A kombucha convert?
Hey everyone! Happy humpday! I am totally blown away by the amazing discussion we had yesterday regarding food and fitness blogs.
After reading through and responding to your incredible comments, I think the general consensus is:
- Food/fitness blogs are incredibly motivating but can also be a source of comparison which can lead to feelings of inadequacy
- The way these blogs are viewed and responded to largely depends on the reader and blogger
- It’s up to us to know our bodies, what works best for us, and to use these blogs for fresh workout ideas and recipes- no need to compare 😀
I just have to say that ya’ll are awesome and it was so enjoyable to read through all of the comments after work 😀
Now here’s the school re-cap I owe ya! (The highlights)
We made our own spice blend after learning about herbs and spices. Mine had cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne and ancho chili powder.
Gina spice:
(My favorite Spice Girl was Posh, btw haha)
And after pulling our blue corn tortillas out of the dehydrator:
And made the lightest, most delicious tostadas I’ve ever had
Orange bell pepper cream on the bottom and layered with queso blanco, dehydrated squash, fresh avocado, heirloom (or hair-loom ha) tomato cilantro.
I just really need to stop learning how to make all of this nasty food 😉
I took the remaining two tortilla shells home with me to dip into salsa later 😀
We made a chocolate whipped cream and frosted the malted chocolate tarts:
You know I ate one:
And we sampled our homemade kombucha which I flavored with a little agave, goji berries and fresh orange juice
The verdict: Light, sweet and delicious 😀 So different than the usually offensive and pungent variety! I’m totally going to be making some at home
I do have to say the highlight of the day was a visit from a local organic farmer and founder of Oklahoma’s composting program, Cathy Moore
To be honest, when I first got here I hardly knew anything about composting. That changed pretty quickly! All of the food waste from the restaurant and academy is put into compost bins for local farmers to take. I think it is SO fascinating and incredible that you can take things from the earth, put them back, and watch it flourish. It was incredible to listen to Cathy Moore’s stories, background and how she feels we have all gotten away from our roots as far as eating and food goes. She doesn’t buy anything from a package and subsists almost entirely on vegetables and grass-fed organic meat from her farm. It’s amazing that the “modern” way of looking at food is actually the oldest—she said we can live entirely on the earth and land.
Well it’s time to get ready for clase, but I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday <3
Much love,
G
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OMGosh I LOVE smoked paprika! It is my favorite seasoning to use, I use it SO much. I am actually posting about it today on my blog!
That tostada looks amazing!!! I would love to make my own kombucha! We started composting this year, hopefully we can use it for our garden next year! 🙂
Sometimes I wish I would be willing to give it all up, buy a farm, and dig my hands into the earth. I think it would be such a simple, beautiful life to create the food we eat, trade with neighboring farms, and use our bodies every day in such a useful way.
P.S. I will say that I am pretty good at not wasting anything. Since we got married I have only thrown away one item once, when it was hidden in the back of the fridge and I forgot about it.
one thing?!? that’s seriously amazing
*hides face in shame* um, i’ve thrown away a little more than that
Love your spices!
Tostada looks really good, all the food combos I love.
Glad you liked your homemade kombucha!
Hmm… I think I’d like to try making my own kombucha if YOU say it tastes good 🙂 I missed the discussion yesterday due to my wedding cake tasting (!!!) but I totally agree with the conclusions drawn!
um i’d rather be wedding cake tasting than reading my blog anyway 😉
I LOVE Kombucha, I have known a few friends who made their own and I am waiting to try! I will have to take the plunge. I didn’t see the post about blogging and fitness/food discussion yesterday, I will have to back track and see. I know as a blogger even, not just a reader, it can get overwhelming if you compare yourself with others and what they are doing. Just be true to yourself and your own journey! Excellent post… thanks! Mary
I will take your light sweet and delicious kombucha over whatever I tried at WF a few months back! No me gusta… Yours looks so refreshing!
wow wow wow
so gorgeous and i’m sure so delicious!!!
and about composting-if you store it all your food scraps in a bag and put it in the freezer, it doesn’t smell and keeps until you have time to take it somewhere to process!!! super helpful for those of us with tiny apartments!
have a great wednesday!
I have loved reading about your experience. This looks so cool!
Your spice blend = music to my tastebuds! The choco tartes look divine. Is that a hazelnut on the one? Or a blob of nut buttah? Either way, can I lick that lil blob off, it looks soooo good 🙂 !!
Thanks for the comment recap, I can save myself a lil reading but I do like to peruse your comments quickly and see what people usually have to say in a cliff’s notes skim.
And composting and being socially conscious..just yesterday my tip of the day to readers was all natural face cleansers and how to make homemade wipes with tea tree oil. And I featured a brekkie cookie of yours 🙂 But yeah, getting back to our roots is sooo important. I really appreciate you bringing some awareness to it on your blog! I dont personally compost b/c of the heat here, I just cannot have the ummm pests that composting attracts, but if I had a large scale restaurant and local farmers to take my scraps off my hands, you’d better believe I’d be all over it in a heartbeat. But I recycle and reuse everything, that’s my compromise 🙂
Happy Humpy Day Gina!
xoxo
Ah, composting is definitely one of those things I feel guilty for not doing. It’s a challenge when you live in a NYC apt though! No doubt about it. Just trying to do my part to be as green and recycley as is practical for now. When I’m a MILF in the ‘burbs I will jump on the compost heap. 🙂
Very cool re: the homemade kombucha! Would love to try doing that.
