Hello, lovely frands!
I’m headed to the holy land on Saturday for a 10-day leadership experience with Israel Reality Taste. It’s my first time traveling internationally by myself and I can’t lie…I’M HELLA EXCITED. I was in Israel when I was 21, a trip that heavily impacted my decision to become a vegetarian and a nutrition major. It’s really meaningful to me to be going back again on a food journey seven years later. Here’s a nice picture of me falling off a camel.
This past week we ate out a ton because life’s been hectic getting my ducks in a row for Alchemy and the blog before I leave. I honestly haven’t been prioritizing cooking on the weekends and I’m totally embracing this busy season of life.
Breakfast
Sprouted onion poppyseed bagel with cashew cream cheese plus two scrambled eggs with micro pea shoots from our CSA box.
Steel-cut oats with almond butter, strawberries, and mulberries. I add mulberries for sweetness but they also have the best texture and are packed with vitamin C!
Brunch! Jeff and I shared some yummy pastries from Fox in the Snow (the flakey strawberry one is my new fave!), an egg sammie, and coffee. We walked there and back in the sunshine which was so nice.
And round two.
More oats with almond butter, strawberries, blackberries, mulberries, and cinnamon.
Another Fox date! Mid-morning blueberry galette and coffee plus the cutest babe.
Onion poppyseed bagel sandwich with eggs, Tilamook aged cheddar, micro greens, and hot sauce.
Lunch/Dinner
TRISM bowl with sautéed greens, maple tamari tofu, chipotle sweet potato hummus, cornbread croutons, lettuce, cucumbers, saucy black beans, and cilantro lime crema. Hit the spot!
Arugula pesto pasta made with arugula, walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, water, garlic, and salt paired with chickpea cavatappi and sautéed shiitakes from our CSA.
Peanut Veggie Noodle Bowls! I used this black bean spaghetti.
Big salad with local greens, shaved carrot, chickpeas, avocado, caraway kraut, and tahini lemon dressing (1/4 cup tahini, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2-3 tbsp water, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp salt, pepper). I also had a turmeric latte on the side made with almond milk, coconut oil, raw honey, vanilla, and Numi turmeric chai golden latte mix.
Tacos in blue corn shells, cashew sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, avocado, and a little sharp cheddar cheese.
My favorite Citrus Crunch salad from Northstar with roasted tofu, kale, cabbage, mango, carrot, mint, cilantro, peanut sauce, peanuts, and tortilla strips.
No Menu Monday at The Market! We had coconut curry mussels with crusty bread, citrus beet salad with lavender lebneh, and the “best sandwich ever” for Jeff. It was all INCREDIBLE. Chef Tyler is beyond talented.
Lavash spread of all my favorite Mediterranean foods for family Friday lunch at our office!
Salad with red onion, almonds, butternut squash, and hopped vinaigrette with salmon plus veggies at The Crest.
Harvest pizza for Simi’s birthday! We got pesto pizza with goat cheese plus kale caesar salad with hazelnuts. I made these Salted Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites for dessert but blended the oats into flour so they tasted more cookie-like. Amazing! Oh and wine.
Snacks/Treats
PINEAPPLE! I’ve been having the biggest cravings for juicy pineapple. Make sure the bottom of the pineapple smells sweet so you know it’s ripe!
Parsnip ice cream with merengue cookies and clementine confit for no menu Monday at The Market. EPIC!!
More Salted Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bites!
Lemon raspberry birthday cake from Patty Cake.
Sunday morning walks to Pistacia Vera for chocolate croissants and coffee!
I’ve been keeping these chocolate peanut butter bars in my car for hanger emergencies and they’re so good.
The last piece of double chocolate banana zucchini bread—recipe coming soon!
Style
Super cute embroidered ruffle tee (I’m wearing XS), my favorite black high-waisted jeans, camel loafer mules (so comfy, I have them in black leather as well), and this purse. This lilac cross body purse and this studded round one are also amazing for spring.
All about these blush mules or these rose gold platform sandals once it’s warmer, too!
Peplum gray tee (similar), ripped black jeans, the best ever booties, and ball drop earrings (similar).
PSA: Jumpsuits are buy one get one half off at A&F right now. I’m obsessed with this knot front one and this button cropped one.
NOW TELL ME! Are you digging more style inspiration? Let me know in the comments! Your feedback is so insanely helpful. Have the best week!
SHOP THE POST:
That picture of you falling off the camel is gold! I’m sure you’ll remember the moment years later! Hahaha!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
The camel picture is amazing!! Solo travel is SO much fun, I’m excited for you
Also, parsnip ice cream SOUNDS super gross and weird, but when I actually think about it I bet its yummy!
