December | 2013 | food & foto

Archive | December, 2013

{new year’s eve 2013 – goodness, it sure has been an eventful 12-months!!}

sunrise – snowmass village, colorado © audrey michelle 2013

it really has been a very very eventful year! personally, i’m kind of glad to be saying good-bye to 2013. i always say you can start over ANY time in your life, you don’t need an event like new year’s eve to make resolutions, start fresh, or even kiss a stranger 😉 but i’m still looking forward to wrapping up one year and starting a new one… i have been releasing a lot of old “stuff” over the last month… and i’m ready to welcome in the new!

i just really feel good about bringing in 2014 this year… things feel a little more peaceful in general, and that is great!

it’s been exactly 3 weeks

however, since my entire life changed in one single {terrifying} moment… i completely survived my car rolling twice on the icy highway roads on monday, december 2nd. not a single person was harmed nor animal or lamppost involved… no semi-truck in the way, no major abrasions, pain, trauma, or overall inconvenience other than losing my awesome car, shelby the subaru. but like everyone said, “you can replace a car, you can’t replace YOU!”

i’m still shaking my head at how it even happened and most of all HOW i survived… walking away totally unscathed and mostly just in shock. the bizarre twist to all of this is that i have found many blessings come out on the other side of it all. i’m even going to write about the event, as it really did change my life. any event like that shakes up a person’s whole being… and when it’s “over”, it’s kind of impossible to claim to be the same person afterward. Continue reading →

Tags: 2013, 2014, audrey michelle, blogging, car accident, consciousness, gratitude, happiness, happy new year, heart, heart-opening, life, love, miracles, peace, stories, survival, truth, universe, writing

Comments 6 Comments
Categories the food

{the final meatless monday of 2013! – artisan lettuce wraps featuring organic polenta and a homemade red sauce}

30 Dec

i like food you can consume without utensils 🙂

and there’s something about the word “artisan” that makes things more fun and enjoyable to eat 🙂

when i spotted this bag on sale at the market, i nabbed it up. it looked super fresh and crisp and i had some leftover polenta at home that i just knew would go great with it.

so i made a simple red sauce with the remains of a jar of marina i had in the fridge. then i tossed in some extra garlic, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and a little cheese, and boom! – i had a simple and delicious red sauce to pour over my polenta.

foodie side note : i only use organic corn products – corn is THE MOST genetically modified plant out there. and it’s in everything. do your own research, i highly encourage it 🙂 Continue reading →

Tags: artisan foods, audrey michelle, cooking, eating, food, food and foto, healthy, healthy eating, lettuce wraps, meatless monday, recipes, simple, vegetarian

Comments 6 Comments
Categories the food

{it’s the final foto friday of 2013!}

27 Dec

and this is what happened this week :

———

i worked on christmas day for the first time in my life… which was kind of okay and kind of weird. naturally, i brought my vitamix breakfast cookies to the office – and all 4 dozen got devoured! 😉

callee was adorable – every second of every day… just look at her! 😉

i visited the best breakfast place in town… these mugs are personal for the local regular guests – how cute is that?! 😉

it was so damn cold in the mornings, the windshield-washer fluid in my friend’s car totally froze… but also created this cool pattern 😉

and i saw this family of ravens… they tend to follow me around – they are my spirit animal, no doubt! 😉

i’m pretty sure this was a mama and a bunch of babies. although i’m not certain because it seems odd that they would have offspring in the winter, but i didn’t feel like researching it… does anyone know when crows/ravens typically mate and reproduce?

happy last friday of the year!!

