Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Organico Darling!



I got my business cards! Lane designed these for me and they are perfect. I am officially a baker and I love it. My family is not that happy with all the baked delights that are available 24/7 but I do enjoy feeding them with tofu, in the shape of chocolate mousse, vegan cakes and cookies.

It also helps that I have so many people from craigslist come over to take a look at my stuff, we don't have a left over problem! Seriously, I will be in Costa Rica in less than 2 weeks and the only thing that I know is I am going to take a week off and just surf and read! Moving sucks, saying goodby is even worse and i am tired...

Lemon-Mint Sorbet



I love using my ice-cream machine for healthy treats. This lemon sorbet recipe is a snap to prepare and is perfect in between meals (before real dessert:)

3/4 cup of sugar
1 cup of lemon juice
1 cup boiling water
zest of one lemon
bunch of fresh mint, chopped fine (optional)

Mix all the ingredients, chill for at least 2-3 hours, or overnight. Use an ice-cream machine according to directions.

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

the secret

from We Like it Raw:

The movie The Secret has been a huge underground hit. In the legacy of What the Bleep!?, The Secret entertains, educates and inspires viewers by showing them the true possibilities of the Universe. I watched the movie about 1 month ago by paying $4.95 and viewing it online. It was totally worth it! It was a great and inspirational film that doesn't necessarily teach you something new, but rather reminds you of what you inherently know. And just what is that? Well... you'll have to watch to find out!

Check this out!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

on being human

Herman Melville - "We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men....

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

5 Things to eat before you die...

Melissa at The Traveler's Lunchbox started a project in August, asking fellow bloggers to name 5 things to eat before they die. Cenk just posted his list and I wanted to do mine, but it is hard to come up with only 5 things...So I cheated and created two lists, one for me and one for you...
 
Here is mine:
 
1) Breakfast, lunch or dinner or scraps at the French Laundry
2) Pierre Herme Macaroons Paris or Tokyo
3) Summer Rolls at Kai's Vegetarian Restaurant in Thailand
4) Dinner at Pure Food and Wine in NY
5) The 5 Elements shake at Organico
 
Here is yours (feel free to substitute from mine:)
 
1) Zen Dinner at Minako
2) Dinner at Playa des Artisans in Montezuma
3) Dhamma Bread (www.dhamma.org)
4) Bread from Freestone Bakery
5) Bread Pudding at Tartines (18th and Guerrero)
 
Runner Ups
5.b. Mochi ice-cream (green tea)
 
Here is yours if you go to Istanbul
1) Ciya Kadikoy Carsisi
2) Hala Manti Beyoglu
3) Imza Pastanesi Ciftehavular (Ekler, Acibadem Kurabiyesi, Balli Pasta ve Milfoy Pasta)
4) Rokoko, Divan
5) Kumpir, Ortakoy

 
 

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Organico Recipes: Julayne's Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry Muffins

Julayne started blogging about her experience in Cambodia. Her blog is really cool and I can't wait to see her pictures. I met her through Lane and she has been such an inspiration to me on this Costa Rica deal...Quoting wonderful Ann, cheers to the citizens of the world!

Julayne loves blueberry muffins and she is on the Organico menu, as long as she keeps her promise to come and taste the real thing:)

I used Mendocino Mornings cookbook for the base recipe and veganized it by replacing the egg with flax seed, milk with soy milk, butter with coconut oil and mashed bananas...I also used a mix of corn meal and wholewheat flour with regular flour...It is fun to be a fairy!

Also, special thanks to Phil for the latest and the greatest addition to my bakeware collection...The ultimate muffin pan- in red and silicon...It rocks!

And also special thanks to Mama Boothby for lending me the cookbook. Highly recommended!

Berry Cheesecake (Shhhhhh, it is raw!)


The raw cheesecake...Keep on reading, seriously, it is not a joke. Compared to my old favorite (8 packages of 8oz cream cheese, heavy cream, sugar, butter), this gem recipe only has raw ingredients that blends smooth like silk (Vita-Mix again) and it is just a pure pleasure to eat. Even in the shape of a skull...Come'on now, that is something!!

Step by step pictures from Matthew are here. All you need is almonds and date paste for the crust, fermented cashews, agave nectar, lemon juice, almond milk, vanilla for the cheesecake. You get the ingredients ready, I will post the recipe later tonight.

You are Dead to me NOW!
What's up with the skull? I changed my religion, I now worship the God of Pinwheels and the almighty has requested this cake on May 19th...


Credits on the handsome marzipan skull go to Fagerstorm. We first tried to do a free hand model but it was hard to get it smooth. So, we decided to roll it and pressed it right on to the model...That worked like magic!

The cheesecake took 10 minutes to prep, and we used strawberries with some cherry pie filling for a more realistic blood look. And, it also helped that I cut my hand while opening the damn can! It turned out really ugly, I am so proud of it!


They are dead to me now...There were tears at the airport, but it is all good, quoting Rumi, death is our marriage to eternity (via John).

God of Pinwheels and Cupcake Laniest...

Monday, October 02, 2006

Adventurous Stranger

"Make your choice, adventurous stranger:
strike the bell and bide the danger
or wonder, till it drives you mad,
what would have happened if you had"

–the quote is from C.S. Lewis, author of
"The Chronicles of Narnia".

Daily Lit

Reading one of my favorite novels via Daily Lit...Highly recommended...(both the book and the service)
 
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. " Anna Karenina, p.1

Begin it now...

Sera just sent me this...I can't agree more....

Until one is committed,
there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts
of initiative and creation,
there is one elementary truth
the ignorance of which
kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur
to help one that would never
otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events
issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner
of unforeseen incidents,
meetings and material assistance
which no man could have dreamed
would have come his way.

Whatever you can do
or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it.
Begin it now.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Finally....



I am finally doing it...Moving to Costa Rica and opening my own place. Got my ticket for November 7th. There is a lot of work to do, but I am so ready, (and relieved!)

Bhavatu sabba mangalam.
"May all beings be happy."

Update: See my first post from Costa Rica...I can't believe I am doing this!