tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60448224068930085212024-02-07T20:48:37.014-08:00Half FullA traveler & amateur baker, dancing across the world, always hungry for more adventure.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-34126602641726404702015-06-02T08:15:00.000-07:002015-06-02T08:15:09.042-07:00Vegan Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls & Making Roots<div>
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Well hello there! It's been a while.</div>
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Last time we talked I might as well have been a different
person for all of the changes that have happened in my life, big and little,
internal and external. It’s next to impossible to summarize, so I’ll just tell
you a bit about what’s going on currently. </div>
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It’s practically summer in Tangier these days, which means this is the month of events and wrap-ups. I just finished two separate dance performances, one that I choreographed and danced in and another where my lovely friend Natalia directed and we both danced. Now I’m preparing for a showcase of my dance classes that I teach throughout the academic year and once that is over I can finally start to look ahead and begin anew with summer adventures & projects.</div>
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I guess the major change in me since last fall is a sort of
focusing- a honing in- on what is important to me and where that will most
likely take me in my foreseeable future. As a freshly-turned 23 year old (am I
though?) I’ve realized dance is more than just a passion- it’s truly my career
and my life. I train harder, dig deeper and push myself more than I ever have
in this field. </div>
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I also have started to finally form some roots. Even though my freelance work and endlessly itching wanderlust will keep me traveling,
the wonderfully weird city of Tangier, Morocco, is a place I can call home now without flinching. In fact, it feels good to say it. This is my home. </div>
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I tell people that 3 things happened successively when I
came to Morocco about a year and a half ago. First, I fell in love with the
country. Then I fell in love with my work. And then I fell in love with a
Moroccan. He cinched it. Yep- I’m getting rooted in this city, and I’m happy about it.<br />
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The lovely news about all of my projects and performances wrapping up this month, is that now I have more time for simple pleasures. Reading, writing, yoga in the sun, and of course, baking. </div>
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I go through these weird phases where I get obsessed with using yeast in everything I bake. It's usually when my stress levels are higher and I need to knead some dough to get it all out. Hence, yeasted cakes, yeasted rolls, yeasted everything. Let's stop saying yeast and just look at how delicious these are:<br />
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It's strawberry season here, so time to get crazy. These rolls are fluffy, sticky, finger-licking goodness. No excuse not to make them.<span id="goog_1297975525"></span></div>
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Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls (vegan)<br />
<i>makes about 8 rolls</i><br />
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Filling</div>
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<i>1 cup chopped strawberries</i></div>
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<i>1 tbsp sugar</i></div>
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<i>2 tbsp water</i></div>
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<i>1.5 tsp cornstarch</i></div>
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<i>1/4 tsp vanilla</i></div>
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<i>1/2 tsp cinnamon</i></div>
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Dough</div>
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<i>125g vegan margarine/earth balance</i></div>
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<i>100g sugar</i></div>
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<i>350g flour</i></div>
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<i>5g yeast</i></div>
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<i>160 ml lukewarm coconut milk</i></div>
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Icing</div>
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<i>2 tbsp softened vegan margarine</i></div>
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<i>3-4 tbsp coconut milk</i></div>
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<i>2 cups powdered sugar</i></div>
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<i>1/2 tsp cinnamon</i></div>
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<i>1/2 tsp vanilla</i></div>
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Begin by mixing the yeast with 80 ml of lukewarm coconut milk until the yeast is dissolved. Whisk in 25g of the flour, then cover with a cloth and let sit somewhere warm to double in size and get frothy, for 30 minutes. </div>
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Meanwhile, prepare the strawberry cinnamon filling by combining all of the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir and let simmer until the strawberries get mushy and a compote forms. Take off the heat and let chill in the fridge until you're ready to use it.<br />
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Once the yeast is doubled, combine the remaining dough ingredients and knead until a sticky dough forms. If it is too dry, add a bit of water, one tablespoon at a time. Knead for about 5 minutes before transferring to a greased bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for another 45 min-1 hour.<br />
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Preheat your oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and roll out your dough into a large rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the strawberry filling evenly, leaving about a 2 cm border around the edges. Carefully roll the dough into a log and cut 8 slices, placing them in a greased baking pan. If any filling falls out during this delicate process, just use a spoon to tuck it back into the rolls once they are in the pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until they are risen and golden-brown on top.<br />
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While the rolls are cooling, prepare your icing by whisking together the margarine, 2 tbsp of coconut milk, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla with an electric hand-mixer. Add more coconut milk a tablespoon at a time until it is a thick, dripping consistency.<br />
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Dollop the icing over the buns and serve warm. They are best eaten the same day, but they will last (if for some crazy reason you have extras) for another day or two in an airtight container.<br />
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~<br />
I'm so happy to be back! Happy spring/early summer, everyone.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-84883954101146885572014-09-28T08:16:00.000-07:002014-09-28T08:16:08.619-07:00Vegan Coffee Crumble Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9U7otNqsfrVC4VemVnpcmY_WW2V3yAOju7nAjPlnJOo2deb7sFlNXn6m7atEgIVfYGnMsEub8cGlc8E8Iwvftt-suCAagZUqRkCqbdZIMY6y7KVgSjPUChb7elIU6vdxxDUXAQs2TbLZ/s1600/coffeecake4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9U7otNqsfrVC4VemVnpcmY_WW2V3yAOju7nAjPlnJOo2deb7sFlNXn6m7atEgIVfYGnMsEub8cGlc8E8Iwvftt-suCAagZUqRkCqbdZIMY6y7KVgSjPUChb7elIU6vdxxDUXAQs2TbLZ/s1600/coffeecake4.jpg" /></a></div>
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I had a friend from America who visited me in Tangier a while back. We were making plans with another friend of mine and while on the phone with him, I said "So are you still in the coffee?" My friend looked at me funny and said "Excuse me, what did you just say?"<br />
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"I asked if he was in the coffee- that's normal, right?"<br />
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Apparently I've forgotten how to speak english. Because here in Morocco, <i>are you in the coffee</i> is a perfectly acceptable way to ask if you are at a cafe.<br />
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And let me tell you- the cafe culture here is <i>huge</i>. Somedays, I wake up and leave my apartment around 9am and while walking past the cafe just next door, see an old man in his kandora with a glass of cafe au lait in front of him and a smoking cigarrette nestled in the ash tray. I go out, do my thing around the city, and coming back around 4 or 5pm, see the same man with what appears to be the same glass of coffee and the same cigarette, still burning at the same length.<br />
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At night, instead of overflowing bars and clubs, you'll find hundreds of chatty cafes filled with teens drinking cappuccinos, juices and hot chocolate. Sometimes on particularly social weekends, instead of bar-hopping like I would do in University, I find myself cafe-hopping to see different friends. I kind of love it.<br />
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Needless to say, I drink a lot more coffee here than I ever have in my life. And as if drinking loads of coffee wasn't enough, why not consume it in an edible form as well? This is not just coffee cake as in you-eat-it-with-a-cup-of-coffee cake. This is coffee-infused deliciousness.<br />
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Cinnamon Coffee Crumble Cake<br />
<i>vegan</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>makes 1 loaf cake</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>100 ml soy milk</i><br />
<i>150 ml strong coffee- cooled</i><br />
<i>60 ml vegetable oil</i><br />
<i>1 tsp vanilla</i><br />
<i>1 tsp lemon juice</i><br />
<i>225g granulated sugar</i><br />
<i>210g flour</i><br />
<i>2 tsp baking powder</i><br />
<i>pinch of salt</i><br />
<i>1/2 tsp cinnamon</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>4 tbsp flour</i><br />
<i>50g brown sugar</i><br />
<i>30g cold vegan butter</i><br />
<i>1 tsp cinnamon</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Preheat your oven to 180º C and grease a loaf pan. In a large bowl, mix together the soy milk, coffee, oil, vanilla, lemon juice and sugar. Sift in the remaining dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Don't over-stir! Pour the batter into your pan and stick in the oven- it will bake for about 30-40 minutes total or until a tooth pick comes out clean.<br />
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Make the crumble topping as soon as you put the cake in, by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl with your fingers. After the cake has been in the oven about 20 minutes, take it out, sprinkle the crumble on top and let it bake the remainder of the time. If you put the topping on right away, it will sink into the cake and, granted, still taste great, but won't look as pretty. Let the cake cool, slice, and enjoy with more coffee!<br />
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<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-62382544361433599732014-09-11T03:20:00.000-07:002014-09-11T03:20:03.029-07:00Triple Berry Crumble<br />
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What happened to summer? Usually it is the time when I stay at home and relax, pick up some restaurant shifts, chill with friends, ya know. But ooh no this summer was quite the beast.</div>
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Not only did I travel around Europe a bit, experience Ramadan in Tangier, and film an upcoming dance video, but I also visited this strange place called the USA for three weeks. Besides the fact that I almost forgot how to speak english and my frequent exclamations of "why is everything so <i>big</i>??" it was wonderful to be back and spend time with family and friends. </div>
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I spent a week in Minneapolis, riding my bike as much as possible without my legs falling off and soaking up that bizarre, bittersweet nostalgia that comes with going home after a long time. Then my parents and I drove up to Montreal to see my brother in his amazing new life at the <i>École National du Cirque</i>. After a week of exploring and developing a huge crush on that city (blog post to come...), I flew to New York. Upon arrival, I felt like I was flailing around trying not to drown in a sea of people, so I promptly took a bus to Boston to escape the madness and see my cousin. </div>