Seeing all your amazing raw food posts lately makes me really want to get my act together and try out the new (and only) raw restaurant that just opened up in my town!
And I love composting! My parents have always done it and I’ve just followed through with it. Takes up WAY less space in the garbage through out the summer months!
holy mackeral! The tarts look awesome as do the blue tortillas! Yum!
What a great way to flavour kombucha! How did you add in the goji berries? Did you puree them or use their juice?
I need to tend to my scobys… they need to be transplanted into new jars lol. I have let a couple batches of my kombucha just go to vinegar probably. Lol. Too busy!
Have a great day!
-muffy
Everything looks soo good.. Everytime I been looking at your blog lately I get soooo hungry!!
Yum! Everything looks so wonderful! I agree with megan..that made me hungry!
My goodness all the food looks so darn good! I am always drooling when I read your posts! 🙂
Ummmm… So I think you should have one more “meet-up” before you head home cause I had to miss it due to our move 🙁 Just an idea!
Oh annnnd while you’re here you should check out the Tinker Commissary! They have Lara Bars for $.85/piece and a small but yummy Amy’s/organic/gluten free selection…
$.85 larabars?!? i’m so there
we’re having an event at the restaurant on oct 3 if you would like to come! some famous raw chefs will be there 😉
Bring on that tostada – holy yum! Looks incredible 🙂
Really enjoying your post Gina…thanks!
The food you are making looks absolutely amazing! And I love Kombucha. It is so expensive to buy, but your home-made looks like a great alternative. I love reading about all the food you are making at this school. Very cool
How hard is it to make kombucha?
I want to do it!
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Hi Gina,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while and finally have started my own blog! You can check it out if you want to at http://oatmealandalmondbutter.blogspot.com/ Anyway, I just wanted to say I finally made a breakfast cookie based on your recipe, and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten! Thanks for all the great recipe and fitness ideas!
seriously gina stop making all nasty food 😉 but really it all looks fab!
jenna
I have a few friends that drink Kombucha, but I don’t even know what is it! All I know is that it smelled really bad and unless it tastes better then it smells, I’m not so sure about it. Any way to make it more tasty because I’m assuming its probably really really good for you?
the probiotics are extremely beneficial and most kombucha tastes pretty bad. i’m getting used to it though 😉
OMG I want that dessert!!!
I would have just eaten up what Cathy had to say. I bet she was inspiring to say the least. Your time there is just getting even better. Love the combination in your Gina Spice hehe. Yeah, Posh was my favourite too, but when I was out one night, with these massive platform ‘spice girl’ inspired heels, a girl called me Scary Spice…and I don’t thin she was being nice 🙁 hahahaha
I heard making your own kombucha can be dangerous. I read a couple arguments against homemade brews, b/c it is so difficult to ensure the pH levels and all the other factors are in the “safe” zone….
hey girl,
fermenting anything can be dangerous, but from what i’ve learned it’s pretty easy to use your senses and determine if something is edible or not. human instinct and our sense, particularly sight and smell, can help us to know if we should consume something.
Gina,
I was reading your blog and your comment popped up in my email. We were thinking of each other at the same time, and that makes me happy. 🙂
When you get back to V-town, I want to come down for an all un-cooked dinner and homemade kombucha. Sound good? I’ll bring the Trader Joe’s almond butter. 🙂
you have your own spice blend? Very Emeril-esque.. how much more legit can you geti!?
hahaha not gonna lie, i felt pretty pro at that moment 😀
I need to attend this school. I seriously drool over EVERYTHING!!!
I love reading about your time at school! I’ve been reading for a while but I don’t think I’ve ever commented. I tried my first breakfast cookie yesterday and it wasn’t too cookie-like haha. Tomorrow will be my 3rd attempt at the right consistancy, and it looks promising sitting in the fridge so far!
YUM gina! That looks so great! Congratulations on fulfilling your dreams, I have been reading your blog for quite some time, and I must say – you are truly an inspiration. It’s rare to see a woman devote so much of herself into her passions, and then have the courage and kindness to share it with the whole world.
thank you so much!
i always think about how we only live once, so what not spend it doing what we love?? 😀
I’m loving all this delicious looking food. I was curious about your Military Wife journey. I would love to read about it. If you have already written about it, link me please! I’m an Army wife and I love hearing about other’s experiences. The Husband is in Iraq and gets home in less than a month over here. SO excited!
Thanks,
Tyler
hey girl,
i haven’t about my transition into military wife but i have done some musings on it and written about deployments. if you type “deployment” or “military vida” in the search bar on the right hand side, all of my posts regarding being a military wife should come up! if i were organized, i would have compiled it all into one post 😉
You make me want to go culinary school. The chocolate tarts look awesome! I loved Baby Spice.
Cool thought about the compost thing. If you wouldn’t throw it in your garden to feed plants, why would you throw it in your mouth?
I wanted to ask can you please share your convicts recipe. I have read great things about it and would like to make some. Thanks!