First 5 hours on my new tattoo (by the ever so talented James Kern.) Only oh, say...10 more hours to go.

It is a leopard (obviously) surrounded by pink camelias. It symbolizes passion. When I was younger I used to believe passion was wild and ferocious. I've since discovered that there is much greater depth and subtelty to this. (Yes. I'm a slow learner.)

*Cough, cough. Sniff, sniff.* (aka: "I Hate Detox")

I'm not sure if it's due to stress alone that I am laid out here in bed. I think it's Detox. I never believed in it prior to this. After a good 7 months of feeling bloated, on edge, and wired I decided to return to my previous raw diet. The weather and the beginning of school were what pulled me off the wagon. I just couldn't fathom drinking a green snoothie when it was damp and cold (outside and in). I wished I'd done so now, however as I wouldn't be going through all this (sinus infection, distended belly, ear ache, rashes, feeling "hot" (not in the "crazy/sexy hot" way), metal taste in my mouth, tender breasts...blah!

That said I have zero craving for wine and I love the buzz I get from raw coconut oil, green juice, and coconut water. It just sucks because I have no energy for yoga or dance. It's driving me crazy. I'm hoping another day in bed (and perhaps Spanish Water torture) will rid me of this. (Or perhaps a colonic. Hmmmm...)

I gots a little catchin' up to do... Numero uno: Comida

Raw/cooked/raw/cooked/raw...still trying to figure out what does my body good.  I'm seeing a new acupuncturist who has really provided some food for thought (or vice versa).  Here are some of my creations from this year.  Many more beautiful and fun things of course, but just thought I'd share. I love cooking (and uncooking).  I value creativity--growing vegetables, starting companies, extrapolation, contemplation, regeneration, etc. yadayadayada...without further ado...

    raw chocolate mousse

   

    raw chocolate chip cookie dough (in progress)

    ginger/cinnamon sprouted buckwheat granola w/sprouted almonds

     raw chocolate cookie dough (stage II -- later were dipped in chocolate...in this version I forgot the cacao nibs!)

    raw mango cheesecake

     and more raw nori w/avocado

If all else fails...brown rice baby food...

So, I seem to have a permanent look of nausea on my face (perhaps this is due to feeling nauseated). I am unable to keep down anything aside from soy chocolate pudding (a little), tea, spinach, broccoli, onions, roasted butternut squash, fruit pectin gummy bears, and baby food. Sad, but true. (Whatever happened to my affair with cuisine from Athens?! Adventures in Afghan cooking?! Ice cream fanaticism?!!)

Gone, baby gone...

Blech!

(As she sips ginger tea...)

Stumptown Vegans: New Heroes

I read Stumptown Vegan's blog on Dalo's Kitchen a few weeks ago. For whatever reason in my 30's I've become much less adventurous. I like kickin' it at home. But...I have a sweet spot for Ethiopian food. I think I read and re-read their review about 30 times before I mustered up the courage to order carry-out tonight.

*Shameless Endorsement for Stumptown Vegans*
Heroes of the Portland metro area. Go wherever they say you should go!

*Shameless Endorsement for Dalo's Kitchen*
OMG...I'm not sure if it's better for me to promote these guys or not (fears major storming of the castle at Dalo's...no longer $4.75 for two meals...fears quality will go down if promotes the treasure in the hole in the wall....) Not just THAT...the staff is so friendly and genuine. What a gold mine. It was just delicious (x 3000). :) Belly & Mind are tres happy due to aforementioned heroes of the Portland metro area. (Thank you!)

(Note: no photograph due to instant inhalation of delectable dinner.)

Green is the new "black"

Lately, I've been hyperconscious about how "green" I am. I ponder over the recyclability (is that a word?) of every tea bag...I consciously determine whether I can wait to go to Trader Joe's on the way home from work, if I can walk, or if I need to scoot over there in the little car...I think about every little thing from how long I take a shower to what lights really need to be on...

Point is that I've got "green" on my mind.

That might explain tonight's dinner:

Appetizer
Organic artichoke with lemon caper sauce (green on yellow on green)

Entree
Baked Chard Polenta Napolean over Edamame Pesto

Dessert
Chocolate Mint Ice Cream...Okay, so not "green" but the vision of "green" enters one mind when the word "mint" pops up, no? :)

Marvelous!

Sunshine and Salad Rolls

So, it's been hot here (no...I mean it...really, it's been hot here)--97 degrees yesterday. This makes me infinitely happy. I am a hot weather girl (even if I do wear 55 sunblock, wear a hat, big sunglasses and neru shirts to cover up. Hey! I never said I like to look old and wrinkly). Anyway, that called for some lighter food (lighter...not less caloric.) I made the chickpea, dill, and rice dish from Veganomicon again (!), had some dates (note to self: need to stop buying yummy dates from People's Coop or will end up toothless like date guy in San Francisco), and some salad rolls.

For the salad rolls I used the dipping sauce recipe from Veganomicon. I'm getting better at tucking the veggies into the rolls so that they stay put. This time I sliced butternut squash and baked it in the oven for 40 minutes (turning halfway in between). I had leftover cucumber, so added that along with roasted, salted pumpkin seeds, which provided an unexpected surprise (no, really...I forgot I put them in there when I was eating).

Said weather is brilliant again today. (Asks self: "More salad rolls today?")