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That is where the food comes in. My cousin, her girlfriend and I visited the greatest farmers market where berries were cheaper than water. We bought boxes and boxes and the only thing left to do was bake with them. <i>Voila</i>, the triple berry crumble was created. And devoured. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Triple Berry Crumble </span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">vegan</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">adapted from <a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/pies-and-tarts/mixed-berry-crumble/">Baker's Royale</a></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Filling</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">170g (6oz) raspberries</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">170g (6oz) blackberries</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><i>170g (6oz) strawberries, chopped</i></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><i>2 tbsp cornstarch</i></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><i>1/3 cup sugar</i></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Crumble</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><i>150g spelt flour</i></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;"><i>3 tbsp brown sugar</i></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4 tbsp chopped pecans</span></i></div>
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<i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/4 tsp cinnamon</span></i></i></div>
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<i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pinch of salt</span></i></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4 tbsp cold vegan butter substitute (I use earth balance) chopped into pieces</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Start by making the filling- combine all of the ingredients in a sauce pan and stir over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Pour into an 8x8" pan (I used a weird 5x10" but both totally work) and let cool while you make the crumble. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In a medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients, then add the butter substitute either with your fingers or a pastry cutter. You want it to be clumpy and crumbly. Let it sit in the fridge while you preheat the oven to 200ºC. Once it is ready, sprinkle the crumble evenly over the fruit and bake for 25-30 min, or until the top is golden brown. Let cool and eat your heart out. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-20349462554037271672014-08-31T14:29:00.004-07:002014-08-31T14:29:57.536-07:00Istanbul Flashbacks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Waah so I have a lot of catching up to do, you guys. I am currently in Boston (in the States? What??), but before I get to that I'm gonna jump back to my week in Istanbul.<br />
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I seriously loved that city. I was there back in the beginning of July visiting my wonderful Moroccan friend from my days in Tangier part one, who moved to Istanbul about 8 months ago. Currently, he's teaching English classes, being passed off as an American from LA. Classy. So while he was working, I was out exploring on my own and he got to show me his favorite nooks and crannies on the weekend.<br />
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Let me tell you, there was an overwhelming amount to see. And most importantly, eat.<br />
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My friend was lucky enough to live relatively within walking distance (I say relatively meaning like 20 minutes, but I'm a crazy fast-walker) to the hip, bustling Taksim Square. So my first sights were wandering around the big open center and off onto the crowded shop-laden side streets.<br />
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Here I discovered a shop with the best Turkish Delight I've ever had called <i><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293974-d3962503-Reviews-Haci_Bekir-Istanbul.html">Haci Bekir</a></i>, watched some guy make a whole show out of serving a little girl a scoop of ice cream, went to some great little local bars with my friend, and ate a lot of street food- my favorite being these clam shells stuffed with rice, clam meat & spices with a squeeze of lemon. Everyone I tell this to says "oh my god, you ate seafood from the street??" Meh. It was delicious and I'm still alive.<br />
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Later in the week my friend took me to a restaurant also around the Taksim area that had the most amaaazing Turkish food that was like stuff your imaginary Turkish mother would make you. There's a whole buffet of dishes to choose from and you can pick up to 5 for a ridiculously cheap price.<br />
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Most of the more touristy things I did on my own, and honestly found them to be a bit underwhelming. I saw the Aya Sofya Mosque from the outside which was lovely, but didn't want to wait in line (bein' lazy), especially when you could just breeze on into the blue mosque. So I opted to go into that one instead, which was stunning with intricate blue and red tile-work and lush carpets. The area around these mosques, however, had a few too many aggressive tour guides and vendors yelling at me for my taste.<br />
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The Grand Bazaar was near there too- I meandered through the narrow arches for a bit and almost bought a lamp.<br />
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I did go on a great boat tour that was just 10 lira and took you around both the European and Asian coastlines for about an hour and a half. You get to see astonishingly intricate palaces and beautiful beachside homes. Plus getting off your feet for that long is the best.<br />
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After Rome the week before, I didn't really feel a burning need to go see more museums, but I did check out Istanbul Modern one afternoon. The general collection wasn't exactly my thing, but there was a photography exhibit comparing old and new Istanbul that was beautiful and definitely worth the trip.<br />
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Also, if you're down in that area near the museum, walk around and maybe you'll stumble on this awesome staircase, surreptitiously wedged between two large buildings:<br />
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Last but not least- <i>do not </i>leave Istanbul without trying the best baklava you will have in your life at <a href="http://www.karakoygulluoglu.com/en">this place</a>.<br />
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No I did not eat all of that by myself. But I could have.<br />
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Anyway, that's all just my humble advice & experience in Istanbul. Go see this city for yourself and tell me what I missed, for next time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-57662947599511364182014-07-11T13:08:00.001-07:002014-07-11T13:18:28.522-07:00Roman Holiday (sans Gregory Peck)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I say anything about my 4 day trip in Rome, you should know something about me. My favorite movie is Roman Holiday. I've seen it probably at <i>least </i>7 or 8 times. Because of this, the idea of going to Rome (although it was my second time there) is a bit romanticized in my head. I always pictured myself in a little white blouse eating gelato on the spanish steps and riding around on the back of a motorbike with Gregory Peck.<br />
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However, since my stomach would swell up like a balloon if I ate real gelato and I now have my own wonderful version of Gregory Peck back at home in Morocco, neither of those things seemed quite appropriate. So my friend Melissa and I did a lot of other good things instead.<br />
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Let me take you on a little photo journey of the highlights:<br />
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Melissa and I (being sort of art history geeks) both agreed that one of our favorite things we saw was the Gallery Borghese, surrounded by the lovely Borghese Gardens.<br />
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I know I know there are sooo many museums to see in Europe, but the Bernini statues displayed in the Borghese are worth a trip. Believe me.<br />
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We attempted to hit all of the major tourist attractions later each day (after 6pm) so as to avoid the high noon crowd with the walking headsets and tour guides frantically waving umbrellas. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. We managed to see the Colosseum during the tourist lull, but the spanish steps and Piazza del Popolo were a bit crazy. Sometimes it was like dodging tidal waves. </div>
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We did a lot of walking around the quaint little side-streets until we would stumble on gems like <i>a raw vegan gluten-free gelato shop.</i> Sound impossible? Nope. It was all of that plus one of the most delicious things I've ever put in my mouth. <i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/grezzorawchocolate">Grezzo</a></i> saved my life from being eternally gelato-less.<br />
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And of course, my favorite thing about Italy. Each evening we attended a magical thing called <i>aperitivo</i>, in which you buy one drink between the hours of 6 and 9pm and are provided with free dinner.<br />
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Well, technically you just get mini appetizers, salads and things from a buffet table near the bar, but if you load up your plate 2 or 3 times and ignore the stares from haughty Italians who know exactly what you're doing, that's a full meal right there. My favorite bar we went to was a cozy little hole in the wall called <i><a href="http://lnx.caffebohemien.it/">Caffe Bohemien</a></i>. It was complete with comfy couches, antique books on the shelves, a chandelier over the bar, good food, and the best aperol spritz I've ever had.<br />
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Let me tell you- 4 days in this city is not enough. I feel like there are so many nooks and crannies that are just waiting to be explored, plus I love having the chance to learn and practice more Italian. Audrey Hepburn began my fantasized romance with Rome, but my own sliver of experience has caused a real love of the place to bloom.<br />
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I would love to hear if anyone has other suggestions for next time (fingers crossed) I get to visit!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-47688386907759634762014-07-08T08:03:00.000-07:002014-07-08T08:03:06.535-07:00Peach Pie Crumble Bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, I have no excuse anymore. It's deep summer. I am finished with work (for the most part). I am on a sort of vacation and suddenly I have this funny thing called free time. What do I do with myself for the next month?<br />
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Here's my plan so far:<br />
-travel until I'm broke<br />
-read more books<br />
-bake things for friends and make them happy<br />
-write for this blog again<br />
<br />
Actually, I've already got the first one covered. I am currently in the midst of a two week trip to Rome, Istanbul and Barcelona. Travel stories and photos coming soon.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I wanted to give you guys a little sweet taste of what I've been cookin' up in my kitchen. These bars are like a summery explosion in your mouth. Nothing beats butter, sugar and fresh peaches. Make these, sit on the grass with bare feet, soak up some sun, and be happy.<br />
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<b>Peach Pie Crumble Bars</b><br />
(vegan option)<br />
adapted from <a href="http://www.thetarttart.com/2013/05/strawberry-rhubarb-ginger-crumb-bars/">The Tart Tart</a><br />
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<i>makes about 12 bars</i><br />
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<i>Crust:</i><br />
<i>245g flour</i><br />
<i>75g rolled or instant oats </i><br />
<i>110g sugar</i><br />
<i>40g brown sugar</i><br />
<i>1 tsp baking powder</i><br />
<i>1/4 tsp salt</i><br />
<i>180g cold butter, cubed (or can easily substitute cold vegan margarine for vegan option)</i><br />
<i>2 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Filling:</i><br />
<i>1 kilo fresh peaches or nectarines, cut into small cubes</i><br />
<i>1 tsp vanilla extract</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp orang blossom water (optional)</i><br />
<i>juice of half of a lemon</i><br />
<i>85g brown sugar</i><br />
<i>15g cornstarch</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Preheat your oven to 190ºC. Start by mixing all of your dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the cold butter, using your fingers to combine until it reaches a sandy texture. Mix in the cornstarch and water and form 2/3 of the dough into a ball, placing in the fridge while you make the filling. The other 1/3 of the dough should stay crumbly, but you can put that in the fridge to chill out too.<br />
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Mix all of the filling ingredients in a bowl and stir well to coat the peaches completely. Set aside.<br />
