Thank Goodness For Visiting Friends and Great Food!
by sam on October 18, 2009
in Abundance, Boulder, Breakfast, Costa Rica, Dessert, Dinner, Food, Friends, Fruit, Gluten Free, Health, Lunch, Refined Sugar Free, Side Dish, Silliness, Vegan, Vegetarian
There are some staple grocery items that I could get in Colorado but for the life of me can’t find here (or it costs an arm and a leg). Thankfully we had some guest come visit and with only 24 hours notice, picked up everything we (read I) requested! Here’s the list:
- 2 Bottles Coppertone Sunscreen SPF 8 (Jim’s favorite sunscreen)
- Nutrogena Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 45 (for my face)
- 1 Box of 40 Tampax Tampons (difficult to find and super expensive. maybe because it’s a Catholic country?)
- 1 Jug of Real Maple Syrup
- Pamela’s Baking and Pancake Mix (best pancake mix ever! uses almonds. gluten free but not vegan <sob>)
- Quinoa (excellent grain, tastier than couscous, and full of protein)
- Beau Monde Seasoning (great for tuna fish, though I hope to find some vegan use for it)
- Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper (also for tuna fish, but it’s just SO good)
- 2 Bags of Raw Almonds (great for snacking, homemade granola, and hopefully for almond milk)
I was so thrilled that I literally danced while making some delicious fresh Pineapple Pancakes with Cinnamon and Maple Syrup! Jim was amused by my exuberance and thoroughly enjoyed this yummy breakfast that tastes much like pineapple upside-down cake. Huge THANK YOU to Heidi for bring us goodies!
A couple days later I made this wonderful Quinoa Pilaf/Salad.
I cooked the Quinoa (which takes no time at all) and then squeezed the juice of one Lime over it and added a little olive oil, some Cumin, Salt, and a bunch of Fresh Ground Pepper. I then added fresh Spinach, Red Bell Pepper and steamed Baby Zucchini and Green Beans. It was comforting, delicious, and made great leftovers for 3 other meals! I did have Jim’s balsamic grilled chicken with it the first couple times, but that isn’t necessary as it’s great and filling on its own.
Added Plus: It’s vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar free, and Jim loves it!
Quinoa is the best, isn’t it? I love that stuff! And ughghg tampons are hard to find here, and they don’t even carry them at all in the commissary. Damn religion and its hatred of all things female.
As a replacement for tuna try mashing up a can of drained chickpeas. I mash mine up with vegan mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, pickles, red onions, and a few handfuls of seaweed to give it that fresh from the ocean taste. It is delicious on toast!
Dem pineapple flapjacks look gooooood!
i made me some of da blintz this past weekend using dat red&white checkered cookbook. da blintz is quirky: no milk, just sour cream & cottage cheese (and flour sugar eggs). i nuked some blackberries bluberries & a smidge of syrup to spoon over da blintz and, naturally, never sat down but gobbled em up standing in the kitchen making the next batches! ha!
Hey!
Do you know this place: http://www.costarica-cr.com/default.html
It’s got a photo attached to google earth.
I’m athinkin it’s in your neighborhood, right?
I see you dancing making those Samantha pineapple delights. It cracks my heart open. And the quinoa-a world of heaven in a bowl-SUCH CREATIVITY and ABUNDANCE! Dance, dance, dance!
Natasha, I love your chickpea “tuna” idea. I’ve never been a fan of mayo vegan or not, but the seaweed sounds delish!
Mom, my culinary creativity was originally learned from you! What have you been cooking lately?
Dad, those blintz sound right up your alley! Kylie said you were so pleased with yourself last week for making soup from scratch. I’m thrilled to hear you’re cooking more, but please do take a break to sit down and eat! You’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor more and you’re body will be happier. I know, because I do the same thing! “Wolfing it down” isn’t best. Also, that house is actually just south of us in Esterillos Este (East Esterillos). Very close though! I like how I can see your trampoline on Google Earth!