Saturday, June 18, 2011

A Fine Spring Day

Yesterday was one of those sunshiney Spring days that feels like a warm hug.  Good days like this usually start with a trip through the King Harvest drive-up for coffee and a vegan tahini oat cookie first thing in the morning.  It's (sort of, usually) on my way, and I can't not stop. This place is friendly and adorable with plenty of vegan options and good coffee.  They have cute hand-drawn signs.  I love that sort of thing.
THE cookie.  Tahini, oats, flax seed, golden raisins.  This + Americano = awesome morning treat.
Followed by a walk through the park in my backyard. Pretty.
Then a snack:
That's not salsa! It's roasted red pepper and artichoke tapenade with daiya mozzarella style shreds.  Tasty.
The afternoon was cat naps with Pixins, and a last minute stop by the Whole Foods salad bar for dinner (edamame + curry quinoa!), then cuddling up to watch back to back episodes of True Blood season 3 before the next season starts.

And in true Portland fashion today was rainy and perfect for another trip up North to my new favorite vegan place in Portland.  In the name of research for a (near) future blog post, of course :)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Easy Eats

Well, I've been a little kitchen-deprived lately.  Mostly because my housing situation is in transition and I just don't have the time in my kitchen that I'm accustomed to.  This means lots of low effort meals and eating out.  And things like the sweet little mandarins pictured above, nature's fast food.
I picked up a new coconut hacker and some fresh young coconuts (my favorite!) at an awesome little neighborhood Asian market.  This one turned into a smoothie with mango and spinach (also my favorite).
I love coffee.  It's my worst vice and  I don't plan on giving it up anytime soon.  I always drank it black.  Until I tried this Wild Wood soy creamer.  Now I prefer my coffee a lighter shade of brown and creamy with a nutty aftertaste.  Probably should have never tried this.
Gnocchi is so quick and easy to make.  Especially since Trader Joe's whole wheat gnocchi cooks in 5 minutes.  This is tossed with a coconut milk cream sauce, sauteed mushrooms, and green onion. 
This has been my work lunch all week.  Toasted Ezekiel sesame bread, vegan cream cheese, spinach, avocado, and maple tempeh strips.  Yum yum yum yum yum.
Eating out and remembering to take a photo of cute boyfriend with Ethiopian food.  The food was just ok, but made me look forward to learning how to make injera once I get my awesome new kitchen.  This is why I don't always like eating out.  I usually feel like I could make it better. 

I do have a favorite new vegan place in Portland that I'm going to feature in a future post.  This place is so great that it deserves it's own space.  Here's a hint: it's in the North and they make their own sauerkraut.  I promise to reveal more soon :)