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Take out your dough and press it into the bottom of a well-greased 9x9" pan. Spoon the peach filling evenly on top, and sprinkle with the remaining crumbly dough. Bake for about 45-50 minutes or until the top starts to turn golden brown. Let cool for about 15-20 minutes before cutting into bars.<br />
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Yes, I know it's hot and your oven will only make it hotter. These are worth it. Sorry not sorry.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-49112389602724902762014-05-28T04:37:00.000-07:002014-05-28T04:37:41.230-07:00Loves Lists- May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The summer winds are starting to blow off of the Mediterranean and through the streets of Tangier. Can you believe it's almost June? I sure can't. I have no clue where the time has flown. It's freakin' me out a bit.<br />
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I still haven't had much time for recipes and cooking, but really it's a good thing, because my dance stuff has been gaining some serious momentum. My new workshops that I just started last week have been full & lively, I'm assembling a team for a new dance/video project that I am producing, and I just performed in the Tangier Street Art Festival with my dance partner and it seemed to be a huge success. It's been a lot of work, but also lots and lots of payoff.<br />
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I am super excited for summer to arrive, not just for longer days of beach lounging, but because I've got some little vacations set up. As happy as I am in this city, I can feel my travel pants starting to get antsy. Perusing maps and travel blogs have reappeared as my main time-fillers. These summers winds make me want to blow away.<br />
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In the meantime, while I dream about Istanbul and Montreal, here are some things I've been lusting over lately:<br />
<br />
<b>May Love List</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">-</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/orange-flower-pavlovas-with-strawberries">This recipe</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">is the perfect combination to feed my current obsession with orange flower water and my on-going need for strawberries every day.</span></b><br />
-Love <a href="http://thisispaper.com/Giorgio-Barrera-Through-the-window">these photographs</a>- intimate & quiet homescapes.<br />
-I have literally shown <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vjPBrBU-TM">this video</a> to every single one of my friends who are dancers. I am just obsessed. Beautiful, twisted, haunting, and seriously impressive.<br />
-On my to-cook-immdediately list: A fresh <a href="http://www.loveandlemons.com/2014/04/11/spring-onion-fritatta/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spring-onion-fritatta">spring onion fritatta</a>, <a href="http://mynameisyeh.com/mynameisyeh/2014/4/grilled-green-onions-with-walnut-romesco">grilled green onions with walnut romanesc</a>o, <a href="http://www.bloggingoverthyme.com/2014/04/18/fried-cauliflower-steaks-honey-hot-sauce/">fried cauliflower steaks with honey + hot sauce</a>, and this <a href="https://www.donnahay.com.au/recipes/occasions/chinese-new-year/coconut-noodle-salad-with-caramelised-limes">coconut noodle salad with caramelized limes</a>.<br />
-New <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1TbI44oRtE">music addiction.</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3vFp8Nat4Y">This guy</a> too.<br />
-You can always count on my friend Renee to have something <a href="http://willfrolicforfood.com/classic-mint-ganache-truffles/">good and chocolatey</a> to share. Mm I want them all.<br />
-Another one of the many <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=ZlJfdk742Pw">dance videos</a> I've been watching for inspiration.<br />
-My ideal Sunday afternoon: sitting on my terrace in the sun reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Americanah-Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie/dp/0307271080">this </a>and <a href="http://www.quitokeeto.com/pages/golden-raspberry-lillet-cocktail">sipping on this</a>.<br />
-And because everyone loves <a href="http://deadstate.org/look-russian-photographer-captures-dream-like-portraits-with-people-and-real-animals/">cute animals</a> and pretty pictures.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-18600915623567370822014-05-13T05:52:00.002-07:002014-05-13T05:52:58.060-07:00Easiest Ever Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Oh my lord, where has the time gone? It's been ages since I've visited this little corner of my world and I gotta say I've missed it. </span><br />
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Since we last chatted, my life has been flip flopped and turned completely on it's head. Luckily, the end result is rich with new perspectives, new friends, new experiences, new things learned.</div>
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Just to give you a taste of what has been going on, here's a little list of recent major events:</div>
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1. The big dance show I was choreographing for the past 4 months was finally performed! We presented the show in Tangier, Tetuan and Rabat with incredible receptions in each city. Near the end of rehearsals, I truly thought we were not going to pull it off, but in the end somehow we all pushed through. And it happened. And it was great. And I am beyond proud of my dancers.</div>
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2. My friend and I moved! I won't get into gritty details, but basically there were some complications with our old house and we were forced to find a new one. The great news is that our new apartment is in the city center and even more spacious and beautiful than the last. So we are happy and finally all settled with that.</div>
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3. I'm starting to teach more classes at a relatively new performance & studio venue in Tangier called <i>Tabadoul</i>. I have just begun prepping and advertising for that as well as trying to find inspiration for choreography, because after that last performance I am creatively exhausted.</div>
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4. I have another new dance project coming up that I have just started conceptualizing. It's still in it's baby stages so I'll elaborate more soon :)</div>
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Phew. So that is where I have been. Even though there's still a lot going on in my life, I feel a bit more settled and centered now than I did in the past couple weeks (thanks to my amazing friends and a certain new special someone...), which means time to get back to writing, baking, photographing, blogging. For crazy times, let's start with one of the simplest recipes I've ever made. </div>
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These peanut butter cookies are made with literally 4 ingredients and the result is slightly chewy, perfectly crumby & rich with flavor. Make with caution- they are seriously addictive. </div>
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<br />
Easiest Ever Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies (<i>gluten-free</i>)<br />
<i>recipe from the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/flourless-peanut-butter-cookies-recipe.html">Food Network</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>makes about 2 dozen small cookies</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>250g creamy peanut butter</i><br />
<i>200g granulated sugar</i><br />
<i>1 egg</i><br />
<i>150g dark chocolate</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Preheat your oven to 375º F (190º C) and grease a baking sheet. Cream together the peanut butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, then whisk in the egg. Form the dough into little balls and press down into disks on the sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Let cool completely.<br />
<br />
While the cookies are cooling, melt the chocolate in the microwave or a double boiler, stirring occasionally. Using a spoon, dip and coat half of each cookie in chocolate and place on parchment paper. Let sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened. Eat, share, enjoy.<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-46549755047687243462014-03-27T07:25:00.003-07:002014-03-27T07:31:38.309-07:00Pineapple Almond Upside-Down Bars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m3d9PbJFben8zZrKAX4Ow4akQNTuza0dInkFXGvHStKd6hyphenhyphenEI8y317opkj5XV3wD_vVwZpbBIibkYYUqURH-RAFADELjcdFFPEHHzEje9pyN8Sr-JrY0zsH_txlJJ6yW4BtazRsv86Nm/s1600/pineapple1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m3d9PbJFben8zZrKAX4Ow4akQNTuza0dInkFXGvHStKd6hyphenhyphenEI8y317opkj5XV3wD_vVwZpbBIibkYYUqURH-RAFADELjcdFFPEHHzEje9pyN8Sr-JrY0zsH_txlJJ6yW4BtazRsv86Nm/s1600/pineapple1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RGi16oTYvELC5v6HkVQNDrXL9UUut8Ct3azMCFHAizs5hL7L3cFCnn_gSl4ZNmGEa6PyRa2bnUpGbGEZOm0SJ7iJAeydGP6K167Dp70czjEI_t8_c2Be550cS-Jm_MHUvCl5alWgR-37/s1600/pineapple3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RGi16oTYvELC5v6HkVQNDrXL9UUut8Ct3azMCFHAizs5hL7L3cFCnn_gSl4ZNmGEa6PyRa2bnUpGbGEZOm0SJ7iJAeydGP6K167Dp70czjEI_t8_c2Be550cS-Jm_MHUvCl5alWgR-37/s1600/pineapple3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
So I thought that making gluten-free <i>and </i>vegan cakes would be the death of me. But in fact, after discovering rice flour and cheap almonds at my favorite little <i>hanut,</i> I've discovered that it's not too bad. It's actually kind of an adventure. And this particular adventure with pineapple and dates and buttery goodness was definitely a success. Upside-down cakes have always been one of my favorite things to make, but the dense consistency of this particular dessert makes it really more bar-like than cake-y. Whatever you call it, trust me when I say you'll want to eat the whole pan down to the last crumb in one sitting.<br />
<br />
I teamed up with the lovely Valerie from <a href="http://www.nuanceandbubbles.com/">Nuance & Bubbles</a> for this recipe, combining flavors from her tropical Puerto Rican beaches and my Tangier coastline to create a delicious international fusion. Head on over to <a href="http://www.nuanceandbubbles.com/2014/03/guest-post-pinneapple-almond-upside.html">her blog for the whole post and the recipe</a>!<br />
<br />
More updates on life this weekend. For now, lots to do, lots to do.<br />
Just keep dancin'<br />
<br />
Oh, and you can follow Nuance & Bubbles on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nuanceandbubbles">facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nuancenbubbles">twitter</a>, and <a href="http://instagram.com/nuanceandbubbles">instagram</a> :)<br />
<br />
xxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-30257054143601841902014-03-18T06:43:00.001-07:002014-03-18T06:43:14.786-07:00(Almost) Raw Chocolate Orange Torte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRXsIpKmbrSiA_paPXdisvrYnOGMbECiQdg4b2Q_gzCP-fmm7CMWv_pef8XlbRwGo1CXD33EaT_A1dcVP9rMMRtUxZ6xfh2L6o7LFkuSpNoGcfqnr7ZWA0iKJ4cG6KldQcPiwlLjbjEo/s1600/rawcake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRXsIpKmbrSiA_paPXdisvrYnOGMbECiQdg4b2Q_gzCP-fmm7CMWv_pef8XlbRwGo1CXD33EaT_A1dcVP9rMMRtUxZ6xfh2L6o7LFkuSpNoGcfqnr7ZWA0iKJ4cG6KldQcPiwlLjbjEo/s1600/rawcake1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW7AHDx-D5JajoOu8TmGZiYn27gnbI5BxTcO6huEB1x2bCdTr0hfVT1A8QK6jbtnfadsmykGC3JLqAE7mAgXoDrwatqTgeEV1fn8tNYpiR19RU1Rylh09cW3LebKgkFUYmCrROLSSIs1T/s1600/rawcake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW7AHDx-D5JajoOu8TmGZiYn27gnbI5BxTcO6huEB1x2bCdTr0hfVT1A8QK6jbtnfadsmykGC3JLqAE7mAgXoDrwatqTgeEV1fn8tNYpiR19RU1Rylh09cW3LebKgkFUYmCrROLSSIs1T/s1600/rawcake2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Last week I finally was able to wrangle a friend into teaching me Darija (the Moroccan dialect of Arabic) on a weekly basis, and you know what? I forgot how much <i>fun</i> it is to learn a new language. We will put aside the fact that I'm learning it from a cute young Moroccan guy with adorable broken english and just focus on the fact that language is amazing. New sentence structures, grammar, vocabulary- man, I should have been a linguistics major. Granted, every time I try to pronoun<span id="en-editor-last-insertion-point"></span>ce the <i>Kh</i> I sound like a cat coughing on it's own fur and when I try to do that throaty <i>R</i> I sound like one of the Muppets, but you know, it's a process. Practice makes... well, better.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It may be difficult, but I love that I'm figuring out that I can make these sounds with my mouth that I didn't even think were possible. It's like biting into a new and delicious and totally foreign piece of fruit with each new word. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, Darija is <i>almost</i> as delicious as this <i>Almost</i> Raw Chocolate Orange Torte. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(Did you see what I did there?)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-o6mXKZjQfGvoaxKalAtTotuuTe4rpUVCAY-c5o7dzwC76jAjSlI7k0kxmTW1oQpTXQBluSu3rdbLX97N4OoTnM18rrpVJZfjKarvHvnq9Q5yPTdu1JiCZfVMwKfzdgqOCQd1CRF-TZK/s1600/rawcake7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-o6mXKZjQfGvoaxKalAtTotuuTe4rpUVCAY-c5o7dzwC76jAjSlI7k0kxmTW1oQpTXQBluSu3rdbLX97N4OoTnM18rrpVJZfjKarvHvnq9Q5yPTdu1JiCZfVMwKfzdgqOCQd1CRF-TZK/s1600/rawcake7.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3xIqnIsrWT1Rb2XJ1eT5QUVZR9luGN2ITS8akRj4w2mw4DBrnDMP-71k5DYCJ1nzH0HejNXp72_aOpU6QenOFwNmRMazpAt9R8HLttlWIGEaIq-C4Ic7f8f9RVBg3X7EWD83a5FFceXe/s1600/rawcake4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3xIqnIsrWT1Rb2XJ1eT5QUVZR9luGN2ITS8akRj4w2mw4DBrnDMP-71k5DYCJ1nzH0HejNXp72_aOpU6QenOFwNmRMazpAt9R8HLttlWIGEaIq-C4Ic7f8f9RVBg3X7EWD83a5FFceXe/s1600/rawcake4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzghuEyt9P3xGjCmq2IK-uJTpuY09C5F7NP_vONlUzqT4y4HywuQ7M6KmyWoAtudC2G4clFrbU_xdIJ2R2lDVaoQbkEDlW-M5dZ0Y5nRnUpmMoHlpBOn4sN3tmECrRV24lkYRiHzLD3_2/s1600/rawcake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzghuEyt9P3xGjCmq2IK-uJTpuY09C5F7NP_vONlUzqT4y4HywuQ7M6KmyWoAtudC2G4clFrbU_xdIJ2R2lDVaoQbkEDlW-M5dZ0Y5nRnUpmMoHlpBOn4sN3tmECrRV24lkYRiHzLD3_2/s1600/rawcake6.jpg" /></a></div>
