Month: September 2011

Coffee

National Coffee Day

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National Coffee Day

Unfortunately, no one seems to know how or who started this celebration, but it’s here. Ah yes, I remember it as if it were yesterday: walking into a local coffee roaster situated in a huge warehouse, about to interview for an Accounting position (of course I got it)! Knowing absolutely nothing about coffee except the fact that I loved Caramel Frappes from Starbucks (not coffee knowledge, by the way). Anyhow, a little exposure here and there and sure enough … I am now celebrating my 10th year in coffee.

Slurp, Cup, Spit, Hedging, Dosing, Roasting, Trading, Non-Profits, Origin and yes, COFFEE. Just the standard industry jargon (or maybe gibberish) in my world. I have hated that I LOVE every moment of it though. It is a fantastic experience and a fabulous career if you truly understand the life of the bean … we are here though to celebrate those that acknowledge and respect having that gift of understanding.

Hooray Cafe!

~Sit down, Shut up & Sip it~

Appetite

RECIPE: Coconut Cupcakes

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GOOD MORNING!! Ok, Ok, so being bombarded with friendly requests to find out what we had for dessert, I am happy to recommend this fabulous recipe from my fave Paleo site: Coconut Cupcakes:

6 Eggs, ½ cup Coconut Flour; ½ cup Agave; ½ cup Coconut Oil;’ ½ tsp Vanilla; ½ tsp Baking Soda. Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pour into well-oiled cupcake tin and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. (TIP: Throw in some Organic Vegan Choco Chips and leave in the oven for another 2 minutes then take out to cool).

This cupcake turned out super moist with ooey-gooey chocolate happiness within. I double boiled more choco chips and coconut oil and glazed and doused the tops of the cupcakes for an extra treat !!!! Heaven !!!!

~ eat WELL folks, ENJOY ~

Appetite

RECIPE: Paleo Aioli

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The Art of Eating Paleo .. Tonight, my attempt to cheat yet another fatty favorite of mine ~ Aioli! So the classic version: Garlic, Mayo & Egg :(  No more mayo for me remember. SO! Here is my version: Paleo Pretend Aioli …..

2-3 tbsp Honey, 2 Yellow Squash, ½ cup Parsley, Ginger to taste, Cracked Pepper & the secret ingredient BLUEBERRY VINEGAR to taste (you can use red wine vinegar too though). Take the squash, peel and cut into cubes. Boil until a fork can easily poke through it. Drain well, if not the consistency will be too runny. I use a hand held blender, but a food processor will be great to use as well. Throw everything in together and blend away (TIP: for the ginger, I use about 10 back and forth runs over my Microplane) … This Aioli is a great accent to either chicken or fish.

Tonight it was served with my Cauli “Rice”, Stir “Fried” Veggies & Smoked Sockeye Wild Salmon ~ Bon Appetit!

Lifestyle, Wellness

You Inner Child

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With everything going on in my life and spending the last couple of months super focused and all about my career, I have lost sight of her ~ my Lil “Kat”ness; my inner-child. So after getting back from a great trip and really getting an opportunity to see my potential and how others “take me”, this is my Daily Om:

You could be capricious and fun-loving in your social encounters today. Your sense of fun may be due to your desire to connect with, and listen to, your inner child. Perhaps because you might recognize that there is little in life that is truly serious and critical to your enjoyment of the moment, you may find it easier to pay attention to that part of you which is carefree and uninhibited. Indulging your childlike self in play today could help you become more present with all things and people that are part of your life. As a result, you might notice that your life is saturated with an ever-present sense of wonder, and marvel at the beauty of each and every encounter you have with others. 

Our uncomplicated and free-spirited innocence and play brings an awareness of the preciousness of each moment into our lives. When we were children, we acted based on what we felt was right — without fear of what others thought of us — and our days were filled with tangible, physical, and lighthearted experiences that were based on the here and now, rather than on the past or future. Consciously returning this lost child to our current lives allows us to, once again, live in the present — which, in turn, lets us not only experience everything to its fullest, but also brings a sense of purity and fun into all of our interactions. Bringing your inner child out to play today will infuse your relationships with your lighthearted and unpredictable exuberance.

