Apr 29, 2015

Recipe: Vegetarian Pad Thai

I'm on a mission to cook my way around the world! 

It's a lot of fun to explore different cultures and food can be such a big part of culture. Everyone uses spices differently and there''s so much to be learned when you venture out of your comfort zone in the kitchen!


I decided to attack a meal that sounded fairly intimidating to me - pad thai. I was pleased to find that it turned out well from the get-go and after some tweaks to increase authenticity, here's a recipe that I'm happy to share with all of you for a vegetarian pad thai!

Vegetarian Pad Thai
Serves 6-8


Sauce:
* 0.5 c. white sugar
* 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
* 0.25 c. fish sauce
* 2 Tbsp. tamarind pulp

Main:
* 1 (12 oz.) package dried rice noodles
* 0.5 c. peanut oil
* 1.5 tsp. minced garlic
* 4 eggs
* 1 (12 oz.) package firm tofu, cut into 0.5 inch strips
* 0.25 c. soy sauce
* 1.5 Tbsp. white sugar
* 1.5 tsp. salt
* 1.5 c. roughly ground peanuts

Accompaniments:
* 0.5 c. chopped fresh chives
* 1 tsp. chili powder
* 2 c. fresh bean sprouts
* Optional: 1 lime, cut into wedges


1) Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat, mixing continuously. I like using a whisk, because the tamarind pulp I had clumped otherwise!



2) Soak the noodles in cold water until soft, about 10-15 minutes. Drain.

3) Warm the peanut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

4) Add the garlic and eggs; scramble the eggs.

5) Add tofu and soy sauce. Stir until well mixed.

6) Add drained noodles. Mix frequently until cooked through (~5 minutes). 

7) Add in the sauce that you made earlier, along with the white sugar and salt. 

8) Add ground peanuts, mix well.


9) Remove from heat, add chives and chili powder. Toss well. 

10) Serve with fresh bean sprouts and lime wedges on the side. If you want extra kick, feel free to add some sriracha sauce!


Enjoy!
What would you like me to make next?

Which world cuisine is your favorite?

Are you an adventurous eater?

Apr 27, 2015

Healthy Hacks in NYC

The Big Apple is a must-see on any European traveler's US travel list and most American travelers' travel lists, too.

I've been lucky enough to live in this amazing city since last June, as well as for various month to three month chunks over the past few years, and the longer I live here, the more I fall in love!

cute, despicable me, funny, minions, new york
This can actually happen in NYC and it does, regularly. How could you not love this city?
As a New Yorker (I'm not going to lie, that's still fun to say) I've picked up a lot of tricks about how to make the most of the city.

Im a expert

Since none of us like to feel bloated and sluggish after travel, here are some of my city local tricks and tips for having a healthy trip to NYC!

Apr 25, 2015

Recipe: Mujaderrah


Ready for your new healthy, frugal, simple, and delicious 5-ingredient lunch? Let's take a culinary journey to the Far East.


Mujaderrah is a simple Indian dish of spiced whole grain brown rice and lentils, served with sauteed onions and sour cream, that's high in fiber, heart-healthy, and suitable for a wide range of diets, including a vegetarian (and even vegan, if you substitute vegan sour cream) diet.

It's really simple, basic, and budget-friendly, but absolutely delicious. Embrace the simpler, but exotic, side of life with a Mujaderrah lunch!

Apr 23, 2015

The Best Acai Bowls in Hawaii!

Summer, and summer break for those on an academic calendar, is rapidly approaching. It's the perfect time for a cyber getaway - to Hawaii! I had the most amazing vacation of my life this past fall. I went to Hawaii (a split stay between Oahu and Kauai) for ten days with my (then) boyfriend!


It was expensive, but so worth it. Hawaii is the frickin' BEST.

Hawaii is stunning, fun, peaceful, relaxing, multicultural, rich in biodiversity, and also incredibly delicious! I highly recommend saving up and going some day, even as a once in a lifetime trip (it's a perfect, and popular, honeymoon spot).

