water for an “egg.” Let sit 3 minutes then whip together. 

½ t pumpkin pie spice

½ cup pumpkin puree

½ t vanilla

1 t lemon juice

2/3 cup milk + (3 T) more until thin enough

Gently combine wet and dry ingredients, adding more soy milk (or water) until pancake batter texture has been achieved. 

On a Medium hot skillet.  Spoon out ¼ cup of batter.  Cook until bubbles and the top of the pancake begins to look dry.    Flip, cook additional time to brown.

We got 10 pancakes.

Adapted from…  MyLittle Celebration. 

Pumpkin Bread

Because you know you want to make some pumpkin bread.

Makes 2 loaves. (or 3-4 dozen muffins.)

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup flaxseed meal (trust me)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. vanilla  extract
1 1/2  cups sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups of fresh pumpkin --> 16 ounces if using canned pumpkin  (I have
used zucchini, rhubarb, beet, carrot, and banana alternatively.)
2/3 cup water --> if pumpkin is canned
1/2 cup water --> if pumpkin is fresh or frozen
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chopped pecans optional
a Bag of MINI chocolate chips optional (It is important to use the
mini ones, because the regular sized ones tent to sink and all end up
on the bottom. Highly recommended!)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine flour, flaxseed meal, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar in large mixing bowl. Add eggs, water, oil and pumpkin. Stir until blended. Add nuts. Mix well. Pour into two 9x5" loaf pans. Bake 1 hour.  (Muffins cook about 17 minutes!) Cool slightly and take out of pans to let cool on a rack. It keeps well in the refrigerator and can be frozen.

Original recipe provided by Maryanne Cox and edited by dolly.

To veganize. 

Omit eggs.

Extra 1 tsp. baking soda

TWO 6 oz silk individual vanilla soy yogurt

Use HALF the amount of water.

Vegan Mac and "Cheese"

Lagoon [Lerone] shared this fabulous recipe with me. 

"Cheese" sauce. In a blender. 

1 & 1/2 cups soy milk (plain)

½ to ¾ cup nutritional yeast to taste (this is the cheesy part)
2 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon powdered mustard

¼ teaspoon turmeric (for color)

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

2 garlic cloves

1/2 block soft Tofu
1/4 cup tamari (soy sauce)
1 tablespoon earth balance (vegan butter or vegetable oil)

Pour over 1 lb cooked pasta or 12 oz cooked pasta and a cup of peas or peas and carrots.  

Optional bake at 350 until bubbly. 

5-6 servings. 

Weekend home [weekend 7]

Thursday
Turned out to be exactly as predicted.  I am really liking Amazing Yoga.

Friday
After class I went home packed and took the port authority bus down to the Mega Bus.  I was going to return Josh's cooking pot that I borrowed, but the timing wasn't right.  So the pot took a trip to Detroit.  Got in at 11:20pm.  Went to the house of my childhood.  Went to bed.

Saturday
Woke up for Yom Kippur morning services.  They were fine.  Nothing too insightful.  Went to the original pancake house at 2:30 [after 19 hours of fasting] with Rob and Mary [cousin and girlfriend].  Went home.  Watched some Law and Order: SVU.  Went to Shield's for Greek salad and Detroit style pizza.  Yummy.  Was nice to have some family time!  Went to Miss Emily's break fast.  Lots of yummy food even tho I wasn't hungry [Kahlua cake and mac & cheese].  It was nice to talk about boys! I drove and I felt like I was really speeding [45 mph].  I don't drive much in Pittsburgh and when I do the speed limit is 30 mph or less everywhere in the city.  Detroit also has more than one radio station that plays rap/R&B.

Sunday
Woke up went to Alex's for breakfast with Mom, Dad, Lissa, Erica, and Aunt Marie.  Spinach and feta omelet with rice pilaf and pita bread.  Yummy.   Then over to Rochester Cider Mill to get cider and donuts to take pack to Pittsburgh!   Went with Mom to get ideas about halloween costume things.  Then off via Mega Bus to Pittsburgh.  Went to Hotel Lauren [aka the Westin].  Drank Gin.  Walked around downtown.  Watched animal planet.  More adventures with Lauren [the famous published] Olson to come. 

Monday
Went to school. Went home and studied.  Went to Amazing Yoga with Carol.  Went on a double date with Josh & Mikey & Laura to Mad Mex Shadyside.  Had the Super Mad Mex Burrito with Tofu.  The Tofu was sort of blah.  The Chickpea Chili wasn't saucy enough.  The spicy spinach was spicy, but not amazing.  The blue corn bread did not have texture that was pleasing to me.  We came after the margarita specials were over.  So I cannot comment on those.  If I had a good reason to, I would try it again, but not the tofu and first I want a happy hour margarita!  Josh's freind and his girlfriend were fairly quiet.  I felt like I was interrogating them.  After dinner I wanted to get Josh to stop with me for Gelato.  But I failed at that.

Tuesday
Such a long long day.  Brain exploded by anatomy.  Took a quiz in foundation of OT.  Turned in a essay for mental health.  Sat through 3 hours of mental health lectures!  When it was all over I stopped at whole foods to get dumplings [and other tasty things from the cold food bar] and Shannon's Sorbet Dutch Chocolate [needed to fill that Gelato void from the evening before].  Drove to Josh's. Returned his cooking pot.  Ate dinner.  Cuddled.  Ate Sorbet.  Super chocolatey super yummy really hit the spot.   I think Josh approved of the Sorbet [which was vegan].