😀

Tags: audrey michelle, blogging, foto friday, fotos, fun, iphone photography, iphoneography, life, local, photography, photos, pictures, roaring fork valley, shake-it app, week in photos

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food

{thirsty thursday – eat, DRINK, and be merry}

26 Dec

new belgium brewing company beer is on sale all month at my local liquor store. and NBB just happens to be my all-time favourite, so i bought their folly pack, which included 4 throwback beers, 2 below. i’m excited to {re}explore them all… just not all at once 😉

HAPPY {safe} HOLIDAYS! 😉

Tags: beer, christmas, drinks, folly pack, food, holidays, life, NBB, new belgium brewery, thirsty thursday

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food

{merry christmas!}

25 Dec

wishing you all the love and happiness this season brings… now and always.

xxoo

Tags: audrey michelle, christmas, holidays, love, universe

Comments 2 Comments
Categories the food

{tiny tuesday – fotos inside the tiny home}

24 Dec

it’s a tiny tuesday update! 😀

i have made a lot of changes to my adorable tiny home, but i wanted to share these fotos so you can see the progression 🙂

main entrance, with ladder leading to loft…

computer desk to the right… it’s kind of like having an “office” 😉

behind my “office” – an open space and area for coats, etc. Continue reading →

Tags: architecture photography, audrey michelle, blogging, colorado, food and foto, interior photography, life, mini home, minimalist, minimalist lifestyle, minimalist living, mountain homes, mountain living, mountains, photography, photos, simple life, simple living, tiny home, tiny tuesday

Comments 3 Comments
Categories the food

{meatless mondays – vitamix breakfast cookies : a new holiday tradition}

23 Dec

this is my third year making my vegan thumbprint cookies {AKA “vitamix breakfast cookies”} to give as gifts or to share at work… or eat all by yourself 😉

so, here’s the original recipe in case you missed it…

———

these are always always always a hit. i’m not much of a baker, but when i find something that is easy to make and that people like, i try to perfect it and make it my own. i have yet to quite create the perfect consistency for these {i’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to anything i make or do}, but i do think i found the right name for them. the ingredients are so simple and healthy that you could literally eat them for breakfast – and not feel at all guilty about it!! they are also great for holiday parties or after school snacks. a good source of dietary fiber and protein as well as healthy fats.

yields about 3 dozen cookies, depending on size variation.

as always, i’m a huge proponent for using as many organic products as possible when i cook or eat…

– 1 cup almonds or pecans or a mix of both

– 1 cup rolled oats {gluten-free works, too!}

– 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

– 1/2 cup maple syrup

– 1/2 cup canola or safflower oil {which i haven’t yet tried}

– 1/4 teaspoon salt {i believe this constitutes as a “pinch”}

– your favourite jam or conserve {i have wanted to try a savory jam like jalapeno berry or something}

begin by preheating your oven to about 400 degrees. Continue reading →

Tags: baking, cookies, cooking, easy, eating, food, food and foto, healthy snacks, holidays, meatless mondays, simple, simple ingredients, vegan, vegetarian, vitamix, whole foods

Comments 3 Comments
Categories the food

{happy nom-nom-idays!}

21 Dec

nom nom… i just love this time of year. the holidays are also all about eating, right?! and sharing… 🙂

like this homemade peanut brittle from a friend’s mama in michigan and homemade caramels from my wonderful neighbours -50 yards away.

my goodness they are both SO AMAZING! i completely savoured each one, and still am. it’s that kind of treat – when someone takes time to make something so incredibly delicious like this and then shares it… THAT is the true meaning of the holidays… or, the nom-nom-idays. i think we should start making it more about food than “gifts”. afterall, i believe food is one of THE BEST gifts you can give… and receive 😉 Continue reading →

Tags: caramels, christmas, eating, food, food and foto, food is the best gift, food photography, foodography, friends, gratitude, holidays, homemade, love, meaning of the season, nom nom, peanut brittle, sharing, special

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food, the foodie, the foto

{foto friday – stuff that happened this week via fotos}

20 Dec

i watched this movie…

i ate this entire bag of holiday grapes…

i saw this on the bus ride into work… i’m pretty sure it took off from someone’s private ranch… Continue reading →

Tags: audrey michelle, blogging, foto friday, holidays, life, photography, photos, thoughts, week in fotos, whatever, winter

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food, the foodie, the foto

{happy full moon!}

19 Dec

i never get tired of its beauty…

Tags: art, audrey michelle, beauty, blogging, colorado, cycles, energy, full moon, life, nature, nature photography, photography, photos, the universe

Comments 14 Comments
Categories the food

{aesthetics matter}

15 Dec

🙂 happy sunday.