Anyway, if you do manage to go, here's a ranked list of the best acai bowls in Oahu, Hawaii!

Hey, researching this was tough work. But someone has to do it ;) 

Apr 21, 2015

Safe City Living for the Single Girl!

I moved to New York City last summer after graduating from Harvard and I've loved every minute. I've wanted to live in New York City since I was in middle school, so it's exciting that I finally get to live here every day!

From last summer in NYC - I can't believe it's already almost that time again!
My mom, however, does worry sometimes about me living all by myself in the big city. She gets that I'm a grown up, but everyone needs a social network for security! Friends are a great way to get that social network, but what about the safety network? When you live at home or near family, your parents check up on you more often. When you live on your own, you have to figure out a way to stay safe easily, so you can do what you want without worry!

Apr 19, 2015

Recipe - The "Best Pancakes Ever"


These pancakes are, according to both of it taste testers (a middle aged woman and a rambunctious ten year old), the "best pancakes ever."


They're really easy to make, use only basic ingredients that can be found in most kitchen pantries, and are absolutely fluffy and perfect!

Apr 18, 2015

My (Food Processor) To-Do List!


I got a food processor for Christmas from my parents! It's red, mini, and adorable.

D'awwwwwww.

Now that I'm thoroughly versed in the art of food processing nuts into plain nut butters and frozen bananas into creamilicious nice cream, it's time to branch out with some more involved recipes!

Aka things that can actually be called recipes.

Here's my food processor to-do list!

Apr 16, 2015

"If You're Not Rich, Be Attractive"

Let's face it - we all get a lot of advice, solicited and not so much, all the time. And some of that advice? Well, it's just straight-up shitty.


But here's the thing about shitty advice: sometimes there's a nugget of gold hidden in all that sooty black coal. 

I realized a while ago when, at a fashion show after-party, a man gave me this post's title as advice. He was (a) rich, (b) proud of it, and (c) not on my potential friends list. Pair all  of that with the fact that he followed that golden advice up with a leering "you're doing it right" and my immediate reaction wasn't gratitude for the golden advice.

I don't like you

Instead, it was a superficially polite smile and an internal 'please excuse me while I find an appropriate receptacle to hurl in.'

But a few days later, when I thought about what I must assume was a failed attempt at flirting, I realized that there was a bit of a point in there.

Apr 14, 2015

Recipe: My Favorite Green Smoothie

For those of you who follow me on Instagram (@danaikadzere please do!) you know that I'm pretty obsessed with green smoothies.

They're yummy, refreshing, great for your skin, and put that pep in your step. They're also awesome for digestion and loaded with nutrients! Whether you have a green smoothie to start the day or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack, you can't go wrong.


Even my mom, my big sister, and my ten-year-old little sister love them! They're a healthy universal crowd-pleaser.

Here's a basic recipe for a winning green smoothie!

Apr 12, 2015

Healthy Hacks at the Airport

I love airports!

They're full of interesting people, going and coming to/from interesting places. They're among the absolute best for people-watching.

a guy people watching funny
It's terrible, but hilarious.
They're also among my favorite places because if you're in one, chances are that you're traveling. Yay!

But starting your trip on a healthy note is a good idea, so check out these hacks for being healthy at the airport.

Apr 10, 2015

Review: Greenlite Vegan Meal Delivery Service!

I recently got to try a new-to-me vegan frozen meal delivery service called Greenlite Meals!


The meals arrive in an insulated box inside a cardboard shipping box, with cooler packets inside and the meals all packaged in space-conserving freeze-wrap packages.


As you can see, the sides and the entrees are packaged separately. I'm actually quite a fan of that style of packaging, because you can mix and match the sides and entrees to create the meals that you're in the mood for! 

Apr 8, 2015

5 Things I Wish Existed

The world is full of wonderful things (the internet!) and less wonderful things (the selfie stick) but sometimes the things we really need want don't exist.

Here's a short list of five things that would be awesome if they existed.

Date-bots.

