The granola of my labor

(Labor as in “work” not “birthing”)

Hi bloggies! How are ya?? Hope your humpday has been treating you well 😀

I went out with the girls last night for dinner, since we ended up getting off work a little early. Before leaving, I grabbed some grapies:

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002We went to a super cute place close to downtown, called Iguana

It was one of those nights after a long day, when all I wanted was a glass of red vino.. I just went to add it and there was no pic! I promise it was delicious 😉

For my entree, I chose the Tilapia Salad with black beans instead of corn and salsa instead of dressing

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(The tilapia totally looks like chicken! I assure you it was pescado)

The food was wonderful and the company was even lovelier 😀

This morning, Michelle and I woke up super early to go for a 4 mile run. Kicked. My. Booty. What is it about shorter runs that makes them almost harder than longer runs??? We finished in 38 minutes and then walked around for 5. It killed me, but I felt amazing when it was over.

Something even more amazing? When we got to school, our granola from yesterday had been dehydrated to perfection and was waiting for us to eat it.

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Crunchy, chewy, banana-macadamia granola goodness:

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With fresh almond milk:

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Breakfast of champions:

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After our morning feast, we made some more nut milk to use in the next couple of days.

I decided to use macadamia nuts this time instead of almond, and like yesterday, we dehydrated the pulp to be used as flour.

Mac- pulp:

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We also worked on some knife skills and chopping techniques:

I butchered quite a few ginormous organic carrots

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And we got to work on our lunch: Raw lasagna with pesto, marinara and “cheese” (not the real title, but I can’t remember the fancy schmancy one)

The pesto:

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Marinara –I added extra chili pepper flakes to mine 😀

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And the macadamia nut ricotta:

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I have never seen more beautiful heirloom tomatoes:

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The final product:

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Close-up:

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And then said lasagna was stuffed into my face 😉

I also brought out some blood orange cheesecake scraps from pastry.. yours truly cut the pieces too small, so I brought them into class. And munched one 😀

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We did a couple more things at school (I have pics) but I’m off to get ready to head to workie for the media cocktail party.

I hope you have a wonderful night!

Love,

G

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39 Comments

  1. A on September 9, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Beautiful lasagna!!! I love all the pics!!!!!! You rock girly!
    -A

  2. mara @ whats for dinner? on September 9, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    Amazing stuff here my dear! I’d love to try any and all of that 🙂 so glad you’re enjoying it out there!

  3. Morgan (lifeafterbagels) on September 9, 2009 at 5:08 pm

    WHOA WHOA – that raw lasagna looks amazing! So pretty.

  4. Nicci@NiftyEats on September 9, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    Your dish looks great Gina! raw lasgna sounds yummy.

  5. VeggieGirl on September 9, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    HOLY MOLY look at all the goodies – you are a super chef, my friend!! I’m particularly eyeing the granola 😉

  6. Leianna on September 9, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    Granola looks great! But the “lasanga” looks AMAZING!
    I love blood oranges, so I think I would love cheesecake!
    This school looks like so much fun, I would love an oppertunity like that!

  7. Erica on September 9, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    Glad you had fun with the ladies at dinner last night 🙂 That salad sounds exactly like something I would order 😉 Love salsa instead of dressing. You have made so many incredible things in school already- what has been your favorite?

  8. Low on September 9, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Oh that all looks so good! I’ll be at the party tonight, can’t wait to meet you 🙂

    And Iguana Lounge is awesome, love that place!

  9. Brenna on September 9, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    The lasagna is gorgeous! What a beautiful dish!

  10. Tay on September 9, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    HOLY BEAUTIFUL!! Your food is a work of art. Masterpiece I tell ya 🙂

  11. Carla on September 9, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    That granola looks amazing! I SO want to taste it! LOL

  12. Jenny on September 9, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    those dishes are pure art! and that ‘nola is looking mightay foinnnnne! I bet your belly is very happy 🙂

  13. Kristin (Kristin's Nibbles) on September 9, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    Wow, your plating is awesome! And your food is making me huuuungry! Yum!
    I can’t believe all that is healthy!!

    xo
    K

  14. Jenna on September 9, 2009 at 6:22 pm

    Dang girl, you are already a pro! That cheesecake looks like it has a tag that says ‘Jenna’s’ on it?? Am I seeing that correctly? 😉

    And that granola. I would definitely have to portion that out, otherwise, I could see myself easily eating 4-6 servings!

