Speaking of food–last Wednesday some friends and I went to Rangoli, which is owned by the same person that owns Vij’s–apparently a really famous Indian restaurant! [The owner came out to greet us and went around to talk to customers--totally felt like I just met someone famous] We originally planned on going to the latter but the seating was full so we went to the one next door.

Lamb, Beef and Lentil Kebabs with date-tamarind chutneyMan these were spicy. I totally wasn’t expecting that, and me being a total newb when it comes to spicy foods, starts spitting fire after the first few bites. The waiter notices the way I chugged my water when he refilled my glass and felt bad for me I guess ’cause he offered me some yogurt and some mango drink to help. El. Oh. El. I was embarrassed but service sure is excellent!

Dessert was the rice pudding with almonds & cardamon–SO GOOD. I need to get some rice pudding stat.

Anyway back to work!

image from tumblrBut here’s a short list of how I’ve been eating my oatmeal lately:

1. splenda + teddy grahams + milk
2. chocolate protein powder + hot chocolate powder + milk
3. coffee + hot chocolate powder + milk
4. curry!! + milk

(all of the above + cinnamon!)

Not very healthy lately, but super quick!

And I’ve renewed my love for craisins as of this morning so I’m going to try that next!

And yes, I still eat oatmeal. My latest concoction involves salad dressing and I like it. Maybe post soon?

Writing my thesis now but I do have an update [moar oatmeal!] coming up–and it’s crunchy!

The only reason I’m posting is because I wanted to enrich your lives with my puns before I forget

They look like cookies but soft like muffins? But who cares ’cause I like the way they taste I haven’t baked in a while so this was fun!

Check out my festive photo decorations:

Why do I keep coming up with festive things once Christmas is over?! What the hell, brain?!

But anyway isn’t it exciting that I’m updating? Too bad I couldn’t even get oatmeal into this post either!

Anyway, I got the recipe from Susan V but I don’t have balsamic vinegar or anything so it’s just regular chocolate cookies–but with ginger–exciting huh?

My version:

Spicy Cocoa Cookies [?] – 11 to 12 cookies
1 cup whole wheat flour
0.5 tsp baking soda
0.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp fruit jam of some flavor [too lazy to look it up...wildberry?] or more sugar
1 tbsp cocoa powder
0.25 cup brown sugar
0.33 cup water or milk/soymilk
1 tsp ground ginger [optional]

1. Mix all together–I never really got into the “add wet into dry ingredients” thing–I am a rebel!
2. Preheat oven to 350F.
3. Spoon batter onto baking sheet/pan/etc. Make them as thick or thin as you like–make ‘em thinner if you want a more biscuit texture
4. Bake for 10-11 minutes.

Next time I’ll definitely add some oats in place of some of the flour because I’ve been neglecting the mission statement of this blog. And because life without oats is an empty and fiber-less life.

I can’t stop taking pictures:

Yay for Reading Week huh? Maybe I’ll actually get around to blogging more!

Peppermint mocha from Starbucks! I love the Christmas drinks and wish they serve them year round because they’re awesome. There’s actual chocolate sprinkles in there! I’m so tempted to go buy some peppermint extract and re-create this myself ’cause it’s SO good!

Beauty shot:

Yay!
So glad my housemate decided to get coffee after dinner that time ’cause otherwise I would have been oblivious to this wonder forever!
And check out the cup, eh? I wish it was Christmas right now

Also, cream cheese with bread and fruit totally owns my life. Unfortunately you need a lot of cream cheese in order to stand out against the oatmeal so I don’t usually have it for breakfast, but with nice, crunchy toast it’s amazing! I love cheese!

Anyway, between the intense house drama between my housemates, and this intense workload that comes out of no where around midterm season [always usually due to putting work off til the last minute], my final semester sure isn’t boring! In fact, I’m pulling an all-nighter homework session to celebrate! Maybe it’s time for another trip to Starbucks…

[instant coffee doesn't have as strong an effect as actual coffee--anyone else notice this?? Oh and while on subject of coffee--anyone know what type of coffee is the strongest??? I have some all-nighters in my future and need all the help I can get!]

Pizza on homemade pizza dough–with oatmeal–because that’s how I roll And I roll good dough, yo.

The bread turned out pretty thick ’cause I added too much water and so it was hard to roll the dough as flat as I wanted. Otherwise I would have had more surface area to play with while making pizza!