Today/Wednesday
Arrived at school only to find out class was canceled.  We received an email at 6:36 am. [On a happy note... Trader Joe's Greek Style Nonfat Blueberry Yogurt is pretty amazing.]  Cadaver lab/quiz.  Then to pick up Lauren at the Westin to transfer her to Hotel Dolly through Sunday! 

Do I think about food too much?  Maybe...  

dolly studies for anatomy exam [Weekend 5]

Thursday
Fuel and Fuddle for happy hour with Chelsea.  Began my furious studying for the anatomy exam count down 1 week.

Friday
Went to Quiet Storm for dinner.   This place gets the dolly approval.  My fake lamb gyro was pretty tasty.  And they had other things I would like to try... like their coffee.  Brunch?  To be visited again.  Afterward went to the world famous [well Joy, Matt & Josh rave about it] Gooski's.  It was fine.  Nothing could match the magic it is described to have.  They DO get bonus points for having Erotic What's the difference? [Kristi!] With time there will be love of Gooski's. If only it wasn't terribly out of the way...  

Saturday
Studied anatomy.  Went to Trader Joe's to get the fixings to cook up some pad thai.   Studied anatomy.  Cooked pad thai for dinner.  Went to a x number of poets for change at Hemingway's.  The poetry was thought provoking.  I was slightly confused about the title Gulf... which I mistook for golf.  Why is golf slimy and black?  She wasn't talking about Tiger Woods.  Really not into Hemingway's bar [scene]. Then we introduced Carol to the All American egg roll.  Yummy!  And called it a night.

Today [Sunday]
Studied anatomy. Josh came over, we walked to lunch at  Dapne Cafe.  Dapne's is a really cute little restaurant.  They don't have an outrageously large menu. I don't know that it feels particularly Turkish, which it is.  Had a baba ganoush sandwich.  I'm really digging the baba ganoush... must be some sort of phase.  Dug the olives on the sandwich... possibly as good an option as pickles would have been.  And the pita bread was really tasty. The tomatoes were perfectly ripe. Really tasty. Very fresh. Walked home. Then a little more anatomy.  Then some HOT [Amazing Yoga] Yoga. [Just a short walk from my house.]   Really cannot be sure if it was the yoga itself or the heat, but I was a hot sweaty [sauna stoned] mess.  I've commit to 5 more weeks of Sunday night yoga, prepaid.  Then home. Took an amazing shower. Talked to my dear miss Emily on the phone for a bit.  Updating this.  Soon to bed.  More studying tomorrow!

Weekend 2.

On Saturday.

Pamela's was very disappointing.  The lyonnaise potatoes were so buttery/ greasy.  The omelet was just ok.  They don't incorporate spinach into an omelet the way I'm used to/ prefer... it had the mushy spinach texture stuffed into the omelet.  Next Saturday a different brunch restaurant might need to be explored. 

After Pamela's, Carol and I walked around the strip.  We did a little grocery shopping at an Asian market.  Carefully reading ingredients to avoid MSG. 

Went back home. Did some reading. 

Went thrifting.  I found a desk for $30! By desk I mean fairly old/ dare I say vintage vanity.  It needed a bit of elbow grease.  And it still smells like old lady.  I also got a nice sized gold framed mirror to hang over my vanity.  I am very excited as to how my room is coming along.  A bookcase would be a nice find and a way to display my ridiculous collection of earrings? Carol and me also picked up a very soft, loud/bright, plaid futon cover.  [Joy hates it.]  We also stopped by the East End Community Thrift, looks very promising, but sadly it was closed by the time we arrived.  We did have a chance to peruse Awesome Books,which was awesome. They have cats.  Very sad to think about my sabbatical from reading for fun that I am on while completing grad school. 

After thrifting went over to the East End Food Coop to get some granola, organic TVP, Bragg Liquid Aminos and Annie's Goddess Dressing.  Then we went to Trader Joe's [that does not sell wine].  Carol's never been to a Trader Joe's before and they have some products I adore... aside from the 3 Buck Chuck...

Hanging around for the evening doing not too much of nothing.


On Sunday

Again woke up 8am.  Made a frittata/quiche without a crust. Carrots, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, swiss, and olives and topped with locally grown fresh tomato slices.  Home fries, too.  Next weekend Joy is going to cook us brunch.  <3 

Did some studying.  The 3 of us [Carol, Joy, and I] sit in the sunroom and each do our respective readings, so nicely. 

Joy drove Carol, Sho, Venera, and me to the Mattress Factory.  It's a nice place.  Could have spent more time there than we budgeted for.

Afterwards we walked over to this colorful house we noticed.  This is where we met Randy of Randyland/ Old Allegheny City.  He is very colorful and talked our ears off.  The world of the day, "nice."  The quote of the day, "I'm not a rebel, I'm an activist."  ... The video will give you just a taste.

Went to The Brillobox for Vegan Sunday dinner [$6] and Church Brew Works on tap [$3] for very happy taste buds.   

Came home.  Make coconut lime bread/cake.  It turned out moderately successful. If you want a slice, come on over.

Matt [Joy's boy] and Trisha [Anthropology girl] came over.  We played Settlers. Joy and Matt were on a team... and they won, proving two heads are better than one. 

Overall very good weekend...  but it just keeps going.


Today Labor Day/ Monday... no school... & Happy birthday Carol!  

I slept in today [10am].  Since I woke up, I have been studying. Took some time to write this.  More studying to come.  Hopefully I will mop and sweep the floor.  O boy!