    Good luck tonight!

  15. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) on September 9, 2009 at 6:27 pm

    Lasanga looks primo…love the mandolin sliced cukes. Nice work!

    Question about the knife skills & carrots…I just posed this question to readers on my blog yesterday ironically about their fave go-to knife. What’s yours and/or what are you using alot of at the Institute? I would love to know!

    Thanks for stoppin by my bloggie last night and for your yoga props to me. It meant alot, thank you so much 🙂

    xoxo

  16. Melissa S. on September 9, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    everything looks awesome!!!! i’m loving that granola!!!

  17. Cara on September 9, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    Wow!
    It looks like you truly have a gift.
    Your pasta creation looks amazing; you are
    one talented woman!

  18. Lizzy on September 9, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    that granola looks to die for.!!!! what other variations do you like to make?

  19. Lisa on September 9, 2009 at 7:28 pm

    All your food looks really beautiful and delicious!

  20. Alicia on September 9, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Gina,
    All of ti looks fantabulous! Will you be making that for la familia when you come home to visit? (hint HINT, hint) 😀

  21. Jenna on September 9, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    gina, it looks like you are having a blast!
    i love tilapia, and yes that piece does look just like chicken.
    you are doing great with all your cooking, they all look super good!
    keep it up 🙂
    jenna

  22. Jennie {in Wonderland} on September 9, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    Wow, Gina, that lasagna looks AMAZING! I did two things tonight that reminded me of you – watched Edward Cullen get all sultry up in herre, and drank a glass of red vino with a plate of spicy shrimpies!!

    Glad you’re having so much fun at school 🙂

  23. Gliding Calm on September 9, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    Everything in this post looks soo amazing!!! All of those raw eats are beautiful! And your granola is making my mouth water!!

    Super cool!!!!

  24. brandi on September 9, 2009 at 8:01 pm

    everything is so beautiful! that lasanga…yum.

    sounds like you’re having a good time 🙂 enjoy your night!

  25. Pam on September 9, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    I love raw cheesecake and that looks really good!

  26. Pam (Highway to Health) on September 9, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Wow – everything looks amazing. I may be drooling…

  27. Lauren on September 9, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    Okay, that granola qualifies as food porn. You should put warnings in your titles before posting such things. LoL….

    Everything looks amazing!

  28. K on September 9, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    Glad you added extra chili pepper flakes – the spicier, the better! Everything looks absolutely divine!! You are going to be a chef extraordinaire!!

  29. angieinatlanta on September 9, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    I can’t even read your posts anymore – I’m TOO jealous!!!

  30. The Pilot on September 9, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    Are you a raw/vegan jedi?

  31. Lindsey (Mrs. LC) on September 9, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    This looks amazing! I’m totally living vicariously through you, and gaining inspiration from you and your eats. 🙂

  32. Betsy on September 9, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    Wow, I’m blown away by how amazing all that food looks! I’m especially intrigued by the dehyrated granola, I’ll have to give that a try – my dehydrator does not get used enough!

  33. Sarena on September 9, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    That class looks like so much fun! I wish I would have gone to a place like that 15 years ago instead of a regular culinary school! The food looks amazing!

  34. WholeBodyLove on September 9, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    That lasagna presentation looks lovely! It’s so cool that you make your own nut milks and dehydrate the pulp for flour! I love least waste procedures. You’re making healthy, tasty meals and saving the planet one dish at a time.

  35. Brenda on September 9, 2009 at 11:58 pm

    That granola looks so good! Will you be able to post the recipe for that at all?

  36. Alli on September 10, 2009 at 10:52 am

    The lasagna is unbelievably beautiful. I can just taste it now. Yum. Love your blog…Alli

  37. Ashley on September 10, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    O.M.G. that cheesecake – i die.

  38. Emily on September 10, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Oh my, that lasagna looks so good! I wish I had it in front of me now 🙂

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