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Sometimes, my photography closets (err…folders) get cluttered because I have this silly little habit of photographing everything that I cook or bake. And I rarely leave the house without bringing my camera along to snap a picture of whatever I see fit.
You don’t want to know how many photos I have on my computer. Also, please don’t tell Eric how long it’s been since I migrated my photos to my back up drive! You know, the back up drive that he bought specifically for my photographs? Yea, that would be the one.
But Spring is here, even if I look outside and see more snow than we’ve had all Winter long. In the spirit of Spring Cleaning, it’s time to clean out my photography closets and let some lost but not forgotten recipes take the stage!
But first, some dirty secrets so I can ‘clean’ the air…
- Often, I take pictures of recipes that I don’t post. Duh.
- Frequently, said pictures get buried in Lightroom and I’m too lazy to find them. They die in Lightroom.
- Sometimes, I eat wonderful things that never make it to the blog. Sometimes, I eat horrible things that never make it to the blog. Sometimes, I eat delicious things (but think you will hate them) that don’t make it to the blog.
- It’s complicated.
- Occasionally, I make a tasty dish only to forget ingredient measurements. Note to self: Find pens. Store in kitchen. Get tested for early onset Alzheimer’s.
- Now you know why I take photographs of my ingredients. :)
- Occasionally, I delete photos off my camera by mistake. Poof. Gone forever. Sometimes I don’t even care.
- Once and a while, I lose a recipe (if I do manage to write it down) and then I can’t replicate it even after 3 trials. (S’more Cake In A Jars I’m looking at you!)
- I’m sorry. I really am. I’ll keep trying.
- Rarely, do I let a good recipe fall off my radar completely...
Lost but not forgotten recipe #1: Mango Kiwi Vegan Overnight Oats for no-brainer breakfasts.
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I have an OXO Mango Splitter and it helps slice out the pit in one easy motion creating two clean halves to work with. Normally, I’m not big on tools like this, but I really do use this mango pitter every single time! The added bonus is you get to chew the pit as you go!
Do you use any OXO kitchen products? I’m in love with my can opener, citrus juicer, salad spinner, Y Peeler, and of course the Mango Splitter. I tell everyone I know about OXO…their products are life changing.
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Mango Kiwi Vegan Overnight Oats
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 2 cups non-dairy milk
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 mango, pitted & chopped
- 2 kiwis, peeled & chopped
- Splash of maple syrup if desired
Directions: In a medium sized bowl, mix together the oats and chia seeds. Whisk in the milk and extract. Stir in the chopped mango and kiwis and place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, portion out your serving and add a splash of sweetener if preferred.
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Lost but not forgotten recipe #2: Orange Creamsicle Vegan Overnight Oats. Also for no-brainer breakfasts.
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Orange Creamsicle Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 1 orange, peeled & chopped
- 1/4 cup regular oats
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tbsp coconut milk (the cream part from top of can)
- 1 cup non-dairy milk
- 1/4 tsp almond extract
- maple syrup, to taste (optional)
- Sweetened shredded coconut, to garnish
Directions: In a small bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except for the shredded coconut. Stir well and place in fridge overnight. In the morning sprinkle on sweetened coconut or other desired toppings.
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Normally I’m not a big fan of oranges in my oats, but this was very light and fresh tasting!
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Lost but not forgotten recipe #3: Cheezy Nacho Kale Chips from Averie.
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I never knew kale could taste this good! Just like nacho chips…only better.
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Lost but not forgotten recipe #4: My favourite vegan pesto using the pesto recipe from my Project Food Blog Pizza Challenge!
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This big bag of Pesto basil from Whole Foods works great for this.
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Vegan Pesto
Adapted from my Garlic Scape Pesto.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp raw cashews
2/3 cup of my homemade Vegan Parmesan Cheese
4 cups fresh basil, stems trimmed off and roughly chopped
Juice of 1 fresh lemon (3-4 tbsp approx)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil (you can cut this in half for a thick paste)
1-2 small handfuls of fresh spinach
4-5 cloves garlic
1 tsp sea salt
Directions: In a food processor, add the cashews and oil and process until smooth. Now throw in the garlic, parmesan, and fresh lemon juice and process more. Add in the basil and spinach and process until smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste. This will make enough for about two pizza crusts worth. I loved this recipe because there was leftover pesto to dip the crusts into!
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It is amazing as a sauce for pizza like I used in my Roasted Tomato, Onion, and Basil Pesto Pizza.
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This version I made below is thicker because I cut the oil in half. If you want a more traditional pesto, use the full amount of oil, but if you want a thick spread, cut the oil in half.
It’s luxurious on bread.
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Just have a breath mint handy. ;)
Lost but not forgotten recipe #5: Savoury Pesto Oatmeal
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Savoury Pesto Oatmeal
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup regular oats
- 1 cup non-dairy milk (unflavoured/unsweetened)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- Seasonings & herbs of your choice
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2-3 tbsp pesto
- Stir-fried veggies (I used cooked onion, tomato, minced garlic)
- Chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions: Add oats, seasonings/herbs, and nutritional yeast into a medium sized pot. Stir well and add in milk and oil. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for about 8-10 minutes, stirring often. When it is ready remove from heat and stir in the pesto and optional walnuts. Serve with stir-fry veggies and a dollop of pesto on top.
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This Savoury Pesto Oatmeal was good, but my favourite savoury oatmeal is still my Mexican Loaded Savoury Oats…
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I think I know what I’m making for lunch today…it has been too long!