We would send them to go do all the awkward first dates for us, then cut in for the second date with the good ones.

               Standards_Girl-Got-To-Have-Standards-Black-And-White-Single-Online-Dating-Gif

The guys would never notice the difference, right?

Apr 7, 2015

Nakd Bar Giveaway!

Did you enjoy my Nakd bar review? Did the photos whet your appetite?



There's good news! The wonderful people at Nakd Whole Foods have offered to send one lucky reader a sampler pack of their own!

Enter my giveaway below now through next Wednesday, April 15 for your chance to win!

Apr 6, 2015

Review: Nakd Bars

I love bars. They're convenient, (often) yummy, shelf-stable, backpack-friendly, TSA-approved, safe for sharing, and perfect for donation if you come upon a surprise food drive or a hungry person in need of help. 

For those who follow non-traditional diets like the raw vegan diet or a gluten-free diet, however, it can be hard to find a yummy bar that fits into your diet! You'd be surprised by how many protein bars are not vegan (I was surprised) and if you're raw vegan it's a real rarity to stumble upon a bar that you can eat.

Nakd bars are a great bar option that are vegan, raw vegan, gluten-free, healthy, and well portioned for snacking.


Even those of us who don't follow those special diets will enjoy them! I did.
Nakd bars are from the UK, but readily available to healthy snackers in other countries, too, through an easy-to-use online ordering site.

The bars ship quickly and arrive in a cardboard box (within a larger mailing package with padding that perfectly protects the bars from breaking or getting smushed in shipping). 


You can order an assortment of bars, like I tried, if you're new to Nakd bars and haven't chosen flavors yet. 


First, your snack compliments you. Then you eat your snack and it's delicious. Then you have the energy from the healthy, natural snack and, in the long run, become more gorgeous (setting you up for the cycle of snack box compliments to continue) from the healthy fats of the nuts in the bars. Those healthy fats are great for your skin and your hair!

The cycle of happy Nakd bar snacking is the perfect snacking experience, really.


The bars come in a large assortment of scrumptious flavors, each more delicious than the next.


The bars all look more or less the same, except for different coloring between the flavors, but the flavors are diverse. The Caffe Mocha was one of my favorites - it was lightly chocolatey with a strong coffee flavor. Yum! It tasted like a candy bar.

Unlike a candy bar, however,  Nakd bars are made of just nuts, dried fruits, soy crunchies, fruit juice, and spices. 


There's no added sugar, it's just solid plant-based nutrition!


Bars made of nuts and dried fruit bars are, by nature, rich and dense. A lot of fruit-and-nut bars are thus quite heavy for a light snack, especially for children. Nakd bars are portioned well for that little peckishness or for an on-the-go snack for kids. If you're hungrier, you can pack two!

Have you tried  Nakd Bars?

What are your favorite snack bars?

Do you prefer chocolate-y or fruity bars?

Apr 4, 2015

Why the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a Disney World Must-Stay

I lovelovelove all things Disney and Disney World, as anyone who knows me well enough can attest to.

I'm the one who's so excited that she's vibrating.
But here are some reasons why, of all the wonderful Walt Disney World Resorts, I will continue returning to the Animal Kingdom Lodge time and time again!

Apr 2, 2015

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift!

St. Patrick's Day and the official start of spring have come and gone. Easter is right around the bend and, before you know it, that will have passed as well.

And then, just like every other year, you'll wake up one morning in a panicked frenzy and a cold sweat - it's the day before Mother's Day and you don't have the perfect gift for the best mom ever yet!

Don't worry. This post serves as a reminder to get your Mother's Day gift squared away early, so that you can prevent that.

ClubsGalore Mother's Day Gift Ideas

I recently got to try a month's delivery from ClubsGalore and I'm convinced that a lot of moms would be beyond thrilled to receive a subscription to a monthly club this year! 

I received a March delivery from the Fruit of the Month Club and this is what awaited me when I opened my cute Fruit of the Month box.


Be still, my heart.

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