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But seriously. This tri-layered torte is s<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">mooth, creamy, and just raw enough to sort of trick your brain into thinking <i>this is really more of a health food than dessert so let me just eat one more sliver. Make it two.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpZx1pvHrY2bp2sLsjiqR1AdLXmoquX6YtlskRgTDOOJ8YBg8M39dVNRWsLDt-CfIEa8fvJKB7CwdWJBrxv-W4X5MtGJDc5WRJOhs9YZS8cEwajn1C0_Kz9HP6cT9MgodRRO-rTj4B-DI/s1600/rawcake8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpZx1pvHrY2bp2sLsjiqR1AdLXmoquX6YtlskRgTDOOJ8YBg8M39dVNRWsLDt-CfIEa8fvJKB7CwdWJBrxv-W4X5MtGJDc5WRJOhs9YZS8cEwajn1C0_Kz9HP6cT9MgodRRO-rTj4B-DI/s1600/rawcake8.jpg" /></a></div>
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(Almost) Raw Chocolate Orange Torte<br />
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Crust<br />
<i>150g almonds (we toasted them for extra flavor, but that's definitely not raw, so it's totally optional)</i><br />
<i>3 tbsp coconut oil</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp tahini or other nut butter</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp sweetener (we used dark brown sugar but you could also use maple syrup or raw honey)</i><br />
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Filling<br />
<i>200g raw cashews, soaked for 2-3 hours or overnight</i><br />
<i>150g medjool dates, soaked for 1-2 hours</i><br />
<i>150g vegan dark chocolate</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp orange zest</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Ganache<br />
<i>100g vegan dark chocolate</i><br />
<i>3 tbsp soy or almond milk</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Begin with the crust: line an 8" or 9" round pan with a piece of parchment paper. Pulse almonds in a food processor until ground into a meal. Add coconut oil, tahini and sweetener and mix with your fingers until it starts to stick together. Press into the bottom of the pan and stick in the fridge while you make the rest of the layers.<br />
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To prepare the filling, melt the chocolate in a double boiler and scoop it into your food processor with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth & mousse-like. Spread the filling evenly on top of the crust and place in the fridge to set for at least 1 hour.<br />
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In the meantime, make the ganache by melting the chocolate and soymilk together in your double boiler. Whisk until smooth and set in the fridge to cool until the rest of the torte is set. Once it's all ready, flip the torte & crust out of the pan onto a plate and pour the ganache over the top. Slice, serve & smile.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-27393365883168778242014-03-13T05:07:00.000-07:002014-03-13T05:07:45.857-07:00Love Lists- March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG_B1xCzdhzLCO_dDaMwJjeDFbDVwoO2ELK3WBwzxeLRQkEbo5HaByWM9bCmwW7r22nX_a877v7mp4Wz5KMj15VoqPyeWzym0-RJxtcVrPEYT9sI8raFZqHIv1E-U1xTJsyyMiYrsZdKM/s1600/kasbah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbG_B1xCzdhzLCO_dDaMwJjeDFbDVwoO2ELK3WBwzxeLRQkEbo5HaByWM9bCmwW7r22nX_a877v7mp4Wz5KMj15VoqPyeWzym0-RJxtcVrPEYT9sI8raFZqHIv1E-U1xTJsyyMiYrsZdKM/s1600/kasbah.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The coming of Spring in Tangier has by no means been a slow and quiet process. The sun and warm weather are aggressively ushered in by strong winds and waves, bending the palm trees sideways and making my ceiling groan while I sleep at night. The wind makes everything feel alive and the colors seem more vibrant. I didn't think this place could get any more inspiring for me, but it just grows and fluctuates so much on a daily basis. I can't help falling more and more in love.<br />
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Speaking of which:<br />
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March Love List<br />
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-Listening to the newest album by <a href="http://asgeirmusic.com/">Ásgeir</a> on repeat and dreaming of taking <a href="http://halffulltravel.blogspot.com/2013/09/iceland-without-plan-days-1-2.html">another road trip</a> around Iceland...<br />
-<a href="http://oanabefort.com/2014/03/papercolorbrush-06/">This</a> artist's delicate, lovely little watercolors.<br />
-A simple and thoughtful <a href="http://verilymag.com/how-to-photograph-food/">tutorial </a>on food photography as story-telling<br />
-<a href="http://mynameisyeh.com/mynameisyeh/2014/3/the-dark-side-of-mini-cakes-and-how-to-get-rid-of-it-cake-truffles">Cake truffles? </a>Yeah. I can roll with that.<br />
-I know <a href="http://sploid.gizmodo.com/watching-complete-strangers-make-out-is-actually-awkwar-1540921129/+caseychan">this</a> video has been circulating around a lot lately, but I just think it's so wonderfully awkward/sweet/romantic. And I'm not even someone who's into romantic things. Trust me.<br />
-Uum so I think I have a full-on <a href="http://halffulltravel.blogspot.com/2014/01/garlic-greens-golden-tahini-sauce.html">tahini</a> <a href="http://halffulltravel.blogspot.com/2014/01/sesame-orange-cookies.html">obsession</a>. I can't stop. Especially after seeing these incredible <a href="http://dulanotes.com/tahini-swirl-cocoa-brownies/">Tahini-Swirled Brownies</a>. Ooh I'm swooning.<br />
-Loving the fluid quality of this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WizJ5LCemis">choreography</a>.<br />
-This gorgeous <a href="http://vimeo.com/87651855">short film</a> on the creation and destruction of mountains.<br />
-I've been in the mood to get a bit more ambitious with dinners. On my list to make are<a href="http://ourfourforks.com/thai-green-curry/#comment-175"> this</a>,<a href="http://www.thefirstmess.com/2014/03/06/roasted-carrots-rice-w-zingy-turmeric-broth-recipe/"> this</a>, and <a href="http://www.willfrolicforfood.com/2014/03/brown-sugar-butternut-squash-collards-w.html">this</a>.<br />
-My newest <a href="http://mollyily.wordpress.com/">blog crush</a>.<br />
-Finally, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQxWg92Ux4">this song</a> on repeat. It's just too damn catchy.<br />
<br />
What have you been loving lately?<br />
Happy Spring beginnings!<br />
<br />
xxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-21940458156200916392014-03-10T09:11:00.002-07:002014-03-10T09:11:29.392-07:00Striped Coconut Shortbread Jamprints<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My days have been especially rich lately- full of friends visiting, showing them the sights and the craziness of life in Tangier, cooking, brainstorming for new projects, and as always, dancing through the mornings, evenings, and sometimes late into the night. Dance has consumed my life recently, in the most wonderful way. If my body doesn't move in some sort of creative or challenging fashion for more than 24 hours, I get all restless and antsy. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The thing is, though, I don't do it for the performance. I dance and choreograph for the process. I love creating something original and watching it unfold and meld before your eyes. You feel the push and pull of it, and sometimes feel the push more than the pull when things aren't going so well, but it's amazing how things always come together when you least expect them too.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I think this fascination with process ties in with my love of cooking and baking. The quiet processes of rolling out dough, melting chocolate, folding batter, each one adds to the anticipation and surprise found in the final result. These cookies especially, in the way the dough only begins to stick together after repeated kneadings and squishings. The outcome is a crumbly shortbread cookie, lightly flavored with coconut oil and sweetened by chocolate and jam. Trust the process, relish the cookie. I made these for my dear dancers<span id="en-editor-last-insertion-point"></span> and they were a happy success. </span></div>
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Striped Coconut Shortbread Jamprints<div>
<i>vegan & gluten-free </i></div>
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<i>adapted from <a href="http://redpathsugar.com/gluten-free-vegan-sugar-cookies/">Redpath Sugar</a></i></div>
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<i>makes 1 1/2 dozen cookies</i></div>
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<i>50g rice flour</i></div>
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<i>100g gluten-free oat flour</i></div>
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<i>2 tsp cornstarch</i></div>
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<i>1/2 tsp salt</i></div>
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<i>60g powdered sugar (we made it <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-powdered-sugar-88812">homemade</a>)</i></div>
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<i>3-4 tbsp coconut oil</i></div>
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<i>1 tbsp vanilla soy or almond milk</i></div>
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<i>50g dark chocolate</i></div>
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<i>mixed <span id="en-editor-last-insertion-point"></span>fruit jam</i></div>
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Preheat your oven to 350º (175º C). Combine the flours, cornstarch, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Using your fingers, mix in 3 tbsp of coconut oil and the soy milk, kneading until it comes together in a sticky ball. If the dough is too crumbly, add the extra tbsp of coconut oil. It will take about 3-5 minutes of working it through your fingers for it to start sticking, so you know, don't lose hope. Form the dough into little balls and set them on a baking sheet, pressing down the centers with your thumb. Bake for about 10 minutes or until just slightly golden brown on the edges. </div>
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While the cookies cool completely, melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Generously drizzle the chocolate over the cookies, let it harden for a a couple minutes, and finish up with a little scoop of fruit jelly plopped into each thumbprint center. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-58114235597455726582014-03-06T07:16:00.000-08:002014-03-11T10:44:25.599-07:00Old Friends, Fresh Air: A Day Trip to Asilah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes you just need to get out of the city. There is nothing like fresh ocean air to clear the mind and wake up the eyes, which is why I was thrilled to have the excuse to go on a day trip to Asilah with my two best friends who are visiting me for the week.<br />
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It's funny how having old friends see you in a new place throws your whole life into a funny perspective. I've known these ladies since I was about 5 years old, so they literally know every single dirty little secret I possess. Having them enter my Moroccan life is like stepping through an other-worldly portal. A clash of the years past and years present. But it is wonderful.<br />
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Driving along the Northern Moroccan coast, gaping at mountains and waves and reminiscing about playmobiles and middle school crushes, none of us could quite believe that we were together in this country. But there we were.<br />
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We began our trip stopping by Cap Spartel and Grotte D'Hercule- a lovely lookout point with an expansive rolling beach and rocks dotted by fisherman, catching fresh fish for local restaurants.<br />
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And camels, because you know, they just have to.<br />
