About Me

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Los Angeles, CA, United States
Hi, I'm Daniella, a 25 year old living in Los Angeles, CA. I'm a busy girl with a 9-5 career and an affinity for food, fashion and fitness. This is a true account of my adventures on the West coast!

Jan 12, 2011

Vita mix




Oh ya, this is really happening!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jan 3, 2011

protein power goddess bowl - vegan & delish!

Tonight's meal comes straight from Oh She Glows. When I saw Angela's recipe for the protein power goddess bowl I thought it looked amazingly healthy and delicious, I knew I had to make it. It took me over two hours to make and I dirtied countless dishes but it was very worth it.

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I'm never 100% sure of the protocol with blog etiquette so, to be on the safe side, I do not copy recipes from other blogs. Click here to be linked to the recipe.

This was my first time using nutritional yeast so I headed straight to Whole Foods after work to pick some up as I was sure my regular grocery store wouldn't have. I almost chickened out when I couldn't find it on my own but figured I had to ask since I was spending a small fortune on ingredients just for shopping there. For the curious - nutritional yeast was in the vitamins and supplements section. It was on sale for $9 (kind of pricey!) but it was a fun foodie splurge and I look forward to using it in many more future recipes!

The recipe started with making brown rice and lentils. This was also my first time cooking lentils. After some intense Googling, I think I did pretty well...

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While the lentils and rice were cooking, I chopped all my veggies and made my sauce.

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I sauteed the vegetables in some olive oil over medium-low for five minutes and then added in my lentils.

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Then, I added in the dressing, brought to a boil, removed from heat and added the parsley and mixed greens.

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I served the mix over some rice.

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I served myself such a small serving because I ate some melba toast crackers and extra sharp cheddar with my meal. What can I say? My meal is vegan but I'm not. In any case, this meal was perfection!! It was tangy, creamy, chock full of protein, fiber and vegetables. I will definitely be making it again despite  the fact that it's a little high maintenance.

This makes plenty of leftovers. My lunch for tomorrow is already packed and waiting in the fridge.

I couldn't help indulging in another vegan treat after dinner...

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This ice cream is dairy-free, made with coconut milk. It's decadent and you can see the specks of vanilla bean in it. The Lacey cookies I crumbled into it are not vegan but are insanely delicious nonetheless.

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Mmmmmmm......

Sweet dreams!

Jan 2, 2011

eggnog cupcakes, this post blogged from mid-air

Hello, world down below! I am blogging from somewhere over the Gulf as I travel back to LA from my nice long Winter break in Miami. After 10 days of vacation I feel recharged :) I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. I have some big aspirations and resolutions for 2011 but first things first. I owe you a post on what I baked for Christmas dinner...

Eggnog Cupcakes!

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My good friend Natalie got me the cookbook Booze Cakes for Christmas and this recipe comes straight from there. I will have to share the recipe with you later as it's not posted on their website and my copy of the cookbook is in my checked-in bag.

These little cupcakes were a lot of trouble but well worth it. You have to prep the cake, rum pudding filling and rum spiked whipped cream. So, lots of dirty dishes! But they were quite a hit.

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Here's a picture tutorial on how to stuff a cupcake:

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I did the handy dandy ziplock/ piping bag trick for the rum-spiked whipped cream.

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In my opinion, piping bags are the biggest little thing you can do for your baking. Tips are very inexpensive (I got a set of 6 with bag for $7 on eBay) and easy to use.

Then I dusted the cupcakes with a dash of cinnamon. Mmmm...

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I couldn't help but pick a photogenic cupcake for a photo shoot in my parents' gorgeous backyard. I don't get to take advantage of good lighting like this in my apartment in LA.

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These were thoroughly enjoyed, not a single one left over at the end of the night. I kept them cool in the fridge since the frosting was whipped cream and not buttercream.

New Year's Resolutions


I'll admit I'm not very consistent with New Year's Resolutions. I try to be a work-in-progress, constantly bettering myself throughout the year. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. In any case, I would like to make some positive changes to ring in 2011. Here is a list of things I would like to accomplish this year:

  • put 10% of my income into savings each month
  • go to the farmers' market more often. Eat more locally-grown, in-season fruits and vegetables
  • eat at least one fruit or vegetable in every meal
  • pack my lunch (almost) every day!
  • do at least some kind of exercise 5 days/ week
  • add more unique pieces to my wardrobe. shop more at flea markets, vintage/thrift stores
I think these are ambitious yet perfectly attainable. 

What are your resolutions for the new year?