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And finally, a smoothie recipe that I just can’t get enough of lately…
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Goji Berry Bliss Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup goji berries (or more to taste), soaked in water until soft and puffy
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
I was creeping in the bulk section of Whole Foods last week and I overheard a fun tip about Goji berries: Grab some Goji Berries. Soak them in water until puffy and soft. Throw them into your smoothies. The soaked berries will make the smoothie a vibrant orange or pink colour (depending on how many you use).
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So there you have it. My photography closets are now cleaned out and ready for a new season of delicious eats! Any recipe requests?
Now, it’s time to tackle the baskets. This could get hairy…
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Ouch – I SO wish you could remember the S’more Cake recipe. I drooled when I saw that pic the first time.
At least I know that I’m not alone!! I have so many pictures of recipes that I never posted… then when I get to it months later — I can’t think of what it was for the life of me!
Your oatmeal concoctions amaze me!
Isn’t it funny how cats just love to sit in baskets? My cat is obsessed with jumping in the recylcling bin hahaha
Yup…Sketchie will sit in any sort of box…basket…shopping bag…u name it!
I just wanted to chime in and make a general comment that I love your blog :) You and your story are inspirational. I just shared your “Size Healthy” post on Facebook. Speaking of Facebook, do you have a page??
Thank you for inspiring people to love them selves healthy :)
Thanks Stephanie!
No FB page yet…will figure it out some day!!!
I need to do a clean out too!! I swear! haha.
Oh and Just wondering…how much is your camera, and what kind is it?
Camera equipment is on my FAQ page :)
What a wonderful assortment of recipes you’ve put on here today! Your porridges looks wonderful, as do the kale chips! And I’d so much love to try goji berries, but they’re hard to find over here. :)
Thanks for making and mentioning that you made my kale chips! I am so glad you liked them…and so glad they didn’t get lost in the black hole of blogger photos or forgotten recipes :)
I just got Lightroom 3 and I have a Mac. I am currently uploading all my pics into both iphoto (my crutch and tool for some things) and then also to LR 3 so I can edit them there. Let’s just say I am in picture overwhelm mode. I actually just blogger earlier that my computer is painfully slow! I think it has something to do with all these pictures I have…a mere 25k or so just hanging out. haha.
I take pics of my ingredients,too, b/c that way a week (or even 36 hrs later) I can jog my own memory with what I used. And yes, neither one of us have food journals. We don’t feature every morsel that passes our lips.
Great info on the mango tool. I have always wondered if it would be worth it…b/c mangoes are so slippery and tricky for me. I will be picking one up. I have an Oxo peeler and dig it.
Mangoes rock, and lately I’ve been on an almond extract kick (I’ve been eating way too many almond cookies with that extract in it). Whole Foods had Champagne Mangoes on sale (they’re small ones), so I bought some, I cut up a mango, throw that in my blender, and 1 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup water, some frozen cherries, a handful of shredded coconut, and a splash of almond extract and blend. OH MY GOODNESS – it is so yummy, refreshing, energizing, etc. The best!
mmmm I had something similar last summer and it was to die for!
I had it again this morning, and it really revs me up! This time with blackberries instead of cherries (I’m cleaning out my freezer). I love the almond extract in it, and it’s so much better for me than eating an almond cookie!
lovely pictures Ang! haha I’m starting to GATHER a lot of unused/unpublished photos as well. I’m still getting the hang of this thingie called technology and therefore I’m wondering if I’m supposed to transfer them somewhere else. :D have a lovely day! ps: i like that first picture!!
all the pictures are just stunning! Sketchie too!
Averie’s Kale chips= A MUST!
“migrate my photos to my back up drive”
what the WHAT?
my husband always
tries to use this
“technical language” with me!
it’s like when he gives
me directions and starts by telling me
to go “north” – WHAT!?
ahhh…men are from mars. ; )
and i am addicted to your
banana choc chip oat cake.
thankS!
haha I know the feeling…I think Im used to it now after 10 years of being around techie talk!
Oh my goodness. So much good stuff in one post!! :)
What is your quick advice for learning your camera? I’ve had my Canon Rebel XT for a month now and am practicing a lot but feel at a loss. I have a book that I refer to when I need help, I just need some support! lol
I read a ton of tutorials online! It took me months to feel comfortable and for it to finally click after a lot of practicing. Shooting in RAW forces me to learn the camera better if I want decent pictures. Keep practicing and read, read, read! A class would be very helpful too.
can’t wait to try the mango/kiwi oats! also, just thought you should know you are getting raved about on the no meat athlete blog, http://www.nomeatathlete.com/vegan-grocery-list/. Thanks for putting such fabulous recipes out there!
Such a fun post!
I love my Oxo mango pitter too. Just used it this morning.
I wish my photography closet looked like this one! All the photos I don’t post are of me and my bf making silly faces haha! :)
Wow, I didnt think you could come up with more amazing recipes!
Cant wait to try them out :) thanks for sharing.
LOL! This is so great! My fiance is often asking me to clean out the dresser (yes, dresser) that is full of old pictures. There are so many of them that I just don’t know what to do with them. I have tried hinting at getting a scanner so that I can just scan all of the pictures that I want onto a separate hard drive, but so far no one has listened. Then again, that’s probably because I’d get about half way trhough and give up out of frustration!
Have fun!
I need to try those mexican oats! I need to thank you in advance.. A friend of mine suggested I have a vegan potluck, and I know I will be using some of your recipes!