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We took the obligatory<i> we're in Morocco together </i>selfie<i>:</i><br />
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...and drove on to the little village of Asilah, where we ate a delicious lunch at <i>Cafe Garcia</i> complete with grilled prawns, fried calamari and fillets of swordfish. Everything was caught that morning, cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. Sorry- we were way too hungry to take food pictures. It happens.<br />
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After stuffing our faces, an energizing walk through the Kasbah was much needed. The Kasbah in Asilah was filled with stunning bright, bold shades of blues, greens and whites, with the frequent splattered, multi-colored mural.<br />
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I love getting lost in places like this. You never know where the winding street will take you.<br />
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Maybe it will take you to a cafe with perfect little Moroccan cookies. That's always nice.<br />
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Eventually we found our way back out and our way back home to Tangier.<br />
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Asilah was brief, blue and beautiful.<br />
Absolutely worth the day trip, especially if you have good (the best) company.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-88334187307261035342014-03-03T08:09:00.000-08:002014-03-06T07:35:05.294-08:00Cinnamon & Sesame Apple Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBT3fOx7n0tUKnGyn3AkqJ9ZPdEp8svR6t4-4p8OSH-Jse8VDfi4V2NqQRvrd69ZWW-uKK6whpfGO1Qi_nfL5XUMihzJ4it2PlWYGmCOCC3cY5h2cYxS1iets3hKOnKpE1LZ0QzFTvhXf/s1600/applecake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBT3fOx7n0tUKnGyn3AkqJ9ZPdEp8svR6t4-4p8OSH-Jse8VDfi4V2NqQRvrd69ZWW-uKK6whpfGO1Qi_nfL5XUMihzJ4it2PlWYGmCOCC3cY5h2cYxS1iets3hKOnKpE1LZ0QzFTvhXf/s1600/applecake3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Okay get ready- I'm gonna get a little philosophical on you guys today. Bear with me.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I try to write every day (uh huh sure) and the other morning I ended up writing about how I tend to think of life in chapters. I blame it on excessive reading ever since I was a kid- although what is excessive, really, when it comes to reading? Some of these life chapters are longer than others, but they always open out onto a new page. Fresh ideas, plot twists. Unexpected words put into unexpected sentences.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ugh, sorry, I'll stop with the extended metaphor.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The main point that I want to get to is that sometimes it's hard to see how all of these chapters connect. Sometimes I look back on my years in college and I think<i> </i></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">wait, was that really the same person? Taking too many classes, waitressing in the local pizza restaurant and choreographing to keep herself sane? </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And then I think </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">what about that young woman in London? The one waltzing around in high heels, saying words like 'cheeky' and making pancakes for her flatmates on Sundays? </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And that leads to </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">how about that girl in Italy, downing espressos every hour? </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the girl back in Minneapolis, sitting on the back porch feeling stuck, writing and dreaming about the next adventure? </span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the woman in Berlin, doing yoga and casually dating like it was a sport?</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And now the chapter of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">the American in Tangier. Dancing up a storm, stumbling through languages, collecting stories. </span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">How do these people relate?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have a good friend who I met in London who liked to talk about "connecting the dots." Even with these different chapters that feel completely seprate from each other, the dots connect. For example, I cook wherever I go, bringing a sense of home to whatever kitchen I'm thrown into. I'm stabilized by weekly conversations with my family, whether it's sitting around the living room in Minneapolis or on a skype call from a hostel in Brugges. I always have the same shade of lipstick in my purse, the same silly habit of laughing with just my shoulders, and the things I learn and the impact of people I meet just keep piling and piling on, filling me up... but only half full, right? </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqsssYAcUlrNaHUSoDIA1GoMubqgSUojIR8gTC1rXFkDCRSF9x8t4Esi33q3HLzmpG35RZ78ys_dcnaXjPpeo_pTK09zNzKVY4algXBP6Y-juinD_FuCF64gv8crxGCBSc6ksVqBGhGA-/s1600/applecake4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqsssYAcUlrNaHUSoDIA1GoMubqgSUojIR8gTC1rXFkDCRSF9x8t4Esi33q3HLzmpG35RZ78ys_dcnaXjPpeo_pTK09zNzKVY4algXBP6Y-juinD_FuCF64gv8crxGCBSc6ksVqBGhGA-/s1600/applecake4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Speaking of being full. </span></span><br />
Let's switch the topic to CAKE.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This apple cake tastes nostalgic- like flipping back to past chapters of homemade apple pies, checkered aprons and cinnamon. However, it also has a little zing of something new. Something exotic that you can't quite put a name to unless you know the secret ingredient. That, my dear, would be my new best friend- tahini. With a little extra sesame in the crunchy crumb topping. Let's mix up the new and the old today, because you can't have one without the other. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cinnamon & Sesame Apple Cake</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">gluten-free<span id="en-editor-last-insertion-point"></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>155g almonds, ground to a fine flour</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>55g rice flour</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2 tsp baking powder</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1/4 tsp salt</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1 tsp cinnamon</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>4 medium apples, peeled, cored & chopped to 1" pieces </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>3 eggs</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>90g brown sugar</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>4 tbsp melted coconut oil</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1/3 cup tahini</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sesame crumble topping:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>3 tbsp brown sugar</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1/4 cup rolled oats</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2 tbsp sesame seeds</i></span></div>
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Preheat your oven to 375º and grease & flour a cake pan (mine was about 6x10"- a funny size, but 8x8 or slightly larger works too. Adjust cooking times as necessary).</div>
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In a medium bowl, mix the almond and rice flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a larger bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, coconut oil and tahini until frothy. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, then fold in the apples until completely coated. Spread the batter evenly in your cake pan and set aside.</div>
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Combine the crumble topping ingredients in a small bowl with your fingers until it sticks together in large crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the cake batter and bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes or until a knife comes clean out of the center. Let cool for about 15 minutes, slice, serve & be happy.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-42956370883093060542014-02-27T09:27:00.001-08:002014-03-06T05:25:01.551-08:00Woman Wanderer: Tips for Packing Light<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
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Guess what. I'm starting a new exciting kind of mini series on this blog called <b>Woman Wanderer.</b> It will be filled with tips & tricks for women traveling solo- a place to share ideas and experience. I'm not saying I'm an expert on this stuff, but I am happy to share the things I've learned so far on my adventures with others who might be just starting out. We're going to begin at the beginning: Packing for the trip.</div>
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The inspiration for all of this came from my new friend Valerie over at <a href="http://www.nuanceandbubbles.com/">Nuance and Bubbles</a>, who is a lovely lifestyle blogger from Puerto Rico!<br />
We were brainstorming about how to tackle the daunting task of packing small for different sorts of trips and we decided to team up and share with you guys our own advice for how to get ready for your personal adventure.<br />
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Head on over to her blog to find <a href="http://www.nuanceandbubbles.com/2014/02/tips-for-packing-light-what-to-pack.html">wonderful tips & tricks</a> on how to pack for a conference or speaking engagement!</div>
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Over here, I'm talkin' about long-term back-packing. Imagine this- packing for a trip in which you don't know exactly where you will be going and you don't know how long you're going for, but you know for sure you could be doing anything and everything from working professionally, to hiking through snowy mountains, swimming, partying, and potentially meeting people you want to impress.</div>
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Oh and did I mention all you have is one backpack and one over-sized purse?</div>
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Yeah. </div>
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Welcome to my crash course in how to become to an awesome minimalist packer.</div>
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<b>10 Packing Tips for a Woman & Her Backpack</b></div>
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1. First things first- clothes. <b>DO NOT go buy all new things. Pack things that you've had for a while and are super comfortable,</b> because if you go buy a new sweater and then suddenly realize it gets a little itchy in the sleeves... oops. There goes precious sweater space in your backpack that could have been used for something more comfy. Trust me, every nook and cranny, every shirt, every sock, will make a difference. After lugging that thing around long enough, you'll feel like you can tell the difference between packing 4 or 6 pairs of socks. </div>
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2. <b>Choose mostly dark colored clothes- blacks, blues, dark greens, etc. </b> Make sure every single piece you bring can be mixed with every other piece. I have this weird thing against wearing dark blue shirts when I'm wearing blue jeans, so I didn't pack any dark blue shirts because that would rule out my jeans. Ya know? Oh and the other secret about dark clothes? (you can wash them less)</div>
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3. <b>Bring mostly basics and then a few key pieces that can convert basics into an <i>outfit.</i></b> I had this super simple black pencil skirt and if I wore it with my flannel shirt and boots, I was ready for a casual day of sight-seeing, but with my little black blazer, nice flats and a swishy shirt, I was ready to go out to dinner & drinks. Also keep in mind, jewelry can dress up anything. Choose carefully. That was a difficult one for me with my earrings obsession.</div>
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4. <b>Three pairs of shoes. Maximum.</b> I know this is hard. But here's what you need: </div>
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-a great pair of boots that are broken in, comfy and you can wear with anything </div>
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-tennis shoes/walking shoes that you wouldn't be embarrassed to wear on the streets of Paris (you know, not too mom-ish)</div>
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-lightweight flats. </div>
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You wear the bulky boots whenever you're in transit and pack the rest. Easy.</div>
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5. I feel like it maybe goes without saying, but <b>never forget the concept of</b> <b>light layers</b>. I only brought one jacket- a nice, fairly lightweight leather one- that I could wear with anything and was a bit on the larger side, so I could put multiple sweaters underneath if needed. That and a couple scarves (bought in countries I visited) were my lifesavers for colder weather.</div>