Hahaha so funny!!
YESSS love the style inspo added in with food inspo!!! Two of my favorite things and your inspiration is always incredible!
Yes yes yes thank you!!
YES more style please. I love that you include links. I honestly hate shopping, but like to look cute… so if I can just get my shopping done while reading your posts… hallelujah ??
Awesome. Thanks, Courtney!
All if your meals look so incredible!! The parsnip ice cream is crazy creative & sounds amazing. Love all of your pasta meals too. Please keep your style posts coming!
Hehehehe it was WILD.
Love the style!!!!!! Please continue 🙂
Love that you share your style with the links as well! Your meals always look amazingly tasty. I wish I knew where to dine for meals like you post in Northern California. I live in San Jose so if you have any dining suggestions please share!
Yay!! Never been there, sorry!
I love your Wednesday posts and think adding style is perfect
Thank you, Molly!
I look forward to these posts every Wednesday! Keep the style portion if you can!
Your blog has been my happy place lately. I’ve made the blueberry muffins 3 times already and love all your recipes / style/ content! I saw you were coming to Philly for a conference in August. Do yourself a favor and book dinner at Zahav (reservations open 3 months out and book up SO FAST) …its an Israeli inspired restaurant that I promise will change your life! If you don’t have time for dinner, the chef (Michael Solomonov) also has a hummus spot called Dizengoff that is unreal. Thank you for creating such a wonderful corner of the internet 🙂
Awwww your totally made my day, Lexie! Thanks so much for the restaurant rec:)
didnt know citrus crunch was back on the menu – gotta get to northstar stat!
Hahaha I was SO PUMPED.
Such amazing sounding & looking noms!!
I LOVE your style comments! Only problem…I wanted everything!!! ha
Amazing food as always! And that’s an amazing pineapple tip! I’ve been eating it like a fiend too haha.
Thanks love!
Hi Alexis, are you familiar with the BDS movement? As long as the Israeli state maintains a system of apartheid in the West Bank and a siege on Gaza, as well as a drawn out ethnic cleansing campaign (that fulfills the criteria for genocide according to the 1948 UN genocide convention), and repeated massacres of Palestinian civilians, such as the one in Gaza the other day, treating Israel a a legitimate tourist destination helps reinforce the idea that Israel is a “normal” country and a democracy. The Israeli state also uses intimidation and violence against dissent by its own citizens and attacks or persecutes sections of its Jewish population (such as Jewish refugees from the horn of Africa, and orthodox Jews who oppose military service on the ground of their faith). Please reconsider your trip and take a stand for human rights and justice – you have an influential platform with this blog so your actions could make a real difference. Thank you.
More info here: https://bdsmovement.net/what-is-bds and here: https://bdsmovement.net/cultural-boycott#
Yes, Karolina, I have. And WOW. I never thought that expressing my excitement to take an incredible, life-changing trip to Israel would result in such a response. It wouldn’t be like me to not express the frustration I felt reading your words. I gather from your comment that you have your views and that they’re not going to change. But when you refer to a “massacre,” I refer back to the 1940s when my grandfather’s entire family, along with more than 6 million others, were mass murdered because they were Jewish. That is the burden all Jewish people live with, and have lived with their entire lives. Before you practice anti semitism and boycott the only free democracy in a region surrounded by people who are raised from birth to hate all Israelis, know that that’s how people like me look at Israel. It deeply saddens me that the few remaining Survivors lived long enough to hear about the “BDS movement,” as if they haven’t endured enough. I stand by Israel today and forever.
Hi! I love your blog and read it regularly, and I really support your messages of “all foods fit” and how life is more than food/exercise. However, I am disappointed to see your active support of Israel with the participation in these trips/programs. Especially following the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza over the weekend (and the ongoing occupation in general). I don’t intend this as a criticism of you directly, so don’t take it in the wrong way! I just want to raise awareness about some of the human rights violations that are happening and bring them to your attention.
June, to be honest, I was shocked to see anti-Israel comments on this post. I try to keep this blog a positive space. I don’t bring up political matters for a reason. But I never thought that expressing my excitement to take an incredible, life-changing trip to Israel would result in such a response. It wouldn’t be like me to not express the frustration I felt reading your words. My grandfather lost his entire family in the holocaust, so for you to express anti-Israel sentiments and not expect me to take them personally is nonsensical. I gather from your comment that you have your views and that they’re not going to change. But when you refer to a “massacre,” I refer back to the 1940s when my family, along with more than 6 million others, were mass murdered because they were Jewish. That is the burden all Jewish people live with, and have lived with their entire lives. Before you practice anti semitism and boycott the only free democracy in a region surrounded by people who are raised from birth to hate all Israelis, know that that’s how people like me look at Israel. It deeply saddens me that the few remaining Survivors lived long enough to hear about the “BDS movement,” as if they haven’t endured enough. I stand by Israel today and forever.