I’ve been smellin’ pizza every week when I go grocery shopping and I couldn’t take it any more!

Pizza dough – makes 3 thick pieces
1.25 cups ww flour
0.25 cup quick oats [I used 2 tbsp pancake mix in this 'cause I was curious what it'd be like--made no difference]
enough water to make a dough–0.5 cup – 0.67 cup?
0.25 tsp salt
0.75 tsp EVOO
0.75 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp yeast

Mix and let sit 2 hours.
Knead dough on floured surface after 2 hours and shape into balls. Place onto baking pans or whatever you want [I used aluminum foil] Roll them out however thick you want. Cover and let sit for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake for 7 mins.

I was gonna add pepper and oregano to the dough but I forgot! And when I remembered–I didn’t feel like walking all the way to the kitchen

Don’t know if I can call this “oatmeal” experimenting ’cause there’s only 0.25 cup of oats in there, but I don’t have the funds for gluten free baking and… don’t tell me what to call my pizza! You don’t know me!

I also had a salad on the side:

It’s just the extended version of my pizza topping Coleslaw & frozen mixed veg.
And that’s oregano, parsley, and pepper sprinkled on the side. Pepper has become my new favorite condiment/spice–it gives vegetables so much flavor, and the smell reminds me of spicy butter! I’m so tempted to add it to my banana oatmeal. That’s how much I love it.

Final shot:

I think watching Iron Chef America has brought out the inner food stylist in me. They need to do a battle with oatmeal–and I bet someone will make oatmeal ice cream–they use the ice cream maker for the strangest things on that show! I think they made veal sorbet or something like that once?! Mind-blowing.

1 exam down, 1 more to go next Monday!
6 days til I get to go home!

Haven’t had overnight oats in ages! Decided to have some after buying some pomegranate–another thing which I haven’t had in ages. The first time I ever had it was in grade six and then I haven’t eaten it since because 1. doesn’t seem to be in BC grocery stores 2. prep work! Nooooooo! 3. see reason #2.

But after seeing pomegranates repeatedly being thrown in my face by the grocery store’s weekly flyers for 2 weeks, I finally caved and bought one. Plus I needed some excitement in my life–because try as I may, studying for exams just isn’t exciting enough.

Night before:
0.5 cup oats, 1 tbsp flax, 2 tbsp wheat bran
0.5 cup homemade yogurt [didn't do it right--too watery!]
2 tbsp store bought plain yogurt, 2 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp water
chocolate powder, ground ginger, cinnamon

Day of:
~0.25 cup pomegranate seeds
8 blackberries

I was going to add nuts too–but I forgot!

In case you’re wondering where all the blackberries went:

Check it out! A blind upside-down shot! All this action is so overwhelming!

On a side note, I love clear bowls! I just wish I had a glass table too because taking those shots were a pain in the #!$#!$.

Final shot–playing around with the picture decorations:

I wanted to use ribbons or beads or something but sadly all I have are textbooks and USB cords…

Oh, and yesterday I finally created an oatmeal page! I really think you guys should check it out. Because it is colorful and awesome.

Physiology exam tomorrow during some time in the morning at somewhere on campus!
1 week and 1 day til I get to go home!

Further proof that the microwave is the most awesome kitchen appliance ever. I cook everything in it–oatmeal, oatmeal pancakes, vegetables, noodles, eggs, soup, and now–mac n’ cheese souffle.

Actually, I’m not sure if I can call it a souffle, but it’s not a casserole or a pie or a quiche either…but–french word people! It’s fancy! It’s awesome.

Can I just say I love mac n’ cheese with eggs?! This is totally unhealthy but I don’t even give a crap ’cause it’s so yammehhh.

Basically it’s just:
0.5 cup macaroni + 1 egg + ~0.5 cup water microwaved for 2 minutes.
Topped with parsley, oregano, cheese sauce powder [in the mac n' cheese package], curry powder, pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms [not in the photo]

If oatmeal hasn’t occupied #1 spot in my heart, I would have mac n’ cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Oh and I went to my first ever spin class yesterday morning at 6: 15 a.m.. Furthermore? It was a 75 min class. Lemme tell you I didn’t know biking can be so difficult! I was dying in the first 15 minutes. x_X Also didn’t help that my bike seat kept rocking back and forth and I had no clue how to fix it.

I’m going again today 45 min class this time–with my housemate. Whoo!

Also–How I Met Your Mother is my new favorite show! Marshall = best character!