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6. <b>Invest in a super sturdy big purse. </b>I bought a nice<i> </i>bag in London that was a liiittle on the more expensive side, but guess what. I bought that bag a year and a half ago, carried it across countries with my laptop, DSLR camera, and occasionally stuffed an extra layer in there too, when I was going from Sicily to Milan in the Spring, and it continues to be my constant companion to this day. A good purse is your best friend.</div>
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7. <b>Things you should bring more of than you think you'll need</b>: </div>
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-Underwear. Most backpacking guides say bring like 5 pairs, but I would double that. Doing laundry in hostels is a pain.</div>
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-Tampons & related female products. I had to go into about four different markets in Tangier, trying to explain tampons while turning bright red before I found anyone that even knew what I was talking about. Stock up, ladies.</div>
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8. <b>Things you don't need</b>:<br />
-A towel. Most hostels provide them and they take up way too much space.<br />
-Excessive make-up. Bring the bare minimum and get used to going natural- just enough to look nice in all those photos you'll be taking.<br />
-Hair dryer (please just don't)<br />
-Expensive sunglasses. They will break or you will lose them. Go for that 5 euro rack.</div>
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9. <b>Things you definitely need</b>:<br />
-Lotion with sunscreen<br />
-A little notebook & extra pens. Always carry them with you, no matter what.<br />
-A camera you enjoy taking pictures with. Your phone pics won't be satisfying years later when you're flipping back through the memories.<br />
-A little foldable umbrella or light-weight rain jacket.</div>
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10. Finally,<b> do not be afraid to let go of things.</b> You are going to want to buy new clothes, shoes, whatever, in the amazing places you visit, so be willing to leave behind some of the old. I did this trick with books too (because I'm a huge bookworm and kindles just don't do it for me). Bring one book. Read it. Leave it as a donation under a pillow in your hostel, find a discount book store wherever you are and pick up another one. I can't tell you how many little presents I've left behind in hostels- a shirt in Brussels, a couple books in Paris, an extra pair of sunglasses in Madrid. You gotta learn to how to let go. Go with the flow. Because the stuff in your backpack is just stuff. <i>You</i> are your own home on the road.<br />
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And there you have it. Keep in mind, all of this advice stems from personal experience, so you can take it with a grain of salt. If you have any other advice or tricks for how to pack for a back-packing adventure, please share and add your wisdom to the list! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-87760210187147309282014-02-21T07:57:00.001-08:002014-03-06T05:25:30.590-08:00Sunshine, Spice & Everything Nice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">For the past 2 months, every time I chat with friends or family from Minnesota, they start the conversation with <i>well it snowed another 6 inches today, no big deal.</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Sorry guys, but I gotta say I don't miss that <i>at all</i>. I got my fix of snow and a white Christmas while I was home for 3 weeks in December, but that was all I needed. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Now it's not exactly warm in Tangier, but there's plenty of lovely sunshine to soak in while walking around- and that is one thing I love about this city. You can walk everywhere. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Every morning I walk from my house in the Kasbah all the way down a giant hill to the theater where I choreograph various dance projects for a couple hours. Then I walk back up the hill to Marshan where I work with the designers of <a href="http://www.zidzid.us/">Zidzid Kids</a>, walk back down later to the Cinematheque- the center of the social scene- for a coffee and a chat with friends, and back up the hill again, stopping through the medina to pick up some fresh veggies for dinner. Sometimes I head out once more, either for rehearsal with my group of young Moroccan dancers or for a drink with whoever's around. And by the end of the night, back up that hill I go. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Who needs a gym membership in this city? I think I could already kill someone with my leg muscles.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Anyway, I've been feeling a bit guilty for being able to waltz around outside without putting on fifteen thousand layers first, so I though I would make a smoothie in honor of all my loved ones who have to bear the long winter. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Let me share some sunshine with you through this happy immunity-building smoothie. The lovely mix of golden honey & turmeric along with the fresh ginger will help you fight off any late winter sickness (and they taste delicious together). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Stay warm, my dears. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Sunshine & Spice Banana Smoothie</span><br />
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2 ripe bananas</div>
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3/4 cup almond milk</div>
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2 tsp raw honey</div>
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1/4 tsp turmeric</div>
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1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger</div>
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1/4 tsp vanilla</div>
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Do I even need to write smoothie instructions? I've always found that a bit silly.<br />
Just mix it all up in a blender, pour in two tall glasses, sip & enjoy.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-56924275507630949872014-02-18T06:45:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:25:58.849-08:00Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Scones with Honey Coconut Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>They stare at me while I</i><br />
<i>craaave yoou</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0bS-YnLf4s">This</a> is the song I was singing to these scones the whole time I made them. What, you <i>don't</i> sing to your food? Psh, crazy talk. All the cool kids do it.<br />
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It's funny- you would think that I bake things more often when I have a lot of down time and free days, but in fact it's the exact opposite. When I start to get stressed and my days are full, I take every spare couple of hours and try to squeeze in some cookies, cakes, or in this case, scones.<br />
<br />
Workin' that dough through my fingers, whisking up coconut milk and sugar, singing to the batter as I plop it on the tray and dance while it's in the oven- this is my release. It's how I de-stress. I did it in University and now I'm back into the grind of working on 3-4 projects at a time (which I will fill you in on in more detail soon), so get ready for buckets of sweets and yummy baked things, like these crave-worthy scones. Perfectly crumbly with streaks of melt-in-your mouth dark chocolate, there's just no way you can resist having <i>at least</i> two for breakfast. And for dessert. And oh hell, why not a midnight snack, too?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Scones </span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">gluten-free, vegan</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">makes 8 scones</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">125g ground oats</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">60g rice flour</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">50g rolled oats</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 tbsp cornstarch</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp baking powder</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 tsp salt</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">60g sugar</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/3 cup solid coconut oil</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">175ml coconut milk*</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">120g dark chocolate, roughly chopped</span></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Honey Coconut Cream</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 can full-fat coconut milk (just the cream)*</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 1/2 tbsp honey</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">*<i>Leave the can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight so that the cream separates. Use the leftover liquid for the scone batter.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat your oven to 350º and grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a medium bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients and add the coconut oil, using your fingers or a pastry cutter to combine until the texture resembles a grainy sort of sand. Fold in coconut milk and dark chocolate. Form the dough into a flat circle on your baking sheet, about 1" thick, and cut into 8 triangles. Slightly separate each wedge and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on the edges. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While the scones bake & cool, whisk together the coconut cream with honey in a large bowl with an electric mixer or by hand (use those muscles!) until soft peaks form. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Serve scones warm with a dollop of honey coconut cream & a cup of tea or coffee.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-22834684092058493032014-02-13T04:07:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:26:13.130-08:00Caramel Almond Sandwich Cookies<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have this problem sometimes. I am a hardcore perfectionist. I'm not sure exactly where or why I got it, but I have very clear memories of being a 10 year old kid rewriting pages of homework because the handwriting on the first draft didn't look pretty enough. What can I say? I was (am) a little bit of a freak. Isn't everyone in their own way?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anyhow, recently I've been trying to battle the perfectionist in me and learn to ease up on things that can be eased up on. Because the issue with wanting every result to be perfect all the time is that it hinders your ability to experiment. And anyone who bakes or creates knows the importance of experimentation. I think I'm finally starting to get it down. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For example, when I choreograph things now, I try to purposely test out movements that feel strange in my body. I get myself into funny shapes and problem-solve how to get out of them. Some of the stuff I come up with is complete crap. But the things that work out? Gems. Original, quirky, interesting. Imperfect. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm slooowly learning how to let go not only in the dance studio, but in the kitchen as well. Sometimes I'll sit in front of the computer or flip through cookbooks for hours, looking for the <i>perfect</i> foolproof recipe to make with what I have on hand. Really though, you can't do that in Morocco. This is the country of <i>a handful of this, a pinch of that.</i> I had to have a talk with myself and say</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Girl, loosen up. Throw some shit together and see what happens. It's not the end of the world if something burns or tastes funny. Que sera sera.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So I threw a handful of this and that into the food processor and WHO KNEW made these amazing crunchy almond cookies. And sure, even though they turned out absolutely delicious by themselves, I was feeling like that rainy evening was the perfect opportunity to be decadent and make some coconut dulce de leche , recipe á la my new friend Renee's blog- <a href="http://www.willfrolicforfood.com/2014/02/coconut-dulce-de-leche-vegan.html">Will Frolic for Food</a>. </span></i></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">
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Boy was that a good move. </div>
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Yay for spontenaiety.</div>
<div style="font-style: normal;">