Hi, I am sorry to hear that you took my comment in a negative way! I want to quickly mention that I am actually Jewish and have many relatives who were murdered in the holocaust as well. One of my family members miraculously survived auschwitz (but almost didn’t). In any case, I am so sorry for your family’s loss. My heart is with you!
I don’t know what you mean by the IBS movement– did you mean to say BDS? I think ibs is irritable bowel syndrome!
It’s probably not productive to engage in a dialogue via this platform. However, I want to reiterate that my criticism of Israel does not mean all Israelis are bad. But as a Jew, particularly during passover, I believe that we will not be liberated until everyone is liberated. This includes the many young palestinians who are killed and imprisoned on a regular basis for simply existing.
Blessings!! <3
Yes—I meant BDS. I of course don’t support innocent Palestinians being killed any more than Israelites being killed. That doesn’t mean I’m going to reconsider my trip to a wonderful country. Thanks for your comment.
It’s so exciting you’re going back to Israel. I’ve done a fair bit of solo female travel and it’s so empowering!
Do you mind sharing what did make you decide to become vegetarian/vegan? Or perhaps you’ve already shared it in a previous post?
I’m curious because I grew up vegetarian, but began eating meat again over 10 years ago – although I still eat primarily plant based. I keep toying with the idea of giving up meat fully again. Just curious what motivated/inspired you to make the change. I love your recipes BTW. I make them often!
Thank yuh! I’m actually a pescatarian. I eat plant-based but I also eat dairy and eggs and fish. I answer some of those questions here! https://www.hummusapien.com/a-plant-based-nutrition-qa/
Have an amazing time in Israel!! I went on a REALITY trip through the Schusterman foundation about 8 years ago (not Taste, but one that was through Teach for America), and it was a monumental, life-changing experience. Can’t wait to read about it on the blog!
Thank you! I’m so happy to hear you’ve been on a similar trip 🙂
Always love your food posts but the outfit shots make them even better! Can’t wait to read about your adventures in Isreal!
Yay!!! So glad?
Love it! As always. Question… where did you get the full length mirror your always taking pics in? I’m looking for one for my home now and having a hard time finding anything that isn’t SO expensive. Help!! Also… where do you buy mulberries?? Thanks in advance!
Thanks lady! It’s this Project 62 one from Target: https://rstyle.me/n/c2xmy2b82r7 I need to get one in a lighter space so the pics are more clear! I buy mulberries on Amazon–the product I linked to is what I buy! They’re a superfood so they’re not cheap. This two pack for $18.93 is a good deal: https://rstyle.me/n/c2xmz9b82r7
June,
Your comments are ignorant. You need to study your history. The reason one-third of the Jewish population was successfully murdered by the Nazis is because there was not one single country in this entire world that was willing to let the Jewish people in. Without Israel you will experience yet another Holocaust. The Israeli people gave Gaza to the Palestinians – a land with schools and homes and hospitals. Do you know what the Palestinians did? They destroyed everything and set up a terrorist state. Do you know what the Palestinians did with the millions of dollars worth of concrete that the Israelis delivered to Gaza so that they could build an infrastructure ? They built terror tunnels from which to barrage Israel with 40,000 missiles. Palestinians are not killed for merely existing – they are killed only when they strap suicide bombs to their bodies – they are killed only after they shoot thousands upon thousands of missiles into Israel. You should try and reach the Palestinian people and try and persuade them not to attempt to wipe Israel off the map as they have tried to do for the last 70 years. It would also be a great idea if their kindergarten books were not filled with hatred of the Israeli people.
Karolina – every single thing you stated is Palestinian propaganda. Why don’t you spend your time writing about the fact that there is only one country in this whole world that has helped the Syrian refugees. – ISRAEL!! Only one country that gave the victims of chemical weapons medical aid – ISRAEL!! Only one country that operates and returns life to these people – ISRAEL! And by the way if you feel that the Israelis are so bad you better throw away your cell phone and computer as all the chips were invented in Israel. IF I had the time I can send you a list so long as to the accomplishments of the Israeli people in the las 70 years that would open your eyes to the fact that the only democracy in the middle east – the only country longing for peace- the only people who have tried over and over to make peace with the Palestinians – is also the country that has improved your medicines – advanced your technology – and so on and so on.