~ Don’t forget to laugh uncontrollably today ~

Appetite

RECIPE: Scones

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A treat for you .. Ok, so obviously, I AM A COFFEE ADDICT!! BUT … as with everything else in my life, I can never stop at indulging in just one thing at a time ;P

So, what a perfect pairing ~ SCONES! Now, as you all may know, I am trying my very best to stick to my new PALEO life. This is my best attempt at “cheating” .. I truly hope you enjoy this recipe:

2 cups almond meal; ¼ tsp Himalayan sea salt; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ cup fresh blueberries; ½ cup organic vegan chocolate chips; ¼ cup organic unsweetened coconut flakes; 1 egg; 2 tbsp Agave nectar (& an extra squeeze of the bottle for good measure)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees; use a little Grapeseed spray oil on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and set aside; in 1 bowl, mix all dry ingredients; in a 2nd bowl mix egg and Agave; mix both bowls together and knead with your hands

I form little rectangles with them then slice them diagonally to create the “scone effect” ~ Bake for 17 minutes or until golden brown and cooked thru. OMG!! The chocolate chips should have fused incredibly with the blueberries to really take you away along with that morning cup of cafe!

Lifestyle

Public Market in Seattle

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True Love … This past weekend I was blessed to have gotten an opportunity to travel to Seattle. There, I found myself falling for its charm and sweet simplicity. Although I was traveling for work and attending a coffee convention, I had to make it to the public market. So I walked myself through downtown “towards the water” (as the locals kept directing me) and ended up here. It was fantastic: the vibrant colors of all of the flower vendors; the enchanting aromas of smoked this, lavender that, and wood carvings of all sorts; & YES! SUCCESS! I found it! The most amazing sight of RED CHARD (hahaha ~ if you know me, red chard is a staple in my cuisine). So of course, I had to take a picture of it in its most marvelous form. The atmosphere was so organic, so captivating, super amazing. Every direction had something to satisfy every urge of “whatever” in you. 

Appetite

Vino

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Hi everyone …

Last night … I absolutely fell in love again <3 So, I have a plethora of wine at home, which I have stored away in my wannabe wine cellar (garage, hahaha). I usually have a smaller selection of daily drinkers to enjoy with dinner inside the house in a smaller wine cabinet. So after killing the remnants of the OZV Zin, I decided that the perfect pairing with my spicy slivered pork and beets would be a bottle of .. YES .. Cupcake’s Red Velvet. Wine Notes: Bouquet consists of red fruits and chocolate, intense flavors of blackberry, mocha and more chocolate. Complex flavors and soft tannins make this a very loving wine. A blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet, the bold flavors are consistent with each sip

I know right …..

 

Lifestyle, Wellness

My Breaking Point

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This is what I looked like right before I started this journey …. I have attached a photo to show everyone my breaking point. I am only 4’11 .. & yes, in that photo i was weighing in at 167 pounds. 

My baby bro walked into my parent’s place after taking a tour at the newest addition of a “hyped-up money making scheme” (well, that’s what I thought) ~ UFC Gym. I was telling him that it was a glorified adult’s playground and that it wouldn’t be conducive for achieving the physical success that my brother was looking for. He just needed a little discipline and a regular work out regimen and I thought that UFC was too commercialized and too brute for my baby brother. 

So here it is .. he asks my mom if he could sign up. She says absolutely not and that’s when it all started! He comes crying to his big sisters & begs us to convince our mother that he NEEDED this. So, being the eldest, I needed to (at the very least) find out why my brother was hooked onto this idea of this gym AND if this would be the best thing for him.

I come up with a list of questions, that I know that the sales councilor would not be able to answer correctly and long and behold I am running out of there with a membership … :( (EPIC FAIL) haha… It turns out that it has been the BEST thing for me. I met people that will have changed my life forever; saw who I was really meant to be … & who I will be for the rest of my life. 

I have attached a current photo :) I will keep you posted on how I got here …