Yay for experimenting.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Caramel Almond Sandwich Cookies</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">gluten-free</span></i></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">makes 16 individual cookies or 8 sandwiches</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">120g almonds</span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 tbsp almond milk</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2 1/2 tbsp coconut oil</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4 tbsp brown sugar</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 egg</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 cup rice flour</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1/4 tsp sea salt</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1/2 tsp baking powder</i><br /></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1 batch of coconut caramel (get the recipe at<span id="en-editor-last-insertion-point"></span> <a href="http://www.willfrolicforfood.com/2014/02/coconut-dulce-de-leche-vegan.html">Will Frolic for Food</a>)</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat your oven to 350º or turn the gas burner on low and grease a large cookie sheet.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a food processor, combine the almonds, almond milk, coconut oil and brown sugar until the almonds are ground and everything is combined. It's okay if there are some larger almond pieces- it'll make the cookies have a nice little crunch. Add the egg and blend. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in the wet mixture until a sticky dough is formed. Roll the dough into small balls- about 1" wide- and flatten onto the baking sheet with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden-brown. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Let the cookies cool for a good 20-30 minutes before generously spreading on the caramel and sandwiching them together. Eat, share, enjoy.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-81879520479991537742014-02-10T08:35:00.001-08:002014-03-06T05:26:26.037-08:00Love Lists - February<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglr4aYmfTguUNMN5XYU9zRXJq5G1iKFKQT7UyHWRVdtBS0mgcBAzG2df-DjsGcbBVjoZn5sP8wZ6zDd3ukmRkSM5LQEBWnmWCqWcq7nbh8ZsiYFjTiCRX1peC8kjFFozRk-dIqHFs3ZLrZ/s1600/gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglr4aYmfTguUNMN5XYU9zRXJq5G1iKFKQT7UyHWRVdtBS0mgcBAzG2df-DjsGcbBVjoZn5sP8wZ6zDd3ukmRkSM5LQEBWnmWCqWcq7nbh8ZsiYFjTiCRX1peC8kjFFozRk-dIqHFs3ZLrZ/s1600/gallery.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><i>Art by Souad Benhlimi at <a href="http://www.volubilisartgallery.com/volubilis.html">Gallery Volubilis</a>, Tanger</i></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Inspired by the wonderful <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/">Heidi Swanson</a>, I've decided to do a monthly round-up of links & things that I discover and enjoy. Because sharing is caring. Right?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It seems to appropriate to begin my love lists in February around Valentine's Day, the day a person might take a leap of faith and confess their deep undying love for another. So, with that same spirit, I would like to confess my love for the following things:</span><br />
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-I am just beginning to envelope myself into the pages of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UV919C/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0618446885&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1BGYHJV00ZQ6XGJKZ30Y">this</a> book, but I'm already hooked.</div>
-Lusting over this lovely layered <a href="http://thelittlewhitekitchen.com/?p=1315">crêpe suzette cake.</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/feb/06/morocco-motorbike-women-pictures-kesh-angles-hajjaj#/?picture=428998665&index=0">Motorcycle girl gangs of Morocco</a>. Who wants to fly me to New York to see these photos in person?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-<a href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/80275/super-cool-librarians-name-10-best-feminist-books-of-2014">Top 10 feminist books</a> for young readers of 2014. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcyRPn__V9o">This</a> song on repeat.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-This <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/inside-our-kitchen/article/sweet-potato-caramel">sweet potato caramel recipe</a> is one of the most genius things I've seen all week. And drizzled on <a href="http://ourfourforks.com/double-chocolate-cupcakes/#comment-86">double chocolate cupcakes</a>? I'm dying.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-For anyone else with a <a href="http://blog.maptia.com/posts/untranslatable-words-from-other-cultures">love of language</a> and a love of simply sweet illustrations.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-<a href="http://www.nowness.com/day/2012/11/12/2583/sigur-ros-valtari">This video</a>. <i>Mon dieu.</i> Breath-taking music & dance.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-Finally, a love list wouldn't be a love list without <a href="http://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/2014/no-bake-chocolate-fudge-fridge-cake-recipe/comment-page-1/#comment-42793">something chocolate.</a></span><br />
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What have you been loving lately?<br />
Let's share & care & inspire. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-75474947994966704152014-02-06T04:59:00.003-08:002014-03-06T05:26:42.030-08:00No-Bake Chocolate Truffle Tarts <!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?-->
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xiAn-eJHFtyBOrYUlyc3r-sjO7Z2Hu1q0Qw28B-yueOYPRLB2yKa0yO8z0b7GEiikRWOk-oknLs20SJETgIyjlGP6ja9eCa8DycihLaRV7ImmJ714j8lTwP6_hRRJT01tHW_rVnmZFQ4/s1600/coucoutart1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xiAn-eJHFtyBOrYUlyc3r-sjO7Z2Hu1q0Qw28B-yueOYPRLB2yKa0yO8z0b7GEiikRWOk-oknLs20SJETgIyjlGP6ja9eCa8DycihLaRV7ImmJ714j8lTwP6_hRRJT01tHW_rVnmZFQ4/s1600/coucoutart1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Oof. Valentines Day is coming up and while it may not be a big deal in Tanger, the blogging world is filling up with red and pink and heart-shaped this and that. So I've decided now is a good time to confess my deep, deep love</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">for solo travel.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Here's the deal. I'm pretty young. And as much as some of these women here in Tangier would love to marry me off to a nice Moroccan man asap, I'm really in no rush to fall for any one person. The way I see it, you don't go searching for those kind of things. They usually catch you off guard. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But traveling alone, going somewhere completely new by yourself, gives you the wonderful ability to fall in love with everything around you. Unhindered by the judgement or wishes of someone else by your side, you can absorb every delicious detail in it's entirety. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Being a single young woman is an empowering thing. You learn to enjoy your own company. I have learned to love that intense happy-butterfly feeling I get in my stomach every time a plane leaves the ground. I've learned to love getting lost in twisting winding streets and somehow finding myself in front of a darling ivy-covered cafe. I love the taste of new foods and the melodic sounds of different languages. Travel, you are my valentine.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But not my one and only. Because chocolate exists too.</span></span><br />
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Now let me explain the story behind the food.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzwy40fZUncj4j_0N92nbUCrjFpiW9nDl7qmaM25G5euDbkdWzZcAtipCclEDrn2njzzzx2wTkVkOuO8DKBbzVP6nPV2hsrGju5u5KocVoV4VgI2sG_pwJVyLrc4Jtftn9U2HSo-HIGhh/s1600/coucoutart3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzwy40fZUncj4j_0N92nbUCrjFpiW9nDl7qmaM25G5euDbkdWzZcAtipCclEDrn2njzzzx2wTkVkOuO8DKBbzVP6nPV2hsrGju5u5KocVoV4VgI2sG_pwJVyLrc4Jtftn9U2HSo-HIGhh/s1600/coucoutart3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn4VeATkLLIowmHq6D_AL-gadT3BfbFFL0BLkqQVwtbtAnMJf2AcxmjdzI4HCALkly_JHTMyaD1OOEpxlkZqBBtZ2Ne-Vhwx2gqcbLBotK5YndhLlGjFK0L1Z1otZf09tWqNkFpmlVSdV/s1600/coucoutart4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn4VeATkLLIowmHq6D_AL-gadT3BfbFFL0BLkqQVwtbtAnMJf2AcxmjdzI4HCALkly_JHTMyaD1OOEpxlkZqBBtZ2Ne-Vhwx2gqcbLBotK5YndhLlGjFK0L1Z1otZf09tWqNkFpmlVSdV/s1600/coucoutart4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously it is very important to have friends to taste-test your treats for you. For the sake of quality control and for the sake of otherwise-I'll-eat-it-all-by-myself-in-one-sitting. So my friends Ayoub and Adil were happy to try these lovely chocolate-truffle-filled tarts for me. I asked them to share their thoughts<span id="en-editor-last-insertion-point"></span> and Ayoub says</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Well it's nice because you have three layers. The strawberry, the chocolate, and the coucou."
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"I'm sorry Ayoub, the <i>what?"</i>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Coucou!"
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"...You mean coconut?"
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh."
</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hence the birth of Chocolate Coucou. Thank you, Ayoub.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC9gMCeSoBbG4ZTS8a6DnAX1IBTGB0qNWV9sJIuI_pbZrsDjxgG7AJMy-jOmqUuAOtX8xtzjbTNd1IQ8Gj-HfcMxx2sUKP2_ZiclOt4k50tedFEmKSAafEhFkZe0pS3A_0az51gS6oZ9Q/s1600/coucoutart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC9gMCeSoBbG4ZTS8a6DnAX1IBTGB0qNWV9sJIuI_pbZrsDjxgG7AJMy-jOmqUuAOtX8xtzjbTNd1IQ8Gj-HfcMxx2sUKP2_ZiclOt4k50tedFEmKSAafEhFkZe0pS3A_0az51gS6oZ9Q/s1600/coucoutart.jpg" /></a></div>
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Seriously though, these tarts <i>are</i> coucou. They come together so quickly and when the filling hardens a bit, it's like a super creamy chocolate truffle, accented by the nuttiness of almonds and the sweetness of strawberries. You will fall in love, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yo0ScVxxSztMzACQC0uiCYVms0k_qutRi21oWiXaSWQydV9KZ_Dkm8bdkLdL6gVFi4aurSopzcbwIkIoVXPSYVseI6zg1fEylw2-RCbzGrinRI-mOi8cdyTjPiSLfOS_yMGxb5pAHA1K/s1600/coucoutart5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yo0ScVxxSztMzACQC0uiCYVms0k_qutRi21oWiXaSWQydV9KZ_Dkm8bdkLdL6gVFi4aurSopzcbwIkIoVXPSYVseI6zg1fEylw2-RCbzGrinRI-mOi8cdyTjPiSLfOS_yMGxb5pAHA1K/s1600/coucoutart5.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No-Bake Chocolate Truffle Tarts (aka Chocolate Coucou)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>opt. vegan, gf, no-bake, almost raw</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>makes 3-4 personal tarts</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>190g almonds </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>40g rolled oats</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2 tbsp coconut oil</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>2 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup for vegan version</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>80g vegan dark chocolate</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>120g raw cashews</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1/2 cup water</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1 tbsp brown sugar</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i>1/2 kilo strawberries</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In a food processor, blend together the almonds and oats until it resembles a crumbly meal. Melt together the coconut oil and honey and add to the processor, pulsing until the meal sticks together when you pinch it between your fingers. Press the mixture into little ramekin dishes (it should be enough for 3-4 depending on the size of the dish) and set aside.<br />
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Melt the chocolate completely in a double boiler. Or in whatever you have on hand that resembles a double boiler:<br />
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<br />
Wash out your food processor (or use your second one if you're fancy) and combine the cashews, water and brown sugar until as creamy as possible. Add melted chocolate and blend until smooth. Spoon the mousse into the tart shells and put in the fridge for at least an hour to set. Top with sliced strawberries and serve.</div>
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<br />
xo</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-72611422874218197852014-01-28T08:50:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:27:04.156-08:00Sesame Orange Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA6bhRZuD4MYlWt_O7vfAOLvqqUsBCeIiLPvfsjQOjFkjk2xxtkj8ZTDt2HTDEDEwcX1KiGGfGiaobYRpyK-87rU_fYnXBAg5YOcXCk59RdsDsm1h4UM-4OJWI8CIE7wNkasaFOCCa9wm/s1600/sesame2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA6bhRZuD4MYlWt_O7vfAOLvqqUsBCeIiLPvfsjQOjFkjk2xxtkj8ZTDt2HTDEDEwcX1KiGGfGiaobYRpyK-87rU_fYnXBAg5YOcXCk59RdsDsm1h4UM-4OJWI8CIE7wNkasaFOCCa9wm/s1600/sesame2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
In the past couple days, 3 notably exciting things happened.<br />
<br />
1. I taught my first dance class at the conservatory here. By the end, no one was crying and the women were smiling and sweating, so you know. Success.<br />