Tags: americano, coffee, comfort, creme, drinks, espresso, food and foto, iphoneography, shake-it app, winter

Comments 3 Comments
Categories the food

{kitty yoga – volume 3}

14 Dec

my kitty callee loves laying on my yoga mat…and why wouldn’t she?! — cats can get into some pretty contorted positions, dude!

and since injuring my neck/shoulder last week {i’ll give all the details soon}, i am actually told by my physical therapist to NOT do too much stretching… so callee is taking my place on the magenta mat until a couple weeks pass 😉

have a great weekend, friends!

Tags: animals, blogging, cats, cute, fun, in the now, kitties, kitty yoga, life, life moments, pets, photography, weekends, yoga

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the foto

foto friday – ohh, the weather outside is frightful…}

13 Dec

i mean, seriously. the temps have been beyond frigid lately and i’m wearing more layers and socks than any one person probably should… but we’re due for a heat-wave this week – we’re going to hit 32 degrees!!!

😉

brrrr… {but pretty!}

bbrrrrrr…. {but cool!}

bbbrrrrrrrrr…… {but happy!}

brr. {and it’s true!}

hope you’re staying warm out there. have a great weekend! haha, and my wearing-of-many-layers makes me think of this :

Tags: audrey michelle, brr, cold, foto friday, holidays, iphone photography, mountains, photography, photos, pictures, rocky mountains, shake-it app, snow, snowglobe, winter

Comments 1 Comment
Categories the food

{thirsty thursday – harmless harvest coconut water}

12 Dec

i heart coconut water… and not just after a good workout or to help cure a hangover {yep, it’s good for that!} although, coconut water will replenish you better than 10 gatorades {i don’t drink that stuff, but it’s fun to exaggerate sometimes} or a gallon of water alone. seriously this stuff is amazing! it’s almost identical to human plasma, and is extremely high in potassium and antioxidants.

there are lots of different coconut water brands out there… and many of them are good.

this one is THE BEST.

i mean, really… it’s THE best coconut water on the planet. harmless harvest coconut water has figured out the best formula {and philosophy}… and can you just guess what it is?! KEEP IT SIMPLE 🙂 i dig these guys and their minimalist approach to things.

it’s like sticking a straw straight into a coconut that has been gathered in southeast asia. Continue reading →

Tags: coconut water, conscious living, drinks, food, food and foto, harmless harvest, health, healthy eating, hydration, keep it simple, minimalist, products, raw, raw eating, thirsty thursday

Comments 2 Comments
Categories the food

{whatever wednesday – adjusting to my small kitchen}

11 Dec

hey friends.

{i just want to preface this by taking a moment to express my gratitude to the Universe for being ALIVE and well. i had quite a scare last week and it has given me a whole new perspective on life…}

as you may have noticed, i haven’t been writing as much over the last few weeks. i plan to update you on my life very soon… there have been even more changes 😉 but i haven’t been creating as many recipes lately. for a few reasons, really… but fret not, creating and cooking and fotographing will recommence very soon.

part of it is becoming acclimated in my new mini kitchen. as a reminder, this is what i’m working with :

i LOVE my tiny home, don’t get me wrong… i’m just trying to find my niche and the best way to cook as i fotograph… it is somewhat of a challenge right now. a few final changes are coming together in the kitchen, i just need to start coming up with recipes again. Continue reading →

Tags: audrey michelle, batch-cooking, blogging, comfort food, cooking, cooking for one, eating, food, food and foto, one-pot meals, recipes, tiny kitchen, updates, whatever wednesday, winter

Comments 4 Comments
Categories the food

{tiny tuesday – happy holidays from the tiny mountain home}

10 Dec

i am way overdue for a tiny home update. i have had a lot of personal things going on lately, so i haven’t been taking as many fotos or blogging as much.

plus, the holidays kind of make me want to hibernate… and so does my adorable tiny house… especially when i come home one day and it has been surprisingly decorated… like this :