2. I took my first ride in a Moroccan grand taxi. If you've been here you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't, picture a can of sardines. Now picture a car of sardines. Now picture a small car of 7 people (driver included) who look like sardines in a can, smushed together for an hour on the way to Tetouan. It's an essential if not slightly uncomfortable experience.<br />
Somehow I managed to squeeze my hands down to my purse, pull out my camera and take the following picture of the stunning mountains surrounding the city.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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3. I finally mastered my oven! After only two blackened trial cookies, these sesame babies came out all golden brown, perfectly crumbly and happily devoured. My dear friend Karla said "Never make these again. They are dangerous." </div>
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Danger- the ultimate sign of a solid cookie recipe.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
Sesame Orange Cookies<br />
<i>(gf, v)</i><br />
<i>adapted from <a href="http://havecakewilltravel.com/2009/03/31/tahini-orange-cookies/">Have Cake Will Travel</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>makes about 20 small cookies</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>1 cup (256g) tahini</i><br />
<i>1/2 cup (85g) brown sugar</i><br />
<i>1/4 cup (46g) white sugar</i><br />
<i>1 large orange, zested</i><br />
<i>1/2 cup (40g) ground oats </i><br />
<i>1/2 cup (80g) rice flour</i><br />
<i>2 tsp baking powder</i><br />
<i>1/4 tsp salt</i><br />
<i>1 cup (150g) sesame seeds</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Preheat your oven to 350ºF (180ºC) or turn gas burner to medium low. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.<br />
<br />
In a large bowl, whisk together the tahini, sugars and orange zest. Mix the remaining ingredients (sans sesame seeds) in a medium bowl, and add the dry to the wet, stirring until combined. Roll the dough into 1"-1.5" balls and coat each one in sesame seeds. Place on baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes, or until they become slightly golden brown around the edges. They will still feel squishy to touch on top, but they solidify as they cool. Let rest out of the oven for about 10 minutes, then eat and enjoy.<br />
<i><br /></i>
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<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-15387122508015868502014-01-24T02:32:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:27:21.018-08:00Challenges & Quiche<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I am the kind of person who likes a good challenge. For a
while I was thinking of maybe moving to California or New York to find
internships or continue my studies, which don’t get me wrong, are both
incredible cities where someday I might like to live, but there was this weird
pushy part of me that kept yelling “It’s too easy!” I felt this need to go
somewhere that would <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seriously</i> challenge
me, teach me about different cultures, open up my mind, and from time to time
make me feel as if I know nothing about the world at all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so I chose Tangier. Or, as they say, Tangier chose me. I’m
not really sure yet.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This city is a constant, wonderful challenge. From using
three different languages to simply buy some lettuce at the market, to losing
my way in the maze of the medina and finding myself on a single-person street,
I am always kept on my toes. It is both exhilarating and exhausting. I love
it.</div>
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Another routine challenge is the ever-so-exciting process of using the flame spouting thing they call an oven here in Morocco. I tried to make a cake the other day which began with me throwing matches into the box of gas and ducking until finally it lit, and resulted in something resembling a bubbling brick that was black on the bottom and wiggly on top. Whoops.<br />
<br />
I tried my luck again with this lovely little quiche, and was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. I'm trying to eat gluten-free lately, but finding gluten-free flour in Tangier is a difficult task. This potato crust is ingenius- you end up with these delicious crispy potatoes surrounding a fluffy eggy filling. I had a slice for lunch for 5 days straight and never got sick of it.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Potato-Crusted Spinach & Tomato Quiche <i>(gf)</i><br />
<i>inspired by <a href="http://www.sweetdailyblog.com/spinach-and-spring-herb-torta-in-potato-crust/">Sweet Daily</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>makes 8 servings</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>4-5 medium/large potatoes</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp canola oil</i><br />
<i>100g spinach, roughly chopped</i><br />
<i>2 cloves garlic, minced</i><br />
<i>5 eggs</i><br />
<i>1/4 cup milk or unsweetened almond milk</i><br />
<i>1/2 onion, minced</i><br />
<i>1 tomato, chopped</i><br />
<i>1/4 cup minced fresh parsley</i><br />
<i>1/2 tsp paprika</i><br />
<i>salt & pepper to your taste</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Start by peeling and thinly slicing your potatoes. Slice 3 of them into discs, and 2 into horizontal strips. Heat the oil in a large skillet and fry the potatoes for about 5-8 minutes, or until they soften and get a bit golden on the edges. Arrange them into a crust with the discs on the bottom and the strips on the side in an oiled 9" round pan.<br />
<br />
Preheat the oven to 400º (although this is relative-with my oven there is no such thing as preheating or a fixed temperature).<br />
<br />
Sauté the spinach with the garlic in your skillet where you cooked the potatoes until just slightly wilted. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk, then add spinach, onion, tomato, parsley and spices. Pour the filling into the potato crust and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown on top.<br />
Let cool for about 10 minutes and serve.<br />
<i><br /></i>
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<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-20113316241829292082014-01-11T07:32:00.001-08:002014-03-06T05:27:40.159-08:00Garlic Greens & Golden Tahini Sauce <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_1029097346"></span><span id="goog_1029097347"></span><br />
Well here I am. Back in this weird, wonderful city we call Tangér, Tanja, Tangier.<br />
<br />
I can't believe that I almost forgot how much I love this place. In less than twenty minutes you can walk through the busy bustling medina, through the markets, through the maze of the Kasbah, and suddenly you walk through an archway and the portal takes you to out onto a stunning view of the bright blue sea, sailing beyond colorful patchwork rooftops.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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I settled in right away. It's like I never left- like these 10 months never passed. It helps that now I have friends here to help me remember my way around and show me the best places to buy fresh oranges and all of those good things.<br />
It also helps that I am lucky enough to live in the most beautiful house, with a bright blue terrace and a well-stocked kitchen. Every night I cook myself a homemade meal. It's become a sort of nesting ritual for me- once I am comfortable cooking somewhere, I can really call it home.<br />
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This meal has become my super simple go-to when I'm too hungry to make something elaborate and time consuming. As much as I'd love to be making Moroccan tagines every night, my schedule here has already been full with meetings and planning for all of the choreography and dance I'll be working on. Needless to say, I've needed some quick & easy dishes. This is my new favorite.<br />
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<br />
Garlic Greens in a Golden Tahini Sauce<br />
<i>(vegan & gf)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>serves 2-3</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>1 tbsp sesame oil</i></span></i>
<i>2 large bunches of greens of your choices (I used swiss chard and spinach)</i><br />
<i>2 cloves garlic, minced</i><br />
<i>2 cups cooked brown rice</i><br />
<i>1 tbsp chopped cilantro</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>1/4 cup tahini</i><br />
<i>1/4 tsp tumeric</i><br />
<i>1/2 tsp honey</i><br />
<i>2 tbsp soy sauce</i><br />
<i>2 tsp lemon juice</i><br />
<i>2-4 tbsp water</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Heat the sesame oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and toast just for a second, then add the greens. Sauté until slightly wilted.<br />
<br />
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the tahini sauce ingredients except for the water. Then add water by the tablespoon until it has reached a nice drizzle-y consistency.<br />
<br />
Serve the greens over prepared brown rice, spoon the sauce on top, and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Feel free to add chicken or tofu, if you want a little more protein. Bon appétit!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-12665528711621402132014-01-09T03:28:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:27:56.682-08:00Un Jour á Paris<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Between Berlin and Tangier, I had a one-day layover in
Paris. In the past, I’ve had kinda mixed feelings about this city. My first time I found the general population cold and distant, while the air was filled with a
false promise of romance. </div>
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The second time was near the end of my 9-month euro-trip and
I met up with my mom for the week. Seeing the city through her eyes showed me a
place filled with beauty and sweet nostalgia- much better than the previous
visit.<br />
<a name='more'></a> </div>
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This time, in just 20 hours, I experienced what can only be
described in the most cliché sense as the “magic” of the city. I walked along
the Seine, had a coffee in a sidewalk café where I successfully flirted with
the waiter in French (a sure sign your skills are improving), walked a little
more in the light rain, devoured a giant crepe with nutella (had to), browsed
for an hour in Shakespeare & Co, and had a lovely glass of wine with an old
friend. It seriously couldn’t get any better.</div>
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In conclusion: Paris is what you make it.
It completely depends on your mindset when you arrive, and with only a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tiny</i> chunk of time, I was determined to
make it perfection.<br />
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Damn, Paris, did you make me a romantic?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044822406893008521.post-52954815794074689512014-01-05T07:40:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:28:16.278-08:00Unknown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
New year, yet another new chapter. After being home for a lovely three weeks, I am back in Berlin, sitting in my favorite cafe of all time (see above), soaking in last bits of the city before I fly south to Morocco on Monday.<br />
<br />
This is clearly going to be quite the year.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Will it top 2013? The year I visited almost 10 different countries, lived in Morocco, Germany and went back to my roots in Minneapolis for the summer? The year I met some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life, discovered new passions, and developed a deep love of being on airplanes?<br />
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You know, I'm not sure it's about each year topping the previous year anymore. It's going to be different, that's the only thing I can say for sure. Sometimes things get better and sometimes they get worse for a little while, but the important thing for me is that they keep moving and changing and fluctuating and never stay stagnant. Boredom does not exist in my life anymore.<br />
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I do not have a plan. I don't have specific life goals with a map of to get me there. There's all of these articles being written about how to figure your life out as a twenty-something year old and I am getting so sick of them. No one else can tell you what you should be doing and in my opinion, 2014 is the year to shut out the nagging voices around you (including the ones in your head) telling you <i>you can't do that</i>. I'm going to go choreograph contemporary dance in Morocco instead of graduating college, like I would have this Spring if my travel addiction hadn't taken over. Some people say I'm crazy. I probably am. But no one is going to tell me I can't do it.<br />
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Happy 2014! Here's to the unknown.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04737943472952653110noreply@blogger.com3